New Ethereum initiative introduces modular privacy tools, zero-knowledge recovery, and decentralized wallet protection
Ethereum’s development community has introduced Kohaku, a forward-looking roadmap designed to enhance wallet privacy and security across the Ethereum ecosystem. The initiative aims to give users and developers greater control through modular, open-source tools that reduce reliance on centralized systems.
Announced by the Ethereum Foundation, Kohaku represents a major step toward privacy-preserving infrastructure for the world’s largest smart contract network. The roadmap details new wallet functionalities powered by zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), peer-to-peer transaction handling, and device-level security integration.
Kohaku: A Modular Framework for Wallet Security
At the core of the Kohaku project is a software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to build wallets with customizable privacy features. The team plans to release a reference wallet, initially available as a browser extension, based on Ambire Wallet, tailored for advanced users who demand enhanced control over their digital assets.
The project involves collaboration among key Ethereum ecosystem players such as Railgun, DeFi Wonderland, Helios, and Oblivious Labs, emphasizing the open-source nature of the effort. Developers can already contribute to the project through its public repositories.
“Kohaku represents the next evolution in Ethereum wallet design — secure, modular, and independent from centralized infrastructure,”
Reducing Dependence on Centralized Wallet Services
One of Kohaku’s primary objectives is to minimize wallets’ dependence on third-party servers that can monitor user activity. The roadmap outlines features such as private sending and receiving, IP masking, isolated DApp accounts, and peer-to-peer broadcasting that bypass standard RPC endpoints.
In addition, Kohaku integrates social recovery tools based on privacy-preserving technologies like ZK Email and Anon Aadhaar, which allow users to restore access without exposing personal data.
“We’re moving toward wallets that protect users by default — privacy and sovereignty should not be optional,” commented a developer contributing to the Privacy and Scaling Explorations (PSE) team.
Kohaku is part of the newly formed Ethereum Foundation Privacy Cluster, a group of 47 cryptographers, engineers, and researchers dedicated to advancing on-chain privacy technologies. Working alongside the PSE team, the cluster is developing private transactions, confidential identity systems, and zero-knowledge infrastructure for Ethereum’s layer-1 protocol.
The long-term vision for Kohaku includes integrating wallet protection “as close to the silicon as possible,” hinting at a native Ethereum browser for secure interactions with DApps and decentralized networks.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.