# Aztec: zkRollup Layer 2 + Privacy

**Published by:** [Aztec Network](https://paragraph.com/@aztec-network/)
**Published on:** 2023-02-22
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@aztec-network/aztec-zkrollup-layer-2-privacy

## Content

Aztec: zkRollup Layer 2 + PrivacyTL;DR : We’re scaling EthereumToday we’re proud to announce Aztec 2.0, the Layer 2 Network — a scaling solution, with privacy at its core:**zkRollup based Layer 2 **network, live on RopstenPrivate sends by default — shield and send your ERC-20s privatelySocial-key recovery baked in**Scalable private access to DeFi **(Uniswap, etc.)**200x gas reduction **compared to Aztec 1.0Secure by design: all transactions are validated on-chain**Programmable Privacy with Noir — **The private contract languageThese features implement the output of our world-class research team, who delivered PLONK and Plookup to the community over the past 15 months, and which are now the major standard in zkSNARKs.SubscribeGet Started NowEngineers can dive in straight away:**Documentation: **http://developers.aztec.network/To see our network live on Ropsten or play around with our command line rollup service, these are the links:**Block Explorer: **https://explorer.aztec.network/**Terminal Demo: **https://terminal.aztec.network/Fast Privacy, NowThe classical Layer 2 architecture offers scalability today, and waits to address privacy later. Aztec is different. Our PLONK research allows us to use zkSNARKs in two very different ways: 1. Each transaction is encoded as a zkSNARK, protecting user data 2. These transactions are then batched by relayers using a further ‘rollup’ zkSNARK — this single rollup proof is then sent to Ethereum, scaling the network Using this technique, the network can scale on-demand up to a hard limit of ~300 TX/S, while preserving on-chain data availability.Cross-Asset ScalingAs a rule, rollups aggregate transactions that are ‘homogeneous’ — i.e. they’re of the same type. Because Aztec transactions are **all **zkSNARK proofs, they can all be bundled into one zkRollup. Concretely, private DeFi transactions can be bundled alongside zkDAI spends or Uniswap trades, all in one roll-upNoir Language: Private Smart ContractsIntroducing Noir — an open source scripting language that allows developers to easily write zkSNARK transactions compatible with Aztec 2.0.Sha256 Noir Circuit Noir gives developers the tools to write custom logic for mainnet protocols, from DeFi to capital markets and order-books. Noir gives engineers the keys to:Custom private transactionsSignatures over any curveEthereum contract calls from circuitsAztec Standard Library — efficient audited versions of common cryptographic primitivesAccounts with Social RecoveryThe Aztec account architectureUser accounts can be created with or without a linked Ethereum address, and don’t need an initial on-chain transaction to receive funds. Human readable aliases are built in — so now, you can be @MontezumaII, and not 0x48af9… The headlines:Accounts support multiple keysSocial recovery is baked inSpending keys are divorced from encryption keys — this helps regulated apps keep neat, KYC-compliant recordsGas Costs SlashedAztec 2.0 slashes Aztec 1.0 gas costs by 200x.What You Can Do on Aztec Today?Deposit: Shield your tokens by depositing them in AztecPrivate Payments: Encrypted balances & identities — for all tokens**Multi-Device Recovery: **Your assets are protected from lost keysWithdraw: Take your tokens anonymously back to Layer 1Escape Hatch: Even if all rollup providers go down, your exit’s guaranteedAll these features are provided with our Developer SDK. Scalable Private TransactionsNext Step: DeFiIn November, the network will be upgraded to support scalable private access to DeFi.** This upgrade allow users to anonymously access DeFi transactions at a fraction of the gas price. And,** **without having to port DeFi protocols to layer 2.Worked Example: Uniswap on Aztec NetworkLet’s take a look at how DeFi works on Aztec 2.0:A user sends a portion of their Dai balance to swap for ETH on UniswapThe rollup bundles 100's of these transactions together into one tradeThe Aztec contract receives ETH on behalf of these usersThe ETH is owned pro-rata by the participants in the poolEach participant benefits from a large anonymity set and pays a fraction of the gas for the investmentMost DeFi protocols can be integrated in this manner and importantly using existing audited L1 code.Show me the code!Starting today, developers can access the Aztec network via our TypeScript SDK. Simply run the following command to get going.yarn add @aztec/sdk The SDK runs in web, mobile and server environments. For detailed examples follow the link to the live docs.Keep Updated for 2020 Mainnet LaunchWe’ll soon be deploying to mainnet and announcing our bug bounty — stay up to date with the latest news by following us:TelegramTwitterJoin the teamWe’re on the lookout for talented engineers and applied cryptographers. If joining our mission to bring scalable privacy to Ethereum excites you — get in touch with us at hello@aztecprotocol.com.Subscribe

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