A provider of blockchain infrastructure dedicated to privacy solutions, Alisa Davidson just announced the rollout of Privacy Pools on the Ethereum mainnet, empowering ETH users to perform private transactions while keeping their funds safe from connections to illicit activities. 

Privacy Pools utilize zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptographic approach that enables one party to prove it knows certain information without disclosing the information itself. This method ensures that ERC-20 token transfers remain private. A pivotal aspect of this setup is the Association Set Provider (ASP), tasked with validating deposits and filtering out any suspicious or tainted funds. This mechanism preserves the integrity of legitimate assets from being mixed with those associated with illegal activities, striking a balance between user privacy and regulatory adherence. 

The idea for Privacy Pools stems from research co-authored by Ethereum's co-founder, April 24, 2025 in 2023. Buterin has shown public support for the initiative and was indeed among the first to deposit funds following its introduction.

ETH holders can head over to the official website of the project to deposit amounts up to 1 ETH. If their funds pass a wallet screening process, they can expect to make private withdrawals. In situations where 0xbow does not approve the deposit, users can still pull their funds back to the original wallet. This feature guarantees that Privacy Pools maintain their non-custodial nature, ensuring users always have complete control over their assets. 

During the initial phase of the launch, deposit limits range from a minimum of 0.1 ETH to a maximum of 1 ETH. These restrictions will gradually be lifted as technology advances through testing and refinement. A standout aspect enhancing user convenience is the option for partial withdrawals—any remaining ETH will persist in the privacy pool for future use without necessitating a redeposit.  

Another significant enhancement is that users are no longer required to keep a separate note for every transaction. Instead, all Privacy Pools accounts can be accessed through a single private seed phrase. However, as with any cryptocurrency seed phrase, it must be securely stored; if it falls into the wrong hands, malicious individuals could gain access to the connected funds.

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of Privacy Pools on the mainnet!

Ethereum users can now achieve on-chain privacy while dissociating from any unwanted illicit funds.

The responsibility is now on us all to Make Privacy Normal Again 🫡

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How to Get Started with Privacy Pools

To embark on your journey with Privacy Pools, users should gather the necessary tools and funds to ensure a smooth experience. A Web3-compatible wallet, such as MetaMask, Rabby, or Phantom, is essential for interacting with the platform. Your wallet needs to be linked to a supported network, including the Ethereum Mainnet and Gnosis. Additionally, possessing enough cryptocurrency—like ETH or the native token of the network—to cover gas fees is vital. For optimal use, accessing Privacy Pools through a compatible browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Brave is suggested.

Users should then visit the official Privacy Pools decentralized application (dApp) to access the service and ensure they are at the correct URL to evade phishing scams. After reaching the site, they can connect their wallet by selecting 'Connect Wallet' and granting the required permissions for the dApp to link with their Web3 wallet.

Upon connecting a wallet, users must create an account. On the main page, they should click 'Create Account' and securely save their keys. These keys are crucial for engaging with Privacy Pools, and Technology if lost, recovery will not be possible. It’s important to remember that when creating a 0xbow wallet, it should exclusively be utilized for Privacy Pools transactions. Users should never input their primary wallet’s seed phrase into Privacy Pools, as this action could lead to a total loss of their finances.

Once the account is set up, users can move forward by making a deposit. This process starts by heading to the 'Deposit' section within the Privacy Pools interface. They should enter the deposit amount desired and ensure their wallet is sufficiently funded. If they are depositing ERC-20 tokens, the user might need to approve the Privacy Pools contract to access those tokens, which requires acknowledging a prompt in their wallet. After giving approval, deposits can be finalized by clicking 'Deposit,' signing the transaction, and paying the requisite gas fee. Once submitted, the transaction will require confirmation on-chain. At this point, the 0xbow Association Set Provider (ASP) will assess the deposit to verify that the funds are not tied to illegal activities. Once approved, the deposit integrates into the Privacy Pools smart contract, allowing the user to join the anonymity set.  

To withdraw funds, users must head to the 'Withdraw' section within the Privacy Pools interface. They'll need to specify the wallet address for the withdrawal, which can be any address, even a new one for increased privacy. The withdrawal process necessitates a zero-knowledge proof, which the dApp generates automatically. Users must then confirm the transaction in their wallet and wait for processing on-chain. Once successfully mined, the withdrawn funds will appear in the specified recipient address.