# Azteс: Privacy revival By [dimamachine](https://paragraph.com/@dimamachine) · 2023-01-06 --- Aztec Private Empire -------------------- The Aztec Network is reviving cryptocurrency privacy after some countries tried to regulate it. It is doing so on one of the most popular blockchains, the Ethereum blockchain, which has the added bonus that you can make private transactions/buy NFTs/exchange coins and enjoy other privileges of Ethereum without leaving it for other blockchains. Now coins like Dash, Monero, Zcash are just unnecessary for private transactions! This network is built on [zero-knowledge proving](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-knowledge_proof), it is secured by one of the industry-standard PLONK proving mechanisms used by the leading zero-knowledge scaling projects. With these mechanics, the user's privacy is preserved, so there is no threat to the user when using the blockchain. ![Zero Knowledge Proving](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/42a89e59cdaf78bd3263b061a5d9c57b5ed2b157d57d08a256089a2f7b032a5c.png) Zero Knowledge Proving ### The basic principles of the Aztec Network: * **Private**: Aztec is the only zero-knowledge rollup built with a privacy-first architecture from the ground up, allowing users to access their favorite apps on Layer 1 completely privately. * **Accessible**: proving Aztec transaction validity through zero-knowledge proofs on Ethereum reduces transaction costs by up to 100x. * **Compliant**: private system supports opt-in auditability and compliance while fully preserving confidentiality. Aztec Products -------------- ### Aztec Connect This is a privacy tool for the Ethereum DeFi system. It allows users to access the DeFi services of the Ethereum blockchain while saving money on commissions and preserving their privacy. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/91c417374b3cc8351b00f40f50576c6d8c2a35eade925100576b08f84d7bad99.png) [Aztec SDK](https://docs.aztec.network/category/sdk) allows any project on Ethereum to integrate the Aztec network. The advantage of this integration is that it is quite simple: the developer writes a 50-100 line interface connecting the Aztec Network smart contracts with the mainnet of the Ethereum. It also preserves interaction with liquidity in Layer 1, eliminating leakage of liquidity to Layer 2. ![Now available for interaction with such DeFi systems as AAVE, Euler, Yearn Finance, Lido, Curve, ElementFi and some more.](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c4f6a0ce8fef5c76377307538455a9d1753c4cce520594705f020c456d31d323.png) Now available for interaction with such DeFi systems as AAVE, Euler, Yearn Finance, Lido, Curve, ElementFi and some more. You can also help develop the Aztec Network, win grants or earn a bounty for finding bugs in the system. To get a grant you will need to go through several steps: Review Requests for Proposal, Submit Grant Application, Meet the Aztec Team, Grant Agreement finalization, Funding and ongoing support. You can learn more about their programs at their website: [https://aztec.network/grants](https://aztec.network/grants) ### zk.money This application is a private transfer protocol and private DeFi yield aggregator. The project is actively developing because its use is much cheaper than direct interaction in DeFi. In it you can make a "shield" of your ETH or DAI funds and make them as private as possible. To do this, you just need to connect your wallet (for example, MetaMask) to the [zk.money](https://zk.money/). ![zk.money](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d106dd60bd4cb9d5497dc319b0885b1cf62ca7af59e130f2f3495cc8b370cb6c.png) zk.money ### Noir The Aztec team [developed](https://aztec.network/noir/) a special subject-oriented language for developing programs that use zero-knowledge proofs, this language is called Noir. Execution of programs written in Noir can be verified without disclosure (which gives the advantage of privacy) and it can be verified using less processing power, which gives the advantage of scalability. Thus this language is designed for affordable and flexible program development. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ffb1d47d219a9a7a4131c0356409dda1b7a71eaf0c142c4af26ce6cba2019f7b.png) ### ZKPay.finance This is the [first application](https://zkpay.finance/) on the Aztec Network. The functionality is very similar to the site zk.money, but in my opinion, the app will continue to evolve and we will soon see new features. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/297b282d7ed0bd8da0f67d6feb58e35e7ecd247bb7a9dadd6dfcb3916d84f979.png) Aztec Investors --------------- The Aztec Network [recently](https://medium.com/aztec-protocol/aztec-raises-100-million-to-build-encrypted-ethereum-dd5062ba949c) received $100 million in funding! ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d08bcbd1b657750a6bc5473f0d9b547369af892b964073f49dc7ed7e6fbc5a17.png) Some of the most recognizable funds have invested in Aztec: ConsenSys Mesh, Ethereal Ventures, Alliance DAO, a\_capital, Variant, Entrepreneur First, Jeffrey Tarrant, Charlie Songhurst, PARADIGM, Libertus Capital, IOSG Ventures, MOV37, Coinbase Ventures, Scalar Capital. Even Ethereum developer **Vitalik Buterin** himself mentioned them as one of the most promising projects on his network. What you should be interested in: Aztec retrodrop ------------------------------------------------- To begin with, it is worth saying that now you can get a badge from **Sismo** (modular protocol issuing ZK Badges for reputation portability and aggregation) for 3 deposits on zk.money (with a total of 0.1 ETH) and after his mint you will be immediately offered to join Discord **ZKPay.finance** and get the role of early user. ### This is what I highly recommend to do first. ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/4739facb81ce48bef10243ad2bccd098147ac5c8abcd1c7a739e91f080ff764a.png) ### Step-by-step guide: 1. Go to [zk.money](https://zk.money/), click Shield Now, enter our alias (type of identifier in L2 network), enter any amount of ether to create our account and make deposit of funds in L2 2. After we get to the main page and immediately can make additional deposits to get the badge (you need 3 deposits with a total of 0.1 ETH). Deposit fee in L2 depends on gas in Ethereum network, so it is better to deposit in time when gas is low, so it usually comes out 2-4$ 3. Let's wait some time till our deposits will come to L2 and info about them will come to Sismo (updated every day) and we will pass to [site](https://playground.sismo.io/aztec-connect-depositors) to get badge 4. Get badge on your address, after we immediately redirected to the invitation to [Discord ZKPay.finance](https://discord.gg/2vHfNZdasZ) 5. After going to discord and passed the verification we can notice, that in the tab "verify-roles" detailed description of how to get a role through a service Collab.land 6. Get the role and PROFIT! xD ### In addition, it is important to be active in the project itself, and here's what I do to increase the chances of retrograde: 1. **Pools.** After I get money to my account, I go to pools in the Earn tab. So far I only use Lido x Curve, but I plan to put money in each one. It is done this way: a certain amount of ether in L2 network (zkETH) you throw at farming in the pool and wait until it comes. I advise you to leave this money in the pool for a long time, it can play a role 2. **Deposit from above average.** If we go to [Dune](https://dune.com/gm365/aztec-v2), we will see the average deposit in ETH, accordingly, I advise to leave at least once an amount above the average deposit and use it 3. **Activity once a week-month**. When you have money, it's easy to test how transactions work (for example, by sending them to your friend). This will increase your online activity and see that these are not deadbeat accounts. Commission per transaction is ~$0.5 4. **Sending from L2 to L1 and vice versa**. I strongly advise to withdraw funds from L2 to L1 and deposit them back. Consider the commission in the Ethereum mainnet! Now this is where my activities end, but soon they may have a [“Trade”](https://zk.money/trade) tab, and if it appears before retro, you will need to interact with it as well. In addition, the developers previously announced the launch of the Aztec Testnet V.1, but now it is not functioning, so it makes no sense to do it. It's worth waiting and watching for updates on their [discord](https://discord.com/invite/aztec) and [twitter](https://twitter.com/aztecnetwork)! [Guide](https://www.alphadrops.net/aztec#d2b84c76-f53c-4766-bfa1-5c5e97ab3284) | [Faucet](https://aztec-connect-testnet-faucet.aztec.network/) | [Testnet](https://aztec-connect-testnet.zk.money/) Thoughts on Aztec token prospects --------------------------------- The developers were definitely touched by the topic of creating a token for their network. Moreover, opening [this document](https://hackmd.io/gs1Q_fOSRpyJWG3Sa_cwDQ#Aztec-Token---public-vs-private), we can see the reasoning about whether public or private token is a priority for Aztec. Based on that, we can say that there will definitely be a token, but in what form is unknown. That is, it is unclear whether or not they will be an airdrop for early users, but the likelihood is high, so just idling around and not evaluating the project's technology without getting rewarded for it is definitely not worth doing. ### Thank you for reading my article! I will be glad if you support it! You can also support me by subscribing to my social networks: **Twitter** [https://twitter.com/tushin15](https://twitter.com/tushin15) **Telegram** [https://t.me/cryptomachin3](https://t.me/cryptomachin3) --- *Originally published on [dimamachine](https://paragraph.com/@dimamachine/azte-privacy-revival)*