Paper 2026/474 Original: eprint.iacr.org/2026/474 ↗

Scalable Compliant Privacy on Starknet

Abstract

We present a privacy protocol implemented on Starknet that enables confidential transactions while maintaining regulatory compliance. Transfers hide the sender, receiver, and amount from external observers, with validity enforced by zero-knowledge proofs generated on the client side using the Stwo STARK prover. The protocol introduces three key innovations: (1) an efficient note discovery mechanism, (2) a practical compliance framework that enables an auditing entity to selectively unshield transactions upon legitimate regulatory request, and (3) anonymous integration with existing Starknet DeFi contracts. The system supports multiple token types in a single pool and leverages Starknet's native account abstraction for transaction authorization. All proof logic and contract code are written in Cairo, providing a unified codebase that simplifies auditing and development.