Ethereum Foundation Advances Default Wallet Privacy With Kohaku

The Ethereum Foundation has underscored its backing for default privacy in cryptocurrency wallets, highlighting ongoing development work on Kohaku, an open-source software development kit designed to integrate multiple privacy protocols. According to CryptoNews, the initiative aims to reduce the visibility of user onchain histories to potential attackers.

Kohaku SDK Integrations and Testing

Kohaku’s SDK features integrations with Railgun, Privacy Pools, and Tornado Cash. Ambire has spent several months testing the Kohaku integrations and providing developer feedback, though no public release date has been announced yet. Jordan Enev’s update on the project called on wallet developers to adopt the tools, noting that the SDK is maturing toward broader integration.

A public SDK repository lists separate libraries for the three protocols, a standardized interface for shielded-pool protocols, a provider component, and a post-quantum account implementation. The repository warns that certain components remain works in progress and include unaudited code.

Devcon Demonstration and Upcoming Sessions

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Foundation researcher Nicolas Consigny are scheduled to demonstrate Kohaku using the Ambire Wallet during Devcon on Nov. 3 on Lotus Stage 2. The session description outlines plans to showcase privacy protocol integrations, light clients, post-quantum accounts, and hardware wallet clear signing.

Consigny leads the Kohaku research effort within the Foundation, encompassing wallets, privacy protocols, and post-quantum cryptography. The Kohaku reference implementation browser wallet uses Ambire’s wallet code and points to the Sepolia testnet as its supported network.

Key facts

• The Ethereum Foundation backed default wallet privacy in an Oct. 26 X post, highlighting the Kohaku SDK.
• Kohaku integrates Railgun, Privacy Pools, and Tornado Cash.
• Vitalik Buterin and Nicolas Consigny are scheduled to demonstrate Kohaku using Ambire Wallet at Devcon.
• Ambire has spent months testing Kohaku integrations without a public launch date yet.