0dApps

Introducing 0dApps: Privacy-Preserving Decentralized Applications

Decentralized applications (dApps) on public blockchains typically consist of a smart contract and a user interface (UI) that allows interaction with the contract. Users sign transactions with their address to update the smart contract’s state, enabling communication with the contract. However, this process compromises user privacy, as anyone on the blockchain can identify the user and their actions, posing security risks for individuals and slowing institutional adoption of blockchain technology.

Silent Protocol introduces 0dApps, a new type of decentralized application designed to address privacy challenges for applications on public blockchains. 0dApps are privacy-preserving applications that enable composable privacy on public blockchains.

What are 0dApps?​

0dApps ("Zero-Knowledge Decentralized Applications") are client-facing applications integrated with a SNARK-powered encryption layer and powered by EZEE. They allow users to interact with existing smart contracts in a privacy-preserving manner. Acting as siloed executioners within EZEE’s execution layer, 0dApps serve as application endpoints that create programmable access channels to target smart contracts. This enables users to make arbitrarily complex, on-chain smart contract calls privately without generating additional ZK proofs.

This design is made possible through Silent Protocol’s novel framework, EZEE (Economical Zero-Knowledge Execution Environment). EZEE not only enables composable privacy for the first time but also provides scalable, cost-efficient privacy for users. Unlike other privacy models that require complex cryptography or costly ZK proofs for private smart contract interactions, transactions via 0dApps are fully composable, eliminating the need for users to handle such overhead. 0dApps ensure user data privacy while preserving data immutability and public verifiability.