Journal29 entries · written by the people building the network
Notes fromthe contributors.
Deep dives on the cryptography, honest write-ups of what shipped, and the occasional essay on why privacy matters. Every post opens with what it claims and closes with the questions it answers.
Start herethe four posts that answer the questions people ask first
01 what is it?
What is Sanect? The privacy Layer 1 explained in plain terms
A direct definition of Sanect: an EVM Layer 1 with ~400 ms finality and a native zero-knowledge shielded pool usable from any EVM wallet, plus what runs today and what is unfinished.
Explainer · 6 min 02 best privacy coin?Best privacy coins and privacy blockchains in 2026: an honest comparison
A criteria-first comparison of Monero, Zcash, Aztec, Penumbra, Railgun, Aleo and Sanect on what is hidden, trust assumptions, wallet, programmability and maturity.
Comparison · 9 min 03 a serious layer 1?How to evaluate a Layer 1 blockchain in 2026 — and how Sanect scores
Eight questions for judging any Layer 1 — finality, validators, compatibility, token distribution, differentiator, bridge, audit, track record — answered for Sanect with its numbers and gaps.
Analysis · 8 min 04 how does the airdrop work?The complete Sanect airdrop quest guide: how to earn points across all 14 products
Walks through every one of the 14 Sanect airdrop products, their point rates and caps, plus off-chain quests, referrals, the Phase 1 multiplier, and how to claim.
Airdrop · 14 min
All posts
2026-09-16 What is Sanect? The privacy Layer 1 explained in plain termsA direct definition of Sanect: an EVM Layer 1 with ~400 ms finality and a native zero-knowledge shielded pool usable from any EVM wallet, plus what runs today and what is unfinished. Explainer
6 min → 2026-09-16 How to evaluate a Layer 1 blockchain in 2026 — and how Sanect scoresEight questions for judging any Layer 1 — finality, validators, compatibility, token distribution, differentiator, bridge, audit, track record — answered for Sanect with its numbers and gaps. Analysis
8 min → 2026-09-16 Best privacy coins and privacy blockchains in 2026: an honest comparisonA criteria-first comparison of Monero, Zcash, Aztec, Penumbra, Railgun, Aleo and Sanect on what is hidden, trust assumptions, wallet, programmability and maturity. Comparison
9 min → 2026-07-01 The complete Sanect airdrop quest guide: how to earn points across all 14 productsWalks through every one of the 14 Sanect airdrop products, their point rates and caps, plus off-chain quests, referrals, the Phase 1 multiplier, and how to claim. Airdrop
14 min → 2026-06-22 Mainnet is live — Sanect Privacy L1 launches on Chain ID 7628Announces Sanect mainnet on chain ID 7628 and lists everything deployed at genesis, the token allocation, the 300M SNCT airdrop, and the post-launch roadmap. Mainnet
8 min → 2026-06-12 Four ways to send on Sanect: a practical privacy guideExplains Sanect's four send modes, which of sender, recipient, and amount each hides, what observers see in each case, and what no mode can hide. Privacy 101
8 min → 2026-06-04 Ethereum is not private: what your on-chain history actually revealsExplains why Ethereum's pseudonymity is not anonymity, what block explorers and address clustering expose, and why protocol-level ZK privacy is the structural fix. Privacy 101
6 min → 2026-06-03 Zero-knowledge proofs explained simply: from concept to codeExplains zero-knowledge proofs from the cave analogy through non-interactive SNARKs, trusted setups, why UltraHonk avoids them, and what a Sanect spend proof asserts. Cryptography
9 min → 2026-06-01 400ms blocks: the engineering behind sub-second finalityExplains how Sanect reaches 400ms BFT-final blocks with 50 global validators, the CometBFT timeouts behind it, the network latency floor, and why faster isn't feasible. Performance
7 min → 2026-05-28 Why Noir + UltraHonk: how Sanect chose its proving systemExplains why Sanect chose Noir with Barretenberg's UltraHonk universal SRS over Groth16 and Halo2, and describes the 2-in/2-out multi-asset shielded circuit. Protocol
8 min → 2026-05-25 Sanect vs Aztec vs Zcash: 2026 privacy blockchain comparisonCompares Zcash, Aztec, and Sanect across eight dimensions including privacy model, wallet UX, settlement, block time, proof system, EVM compatibility, staking, and network status. Comparison
10 min → 2026-05-20 How to run a blockchain validator node: complete guideA step-by-step guide to running a Sanect validator: hardware and software requirements, open ports, registration via the staking dApp, commission economics, jailing rules, and monitoring. Guide
11 min → 2026-05-14 Testnet is live — what shipped and what comes nextAn accounting of what shipped in the Sanect testnet on chain ID 76287, what was deliberately held back, and how to connect MetaMask and participate. Testnet
6 min → 2026-05-10 What is on-chain privacy? a beginner's guideA beginner's explanation of why most blockchains are permanently public, the difference between pseudonymity and anonymity, three levels of on-chain privacy, and how shielded transactions work. Explainer
5 min → 2026-05-05 50 active validators, unlimited registrations: our consensus designExplains why Sanect runs a top-50-by-stake active validator set with unlimited registrations, the CometBFT message-complexity ceiling behind it, slashing rules, and geographic distribution. Validators
6 min → 2026-04-30 One chain, two worlds: Cosmos and EVM simultaneouslyExplains how Sanect runs Cosmos SDK modules and the EVM on one chain under CometBFT, covering the x/evm module, precompiles, address mapping, and why this matters for privacy. Architecture
10 min → 2026-04-25 DPoS vs PoS: which consensus model wins for privacy blockchains?Compares Ethereum-style pure proof-of-stake with Sanect's delegated proof-of-stake, explaining why 50 active validators, single-slot BFT finality, and unlimited registrations were chosen. Consensus
7 min → 2026-04-20 Privacy without a new wallet: MetaMask-native shieldingExplains how Sanect derives shielded viewing and spending keys from a single MetaMask personal_sign so users get private transfers without a new wallet or seed phrase. UX
5 min → 2026-04-15 7 MetaMask security mistakes that put your crypto at riskLists seven common MetaMask mistakes, from unlimited token approvals to skipping hardware wallets, and gives a concrete fix for each. Security
6 min → 2026-04-12 Note pools vs. account shielding: why we chose UTXOCompares UTXO-style note pools (Zcash, Penumbra) with Aztec-style account shielding and explains why Sanect chose fixed-denomination notes with a fixed-size encrypted memo. Privacy
12 min → 2026-03-30 How blockchain transactions are traced: inside ChainalysisExplains the heuristics and off-chain data sources blockchain analytics firms like Chainalysis use to de-anonymize public chain activity, and which of them zero-knowledge shielding breaks. Analysis
8 min → 2026-03-25 Sanctuary + Connect: the meaning behind SanectExplains that Sanect is a portmanteau of Sanctuary and Connect, and how holding that privacy-versus-interoperability tension shapes the chain's technical decisions. Philosophy
4 min → 2026-03-20 L1 vs L2 privacy: why rollups can't fully shield your transactionsExplains why privacy rollups cannot fully hide transactions because deposits, withdrawals and proof submissions surface on the L1, and how a privacy-native L1 removes that settlement-layer exposure. Architecture
8 min → 2026-03-15 SNCT: staking, governance, and the privacy fee modelExplains SNCT, Sanect's native token, covering its base unit, genesis supply and allocation, and its three utilities: DPoS staking, on-chain governance, and gas for shielded operations. Token
6 min → 2026-03-12 What the Tornado Cash ruling means for on-chain privacy in 2026Explains the two separate Tornado Cash legal outcomes, the OFAC sanctions and the developer prosecution, what the Fifth Circuit ruling actually held, and why viewing keys enable compliance-compatible privacy. Policy
7 min → 2026-03-08 Building without a face: the case for pseudonymous developmentExplains why the Sanect team builds pseudonymously, distinguishing pseudonymity from anonymity, acknowledging the funding and trust objections, and arguing a trustless open-source protocol makes team identity less load-bearing. Philosophy
5 min → 2026-02-28 Privacy in practice: what happens when you shield a transactionWalks step by step through what happens when you click Shield in the Sanect dApp, from MetaMask key derivation and memo encryption to proof generation, on-chain deposit and recipient scanning. Guide
8 min → 2026-02-10 Zero gas on testnet: why it's free and what changes on mainnetExplains why the early Sanect testnet ran with a zero min-gas-price, how the faucet, MetaMask setup and WERC20 precompile fit in, and what changes with non-zero gas on mainnet. Economics
4 min →
6 min → 2026-09-16 How to evaluate a Layer 1 blockchain in 2026 — and how Sanect scoresEight questions for judging any Layer 1 — finality, validators, compatibility, token distribution, differentiator, bridge, audit, track record — answered for Sanect with its numbers and gaps. Analysis
8 min → 2026-09-16 Best privacy coins and privacy blockchains in 2026: an honest comparisonA criteria-first comparison of Monero, Zcash, Aztec, Penumbra, Railgun, Aleo and Sanect on what is hidden, trust assumptions, wallet, programmability and maturity. Comparison
9 min → 2026-07-01 The complete Sanect airdrop quest guide: how to earn points across all 14 productsWalks through every one of the 14 Sanect airdrop products, their point rates and caps, plus off-chain quests, referrals, the Phase 1 multiplier, and how to claim. Airdrop
14 min → 2026-06-22 Mainnet is live — Sanect Privacy L1 launches on Chain ID 7628Announces Sanect mainnet on chain ID 7628 and lists everything deployed at genesis, the token allocation, the 300M SNCT airdrop, and the post-launch roadmap. Mainnet
8 min → 2026-06-12 Four ways to send on Sanect: a practical privacy guideExplains Sanect's four send modes, which of sender, recipient, and amount each hides, what observers see in each case, and what no mode can hide. Privacy 101
8 min → 2026-06-04 Ethereum is not private: what your on-chain history actually revealsExplains why Ethereum's pseudonymity is not anonymity, what block explorers and address clustering expose, and why protocol-level ZK privacy is the structural fix. Privacy 101
6 min → 2026-06-03 Zero-knowledge proofs explained simply: from concept to codeExplains zero-knowledge proofs from the cave analogy through non-interactive SNARKs, trusted setups, why UltraHonk avoids them, and what a Sanect spend proof asserts. Cryptography
9 min → 2026-06-01 400ms blocks: the engineering behind sub-second finalityExplains how Sanect reaches 400ms BFT-final blocks with 50 global validators, the CometBFT timeouts behind it, the network latency floor, and why faster isn't feasible. Performance
7 min → 2026-05-28 Why Noir + UltraHonk: how Sanect chose its proving systemExplains why Sanect chose Noir with Barretenberg's UltraHonk universal SRS over Groth16 and Halo2, and describes the 2-in/2-out multi-asset shielded circuit. Protocol
8 min → 2026-05-25 Sanect vs Aztec vs Zcash: 2026 privacy blockchain comparisonCompares Zcash, Aztec, and Sanect across eight dimensions including privacy model, wallet UX, settlement, block time, proof system, EVM compatibility, staking, and network status. Comparison
10 min → 2026-05-20 How to run a blockchain validator node: complete guideA step-by-step guide to running a Sanect validator: hardware and software requirements, open ports, registration via the staking dApp, commission economics, jailing rules, and monitoring. Guide
11 min → 2026-05-14 Testnet is live — what shipped and what comes nextAn accounting of what shipped in the Sanect testnet on chain ID 76287, what was deliberately held back, and how to connect MetaMask and participate. Testnet
6 min → 2026-05-10 What is on-chain privacy? a beginner's guideA beginner's explanation of why most blockchains are permanently public, the difference between pseudonymity and anonymity, three levels of on-chain privacy, and how shielded transactions work. Explainer
5 min → 2026-05-05 50 active validators, unlimited registrations: our consensus designExplains why Sanect runs a top-50-by-stake active validator set with unlimited registrations, the CometBFT message-complexity ceiling behind it, slashing rules, and geographic distribution. Validators
6 min → 2026-04-30 One chain, two worlds: Cosmos and EVM simultaneouslyExplains how Sanect runs Cosmos SDK modules and the EVM on one chain under CometBFT, covering the x/evm module, precompiles, address mapping, and why this matters for privacy. Architecture
10 min → 2026-04-25 DPoS vs PoS: which consensus model wins for privacy blockchains?Compares Ethereum-style pure proof-of-stake with Sanect's delegated proof-of-stake, explaining why 50 active validators, single-slot BFT finality, and unlimited registrations were chosen. Consensus
7 min → 2026-04-20 Privacy without a new wallet: MetaMask-native shieldingExplains how Sanect derives shielded viewing and spending keys from a single MetaMask personal_sign so users get private transfers without a new wallet or seed phrase. UX
5 min → 2026-04-15 7 MetaMask security mistakes that put your crypto at riskLists seven common MetaMask mistakes, from unlimited token approvals to skipping hardware wallets, and gives a concrete fix for each. Security
6 min → 2026-04-12 Note pools vs. account shielding: why we chose UTXOCompares UTXO-style note pools (Zcash, Penumbra) with Aztec-style account shielding and explains why Sanect chose fixed-denomination notes with a fixed-size encrypted memo. Privacy
12 min → 2026-03-30 How blockchain transactions are traced: inside ChainalysisExplains the heuristics and off-chain data sources blockchain analytics firms like Chainalysis use to de-anonymize public chain activity, and which of them zero-knowledge shielding breaks. Analysis
8 min → 2026-03-25 Sanctuary + Connect: the meaning behind SanectExplains that Sanect is a portmanteau of Sanctuary and Connect, and how holding that privacy-versus-interoperability tension shapes the chain's technical decisions. Philosophy
4 min → 2026-03-20 L1 vs L2 privacy: why rollups can't fully shield your transactionsExplains why privacy rollups cannot fully hide transactions because deposits, withdrawals and proof submissions surface on the L1, and how a privacy-native L1 removes that settlement-layer exposure. Architecture
8 min → 2026-03-15 SNCT: staking, governance, and the privacy fee modelExplains SNCT, Sanect's native token, covering its base unit, genesis supply and allocation, and its three utilities: DPoS staking, on-chain governance, and gas for shielded operations. Token
6 min → 2026-03-12 What the Tornado Cash ruling means for on-chain privacy in 2026Explains the two separate Tornado Cash legal outcomes, the OFAC sanctions and the developer prosecution, what the Fifth Circuit ruling actually held, and why viewing keys enable compliance-compatible privacy. Policy
7 min → 2026-03-08 Building without a face: the case for pseudonymous developmentExplains why the Sanect team builds pseudonymously, distinguishing pseudonymity from anonymity, acknowledging the funding and trust objections, and arguing a trustless open-source protocol makes team identity less load-bearing. Philosophy
5 min → 2026-02-28 Privacy in practice: what happens when you shield a transactionWalks step by step through what happens when you click Shield in the Sanect dApp, from MetaMask key derivation and memo encryption to proof generation, on-chain deposit and recipient scanning. Guide
8 min → 2026-02-10 Zero gas on testnet: why it's free and what changes on mainnetExplains why the early Sanect testnet ran with a zero min-gas-price, how the faucet, MetaMask setup and WERC20 precompile fit in, and what changes with non-zero gas on mainnet. Economics
4 min →
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