A privacy protocol backed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Nocturne, has announced its gradual shutdown without citing specific reasons.
The protocol garnered attention for its efforts to blend zero-knowledge proofs with blockchain technology, aiming to introduce private accounts on public blockchain platforms.
In their statement, the Nocturne team expressed gratitude to supporters and mentioned that their platform, app.nocturne.xyz, would remain open for withdrawals until the month’s end.
Subsequently, a self-serve withdrawal system via their GitHub repository would be available, providing clear instructions on fund retrieval using their CLI tool.
This decision comes shortly after Nocturne secured $6 million in funding from Bain Capital Crypto and Polychain Capital. While no explicit cause was provided for the shutdown, it coincides with heightened regulatory scrutiny of privacy protocols.
The crypto community has been engaged in discussions spurred by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s advocacy for transaction privacy and draws parallels to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), suggesting Ethereum’s base layer should focus on functionality, leaving encryption tasks to higher layers.
This development underscores ongoing debates about privacy within blockchain technology, especially regarding Ethereum’s stance on default transaction privacy.
As the Nocturne protocol winds down, it prompts reflections on the broader landscape of privacy protocols and their place in evolving regulatory environments.
Also Read: Vitalik Buterin Criticizes Celebrity-Driven Crypto Ventures
