Ethereum layer-2 Aztec Network launches public testnet to advance on-chain privacy 

Aztec Network, the Ethereum layer-2 protocol focused on programmable privacy, has officially launched its public testnet.

According to a May 1 press release shared with crypto.news, the launch marks a key milestone in Aztec’s eight-year journey to bring stronger data protection to web3. The testnet is now open to developers and paves the way for a fully decentralized mainnet, where no central authority will have hidden access to user data.

The release follows successful internal testing phases that included over 100 sequencers. Years of research and development at Aztec led to innovations in zero-knowledge technology and programming tools that allow developers to create secure applications. These tools make it possible to keep sensitive user data private while still using Ethereum’s (ETH) infrastructure.

PLONK, a proving system created by Aztec’s team to enable fast and secure zero-knowledge proofs, is at the heart of Aztec’s advancements. This technology powers the testnet’s privacy layer and served as the basis for previous products such as zk.money and Aztec Connect.

Additionally, developers can use Noir, Aztec’s proprietary programming language, designed to simplify the creation of zero-knowledge applications. With Noir’s developer-friendly design, adding privacy to smart contracts is easier and doesn’t require a deep understanding of cryptography.

According to Zac Williamson, co-founder of Aztec, privacy on blockchains doesn’t need to be “all-or-nothing,” as Aztec enables more flexible approaches.

“Developers can use Aztec to build dApps with privacy features that seamlessly blend with Ethereum’s existing infrastructure, and they won’t need to struggle implementing complex cryptography.”

— Zac Williamson, Co-founder of Aztec

Backed by a $100 million Series B led by a16z, Aztec is building a privacy-first Ethereum layer-2 that can scale encrypted smart contracts and support real-world use cases. Ali Yahya, General Partner at a16z Crypto, said their investment in Aztec was driven by the team’s vision of making privacy programmable and widely accessible.