🔒 Privacy Goes Live on Starknet

The **Starknet Foundation** has launched **Proof of Privacy**, an incubator program for teams building private applications using STRK20, Starknet's privacy framework for ERC-20 assets. **What STRK20 enables:** - Shielded balances and private transfers - Private swaps and trading - Cost-effective transactions at 4 STRK with no variable pricing **Target applications:** - Private payments and identity solutions - Gaming and new financial products - DeFi flows including yield, staking, and lending The framework is expanding across the Starknet ecosystem with broader app integrations, open-source SDK access, and private swaps through [avnu](https://avnu.fi) and [Ekubo](https://ekubo.org). Teams interested in building privacy-focused applications can now apply to the incubator program.

**Privacy features are now live on Starknet** through Ready and Xverse wallets, allowing users to shield assets with a single click. **What's available today:** - Private transfers between wallets - Shielded balances for selected assets - One-click shielding and unshielding - Private swaps through Ready and Xverse **How it works:** Users can select any supported asset (like strkBTC) in their wallet and tap "Shield" to enable privacy. The process is reversible - simply tap "Unshield" when needed. **Important note:** Unshield assets before bridging out, as shielded balances won't appear in bridge interfaces. This marks a shift in crypto privacy - no new wallets, assets, or applications required. Privacy now works directly where users already interact with crypto.

Starknet has officially launched **[STRK20]**, a new token standard focused on privacy functionality. This follows the deployment of Starknet v0.14.2, dubbed "The Privacy Engine," which was announced in April 2026. Key developments: - STRK20 represents a privacy-focused token standard now live on the Starknet network - The launch builds on infrastructure introduced in the v0.14.2 update - Starknet positions this as finding "the right frequency" for privacy implementation The rollout marks a significant step in bringing privacy features to the Starknet ecosystem, expanding the network's capabilities beyond standard token functionality.

**Privacy doesn't have to mean breaking compliance rules.** Most privacy solutions face a problem: they either can't respond to legal requests without exposing everyone, or they isolate users in fragmented ecosystems. **STRK20 takes a different approach:** - Viewing keys are encrypted by an independent auditor - Legal requests can be answered with scoped access per user - Other users in the pool remain protected - No need to freeze funds or delist assets This design keeps privacy functional while meeting regulatory demands—connecting users to existing DeFi without the compliance risks that have plagued other privacy tools.