StarkWare Publishes ColliderVM Research for Bitcoin Scaling Without OP_CAT

**Privacy features for USDC are now live on Starknet**, enabling private transfers and swaps using Circle's USDC. Powered by **STRK20s** (Starknet's privacy framework for ERC-20s), users can: - **Shield USDC** into a private balance with one click - **Swap confidentially** through Ready and Xverse wallets - **Unshield back** to standard ERC-20 behavior anytime - **Maintain full auditability** for tax and legal compliance The system uses encrypted viewing keys for selective disclosure to authorized auditors when required, balancing privacy with accountability. **Private transactions cost 4 STRK** with no variable pricing based on transaction size. STRK20 uses a **shared privacy pool** that strengthens as more users and assets join. The framework leverages Starknet's provable computation capabilities to verify private flows without exposing transaction details. Read more: [Privacy features for USDC on Starknet](https://www.starknet.io/privacy-features-for-usdc-on-starknet/)

**The Problem:** Blockchain transparency has been a major barrier to enterprise adoption. Every stablecoin transfer reveals: - Sender and recipient addresses - Transaction amounts - Timing of payments This makes it impractical for companies to run **payroll**, **treasury operations**, **supplier payments**, and **OTC flows** onchain at scale. **What's Changed:** A new solution appears to address this limitation, potentially enabling private transactions while maintaining the benefits of blockchain infrastructure. **Why It Matters:** For businesses, payment privacy isn't about hiding—it's about competitive protection. Transparent transactions expose: - Employee compensation structures - Supplier relationships and pricing - Capital deployment strategies - Trading patterns This development could remove a key obstacle preventing institutional adoption of onchain payments.

**Shield Rush is now live** on Starknet, offering users a new way to earn rewards through daily activities. **What is Shield Rush?** - A campaign where participants complete daily activities using Shielding technology - Open to anyone who wants to participate - Rewards are distributed among active participants - Powered by StarkWare Ltd **Key Details:** - Getting started is straightforward and accessible - Activities are designed to be completed daily - Uses Starknet's Shielding feature as the core mechanism [Visit the Shield Rush website](https://strk20.starknet.io/shield-rush) to begin participating in the campaign and start earning your share of rewards.

The **strkBTC bridge** now operates through a Federation of five independent institutions managing Bitcoin bridging infrastructure. **Federation Members:** - Twinstake - NEAR Protocol/Intents - Luganodes - UTXO Management - Xverse Each member operates infrastructure supporting the **minting, burning, and bridging** of BTC and strkBTC tokens. The Federation provides a defined operational trust model for moving Bitcoin into and out of the Starknet ecosystem. This multi-institutional approach distributes responsibility across independent operators rather than relying on a single entity.

**STRK20** introduces privacy features for ERC-20 tokens on Starknet while maintaining regulatory compliance through encrypted viewing keys. **Key Features:** - Private balances, transfers, and swaps for any ERC-20 on Starknet - Fixed cost of 4 $STRK per transaction, regardless of size - Single shared privacy pool that strengthens as more users join - Encrypted viewing keys allow authorized auditors to access specific information on legitimate requests **How It Works:** Users can shield ERC-20 tokens into private balances, conduct private transactions, then unshield with one click—all within the same wallet and liquidity pools. The framework leverages Starknet's provable computation capabilities to verify private transactions without exposing details. As the privacy pool grows with more users and assets, individual transactions become harder to isolate. **Ecosystem Expansion:** STRK20 is rolling out across Starknet with integrations for [avnu](https://avnu.fi) and [Ekubo](https://ekubo.org), plus an open-source SDK. The [Proof of Privacy incubator](https://starknet.io) supports teams building private applications for payments, trading, identity, and DeFi. *Privacy by default, accountability when required.*