Dfns has been selected as one of the first MPC network operators for Zama’s Confidential Blockchain Protocol, joining Figment, InfStones, LayerZero, Omakase, and Stake Capital in this initiative.
Core technology overview
Zama addresses blockchain’s transparency challenge by enabling confidential smart contracts without modifying existing chains. The protocol uses Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) for computation, MPC for decentralized key management, and zero-knowledge proofs for validation. This approach enables end-to-end encryption for blockchain state and transactions that remains composable and publicly verifiable.
Key features include:
- Encryption by default: Data stays encrypted during transit and execution
- Developer-friendly: Uses Solidity with encrypted data types (euint64, ebool)
- Verifiable: Coprocessors publish ciphertext digests onchain
- Composable: Confidential and non-confidential contracts interact seamlessly
Practical application
Consider Alice sending 100 USDC to Bob: her wallet encrypts the amount and recipient address, generates a zero-knowledge proof, the contract executes symbolically, coprocessors perform encrypted arithmetic, and the Gateway coordinates consensus. The result is a verifiable transfer with no visible amounts or addresses.
Dfns’ operational role
Dfns will operate MPC KMS nodes using AWS Nitro Enclaves with hardware-backed attestation. Dfns brings institutional-grade security, holding SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018 certifications, plus operational experience securing billions monthly for 300+ enterprise clients.
Testnet is currently live, with Ethereum mainnet targeted for 2025.