Aztec developers have launched StealthNote, a platform designed to protect anonymous whistleblowers by leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs).

According to Saleel Pichen, an Aztec software developer, StealthNote allows users to share valuable information, referred to as 'alpha,' while maintaining their anonymity.

Pichen explained that the platform generates a zero-knowledge proof of a Google JSON Web Token to verify users without revealing any personal information.

He also noted that email verification is just the beginning, with plans for future features that will enable users to prove their membership in various anonymous groups or identities.

The platform has already attracted users from organizations like the Ethereum Foundation and StarkWare, who are expressing support for enhanced privacy solutions.

In a recent blog post, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, highlighted the growing importance of zero-knowledge proofs in addressing privacy issues.

Buterin criticized the prevailing belief that governments prioritize transparency over privacy, advocating for ZK-proofs to empower users in controlling their information visibility.

StealthNote enables users to authenticate their corporate emails through Google JWTs while ensuring their anonymity in communications.

Currently, the platform supports Gmail accounts, with plans to integrate Microsoft and other Single Sign-On providers, as well as features like a 'Slack bridge'.

The tool is specifically designed to facilitate anonymous data submissions, targeting whistleblowers who possess insider knowledge of unethical practices.

Aztec Network, the creator of StealthNote, is a privacy-focused Layer 2 solution on the Ethereum blockchain, having raised $100 million in Series B funding in December 2022.

Development of StealthNote began by late October 2024, with the first test post occurring approximately three months before its official launch.