Title: Aztec Rollup · Vendor · EthSystems

URL Source: https://original.es-internal.pages.dev/vendors/aztec/

Markdown Content:
---
description: Aztec is a privacy focused rollup (or zk-zk-rollup) on Ethereum that enables private transactions and programmable privacy. It is a fully programmable network where applications can access both private and public state.
title: Aztec Rollup · Vendor · EthSystems
image: https://original.es-internal.pages.dev/og.png
---

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# Aztec - Privacy ZK Rollup

## Fits with patterns

* [Noir Private Contracts](/patterns/pattern-noir-private-contracts/) \- Noir private smart contracts
* [Privacy L2s](/patterns/pattern-privacy-l2s/) \- Privacy-native rollup execution
* [Shielding](/patterns/pattern-shielding/) \- Shielded ERC-20 transfers and confidential balances
* [Shielding](/patterns/pattern-shielding/) \- Confidential ERC-20 transfers

## Not a substitute for

* Fully private EVM
* High througput but public rollups

## Architecture

* Hybrid State Model
  * Private state (UTXO-based) is managed by the wallet on the user's device.
  * Public state (Account-based) is managed by the AVM (Aztec Virtual Machine) on nodes.
* Smart contracts are written in [Noir](/patterns/pattern-noir-private-contracts/) using the Aztec.nr framework.
* Proof system: Honk (UltraHonk) and UltraPlonk. Honk allows for fast recursion and removes the need for a trusted setup.
* DA model: Rollup posts data to Ethereum L1 using EIP-4844 Blobs.
* Settlement: Decentralized sequencers; L2 validity proofs are verified on Ethereum L1.

## Privacy domains

* **Private transfers**: Optional shielding of token amounts, counterparties from the public chain.
* **Selective disclosure**: Users can export viewing keys for auditors/regulators.
* **Programmable privacy**: Circuits allow private execution of DeFi-like logic (DEX, lending) within Aztec.

## Enterprise demand and use cases

* Financial institutions: private stablecoin transfers and settlement.
* Asset managers: confidential DeFi strategies and portfolio movements.
* Corporate treasuries: cross-border payments with regulatory audit but hidden competitive data.

## Technical details

* zkSNARKs: Plonkish proving system with efficient verifier contracts.
* UTXO note commitments with nullifiers to prevent double spends.
* L1/L2 communication relies on "Portals". These are pairs of contracts (one on Ethereum L1, one on Aztec L2) that pass messages asynchronously via the rollup contract, enabling token bridges and cross-chain governance without trusted 3rd parties.
* Native account abstraction at the protocol level; all accounts are smart contracts.
* Decentralized sequencer (Fernet), block production uses a randomized leader election (VRF-based) to select sequencers, ensuring fair participation. It includes a Based Fallback mechanism, allowing users to submit transactions directly to L1 if the L2 sequencers attempt to censor them.

## Strengths

* Strong privacy guarantees for: any private data, private function execution, private smart contract code, privacy over who executed the functions.
* Programmable privacy smart contract execution extend beyond simple shielded transfers.
* Mature research team with open-source infrastructure and audits.

## Risks and open questions

* State Synchronization, users must download and trial-decrypt note history to discover their funds (cannot simply query a balance). Wallets must actively track, discover, and consume Notes, creating sync bottlenecks compared to public L2s.
* Client-Side Proving, private execution requires local proof generation (via PXE), demanding significant compute resources for end users.
* Compliance vs. Permissionlessness, While "Selective Disclosure" exists, it is unclear if regulators will accept retroactive auditing over proactive censorship (e.g., OFAC lists at the sequencer level).
* Performances, this system requires a lot of engineering at the cost of a lower throughput, raising the question of use cases that it could tackle.

## Links

* [Aztec Docs](https://docs.aztec.network/)
* [Aztec GitHub](https://github.com/AztecProtocol)
  * [Zk Backend](https://github.com/AztecProtocol/aztec-packages)
* [Aztec Medium: Rollup Architecture](https://medium.com/aztec-protocol)
* [Aztec Connect Overview](https://aztec.network/connect)

Used in

[ Private Bond Issuance & Trading Privacy L2 ](/approaches/approach-private-bonds/#privacy-l2)[ Private Payments Privacy L2 ](/approaches/approach-private-payments/#privacy-l2)[ Private Smart Derivatives ZK + Shielded Pool ](/approaches/approach-private-derivatives/#zk-shielded-pool)[ Private Trade Settlement Privacy L2 Native DvP ](/approaches/approach-private-trade-settlement/#privacy-l2-native-dvp)[ Private Transaction Broadcasting Private Rollups ](/approaches/approach-private-broadcasting/#private-rollups)[ White-Label Infrastructure Deployment Vendor-Managed Deployment ](/approaches/approach-white-label-deployment/#vendor-managed-deployment)[ White-Label Infrastructure Deployment Institution-Controlled Deployment ](/approaches/approach-white-label-deployment/#institution-controlled-deployment)[ White-Label Infrastructure Deployment Consortium Deployment ](/approaches/approach-white-label-deployment/#consortium-deployment) 

#### Referenced by

approaches3
* [Private Smart Derivatives](/approaches/approach-private-derivatives/)
* [Private Transaction Broadcasting](/approaches/approach-private-broadcasting/)
* [White-Label Infrastructure Deployment](/approaches/approach-white-label-deployment/)
building blocks7
* [Modular Privacy Stack](/patterns/pattern-modular-privacy-stack/)
* [Noir Private Contracts](/patterns/pattern-noir-private-contracts/)
* [Private Intent-Based Vaults](/patterns/pattern-private-vaults/)
* [Private Stablecoin Shielded Payments](/patterns/pattern-private-stablecoin-shielded-payments/)
* [Selective Disclosure (Viewing Keys + Zero-Knowledge Proofs)](/patterns/pattern-regulatory-disclosure-keys-proofs/)
* [Shielding](/patterns/pattern-shielding/)
* [ZK Proof Systems](/patterns/pattern-zk-proof-systems/)
vendors1
* [EY](/vendors/ey/)

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