- Ethereum launches Kohaku, an open-source privacy SDK for Web3 wallets.
- Vitalik Buterin and Nico lead the effort to make privacy default.
- Kohaku lets wallets run secure transactions without trusted third parties.
The Ethereum Foundation has launched Kohaku, an open-source project to enhance the security and privacy of Web3 wallets.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Nico led the initiative. It represents a coordinated effort to build safer digital tools that minimize reliance on centralized intermediaries.
Privacy Becomes the New Normal in Ethereum’s Next Chapter
In a public statement on X, the Foundation said, “Privacy is normal. Privacy is for everyone.” The comment affirms Ethereum’s focus on protecting user data while maintaining decentralization, a key principle of blockchain technology.
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What Kohaku Actually Is
Kohaku is a collection of cryptographic primitives, which are the core building blocks that let wallets process private transactions securely.
At its center sits a wallet SDK and a browser-extension prototype that developers can adopt or fork. The SDK gives wallets the ability to perform transactions revealing only what’s strictly necessary, a concept called minimal disclosure.
That model reduces users’ exposure to hacks, scams, and data leaks while cutting dependence on trusted third parties such as centralized RPC providers. Each improvement links to one goal: make wallet privacy and security inseparable.
From Research to Real-World Code
According to Nico, Kohaku began in 2025 as a privacy-first initiative and will expand through 2026 with deeper security layers.
Its GitHub repositories show the SDK’s plug-in system that lets wallet teams choose features, from private send/receive flows to IP leak prevention and aggregated balance views across protocols.
The roadmap also includes post-quantum encryption options and social-recovery tools like ZK email or ZK passport to help users regain access without exposing private keys. Each element builds toward a single outcome: wallets that protect users even when networks or intermediaries fail.
Advancing Ethereum’s Vision
For the Ethereum Foundation, Kohaku continues a decade-long progression; to first decentralize finance, then defend its participants. Buterin has long argued that an open economic system must guarantee both privacy and security.
He and Nico describe Ethereum’s growth as “a garden fertilized by strong cryptography,” and Kohaku as the next cultivation; that is, wallets that can operate securely in public while keeping personal data private.
Open Source, Open Access
All of Kohaku code and its roadmap are public. Developers worldwide are encouraged to review, contribute, and build upon the tools provided.
A working demo is scheduled for Ethereum Foundation Devcon 2025, showing how wallet teams can implement private transactions, private payment requests, and one-account-per-dApp connections that shield metadata from tracking.
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By keeping the project open source, the Foundation hopes to foster collaboration among developers, researchers, and security experts across the blockchain industry.
FAQ – Real User Questions Answered
Q. What is Ethereum Kohaku?
It’s an open-source privacy and security toolkit built by the Ethereum Foundation. It provides wallet developers an SDK to add private transactions and secure features without centralized intermediaries.
Q. How does Kohaku make wallets more private?
By using cryptographic primitives that enable minimal disclosure; only the information needed to complete a transaction is revealed, reducing data leaks and tracking.
Q. Who’s leading the project?
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Nico are heading the initiative, supported by the Ethereum Foundation’s core research team.
Q. Can developers use Kohaku now?
Yes. The code and roadmap are available on GitHub, and developers can already build wallet extensions or SDK integrations from the public repositories.
Q. When will the first demo arrive?
The Foundation plans to showcase Kohaku at Devcon 2025, demonstrating how wallets can execute private transactions and privacy-preserving DeFi interactions.
Q. Why is this important for Ethereum’s future?
Kohaku represents Ethereum’s shift from scaling the chain to securing the user, making privacy a core right for everyone in Web3.
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