Bitcoin could get Zcash‑style privacy without a soft fork.

Researchers from Alloc Init introduced “Shielded Bitcoin,” a metaprotocol that hides BTC transfer amounts and counterparties while keeping Bitcoin’s consensus unchanged.

The design uses encrypted notes and zero‑knowledge proofs on the base layer; indexers verify the proofs and track nullifiers to prevent double spends, and anyone can run an indexer.

It separates spend and view keys, allowing a read‑only key to detect incoming transfers and enabling users to share limited transaction details without exposing spending power.

Do you think a privacy layer built on Bitcoin’s base layer could become mainstream?

#Bitcoin #Privacy #ZeroKnowledge #Zcash #Crypto