Aztec
1 known investors
Find your way into Aztec
1,507 people in our graph share verified history with the Aztec team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Aztec is a Layer 2 network on Ethereum that provides programmable end-to-end privacy for blockchain applications, letting developers code privacy at the user, data, transaction, and code levels using its Rust-like DSL called Noir. It uses client-side zero-knowledge proofs and decentralized sequencing, proving, and governance to keep sensitive data private, serving Web3 builders creating private on-chain applications.
Also known as Aztec Network · Aztec Protocol
Founders & leadership
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Aztec describes itself as the first decentralized, privacy-preserving Layer 2 on Ethereum. Its stated design premise is that enforced blockchain transparency prevents real-world assets and participants from moving onchain, and that existing privacy approaches relying on centralized sequencers, backdoors or trusted execution environments are inadequate. Instead of an add-on, Aztec positions privacy as an end-to-end, native property of the protocol that developers can apply selectively rather than as an all-or-nothing setting.
The network is organized around four advertised properties: programmable privacy, client-side proofs, composable privacy, and day-1 decentralization. Programmable privacy allows builders to target privacy at the user, data, metadata, transaction and code levels using Noir, Aztec's Rust-like domain-specific language. Client-side proof generation keeps sensitive data on the user's own machine rather than exposing it to the network. Composable privacy is intended to let modular applications interact with other networks and systems without revealing sensitive information. Decentralized sequencing, proving and governance are described as hardcoded into the base protocol, on the rationale that privacy cannot hold if a central entity has the power to violate it.
The network currently runs as Alpha software. Aztec Alpha V5 is live, with V6 planned for later in 2026, and the project publishes network statistics such as block height, number of network operators and active sequencers.
Business model
Aztec operates a public Layer 2 blockchain network on Ethereum, with core protocol development carried out by "core contributors" and third-party teams building applications, wallets, explorers and bridges on top of the network.
Traction
The website publishes live network metrics for block height, network operators and active sequencers. Ecosystem projects built on Aztec include Azguard, a browser-extension wallet for holding, sending and connecting on Aztec; Aztecscan, a block explorer; Nyx, an application; and Shield, an Ethereum-to-Aztec bridge providing end-to-end privacy and compliance guarantees for applications. Dark Forest Aztec, a port of Dark Forest 0.6 that rebuilds the game's hidden-information privacy layer on Aztec's programmable privacy, went live on Alpha V5 in August 2026.
Latest developments
In August 2026 Aztec disclosed a critical Alpha V5 proving-system vulnerability and said findings would inform the V6 release, with a security roadmap covering remaining work and the release path to be published. Dark Forest Aztec, an onchain strategy game with private home coordinates and fleet movements, launched on Alpha V5 in the same month.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, risks & controversies
Market position
Aztec presents itself as the first decentralized, privacy-preserving Layer 2 on Ethereum, differentiating from privacy implementations that depend on centralized sequencers, backdoors or trusted execution environments.
Stated differentiators are programmable, granular privacy rather than all-or-nothing privacy; client-side rather than network-side proof generation; privacy that composes across chains and applications; and decentralized sequencing, proving and governance built into the base protocol from launch rather than added later.
Technology
Aztec uses zero-knowledge cryptographic proofs generated client-side rather than on-network, so sensitive data is not exposed to the network. Applications are written in Noir, a Rust-like domain-specific language, which lets developers program privacy at the user, data, metadata, transaction and code levels. Private data is represented as first-class private notes. Decentralized sequencing, proving and governance are implemented in the base protocol. The current release is Alpha V5, with a V6 release planned for later in 2026 that is expected to include circuit updates preventing acceptance of proofs tied to the affected V5 proving system.
Go-to-market
Aztec markets primarily to builders through developer-focused entry points ("Start Building", getting-started and basics documentation), an ecosystem showcase of projects built on the network, and a news and community channel publishing protocol updates, security disclosures and ecosystem launches.
Developers and application teams building onchain applications that require selective or end-to-end privacy, including wallets, bridges, block explorers and onchain games, along with the end users of those applications.
Risks & controversies
On 7 August 2026 Aztec disclosed a critical vulnerability in the Alpha V5 proving system, identified by core contributors on 27 July 2026 through internal AI-assisted auditing. An attacker could potentially construct a proof that passes verification for a transaction the network should reject, producing a state transition outside V5's intended rules. Contributors stated they cannot determine whether the flaw was exploited, because the affected system cannot distinguish ordinary accepted transactions from those accepted through the flawed proving path, and historical chain activity cannot establish or quantify exploitation. The disclosure advised treating funds, applications and contract state on V5 as exposed to a protocol-level failure, asked teams planning V5 deployments to pause, and asked teams with live contracts to review their ability to limit user exposure, isolate functionality and migrate users. Reviewers reported no other high-severity or critical V5 Alpha vulnerabilities identified at that time; internal and external human audits had completed and AI-assisted auditing continued. Separately, both the network and applications built on it are described as early, experimental Alpha software.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsAztec disclosed that core contributors identified a critical vulnerability in the Alpha V5 proving system on 27 July 2026 via internal AI-assisted auditing. An attacker may be able to construct a proof that passes verification for a transaction the network should reject, placing V5 funds, applications and contract state at risk. Contributors could not determine whether the flaw had been exploited. Teams were asked to pause planned V5 deployments and add safeguards; findings will inform the V6 release, planned for later in 2026.
A port of Dark Forest 0.6 to Aztec launched as early, experimental software on Aztec Alpha V5, rebuilding the game's hidden-information privacy layer using Aztec's programmable privacy, with home coordinates and fleet movements held as first-class private notes.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Aztecaztecprotocol.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Aztec do?
- Aztec is a decentralized, privacy-preserving Ethereum Layer 2 offering programmable privacy for onchain applications.
- Who founded Aztec?
- Aztec was founded by Zachary Williamson.
- Who are Aztec's investors?
- Aztec's investors include Samos Investments.