Ethereum Foundation Launches 'Privacy Stewards for Ethereum' with New Roadmap
Ethereum Foundation unveils bold privacy roadmap as US pushes for tighter surveillance
The Ethereum Foundation has unveiled a new roadmap aimed at making privacy a core feature of the Ethereum blockchain, rebranding its “Privacy & Scaling Explorations” initiative to “Privacy Stewards of Ethereum” (PSE). The program is set to focus on privacy across all layers of the ecosystem, including infrastructure, networking, applications, and wallets, with key developments planned over the next six months.
Among the priorities are private transfers through the PlasmaFold layer-2 network, confidential voting mechanisms, and enhanced privacy tools for decentralized finance (DeFi). The roadmap also highlights efforts to protect personal data shared via remote procedure call (RPC) services and to introduce private identity solutions using zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, which allow verification without exposing sensitive details.
PSE emphasized that Ethereum’s future as a global platform for commerce, identity, and digital value depends on strong privacy protections. The foundation pledged to work with protocol teams to ensure that any required layer-1 upgrades support censorship-resistant, intermediary-free privacy for users.
Privacy has long been central to the cypherpunk values that inspired cryptocurrencies. However, growing adoption has brought increased scrutiny from regulators. In the US, the Department of the Treasury, under Secretary Scott Bessent, is exploring proposals to enforce government identity checks on smart contracts, a move criticized by many in the crypto community as excessive surveillance.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has consistently argued that privacy is a human right, warning earlier this year that transparency in blockchain systems should be seen as a flaw rather than a strength. He stressed that privacy is necessary to safeguard individuals against growing state authority and powerful corporations in the digital age.
The clash between Ethereum’s push for privacy and government demands for oversight signals a defining moment for the future of decentralized technology.
