I spent the weekend learning about Silent Protocol, their patent pending EZEE framework, and how they're aiming to bring privacy to any on-chain application. This is a solution that has the potential to change how users interact with crypto apps. Let me share what I learned.

One disadvantage of existing privacy solutions is that they suffers from a condition known as “State Denial”. If an application or any variable is private, then you lose the ability to share it with the rest of the members in the network. This prevents an ecosystem of privacy-preserving applications from emerging.

EZEE, as proposed by Silent Protocol, solves the problem of State Denial by segregating both the encryption and the execution layer to carry out privacy preserving operations. It's a framework for privacy preserving computation that supports interactions with arbitrary Systems.

EZEE which is short for Economical Zero Knowledge Execution Environment, basically allow users to operate different end contracts through these ‘environments’ or execution silos. This enables users to interact with the entire system instead of a single function.

All of this is possible due to EZEE Signals - a protocol for anonymous messaging between two endpoints. It utilises stealth address and group signature-like primitives. Vitalik wrote an interesting piece about stealth addresses: t.ly/B-M8

EZEE is an evolution of Zether that enables users to operate different execution silos concurrently. While 0xnovachrono from Silent Protocol might have found a silver bullet for privacy, I still have some questions.

While on one hand EZEE might allow Silent to bake privacy into Ethereum and other public blockchains in a meaningful manner, it's unclear how they are thinking about enabling anonymous relaying. Afaik, this is a big blocker for privacy on public blockchains.

However if I understand correctly, operating on these execution silos on Silent Protocol, won't require any relays and will be private by default. Would love more details here if anyone has!

I'm still wrapping my head around EZEE, but the problem of State Denial is real in the privacy space and Silent Protocol is offering a clever solution to bypass the problem. If successful this should make life much easier and more secure. Follow them with me @silentdao.lens