
Secret Network
Secret Network (SCRT)
Secret Network (SCRT) is the first blockchain designed for privacy-preserving smart contracts, allowing apps and users to keep data encrypted on-chain.
Unlike most blockchains where all information is public, Secret enables developers to build “secret apps” — dApps that can handle sensitive data privately.
What Is Secret Network?
Secret Network launched in 2020 as an evolution of Enigma, a privacy research project from MIT.
It’s built using the Cosmos SDK, giving it fast transaction speeds, interoperability, and on-chain governance.
- Token: SCRT
- Consensus: Proof-of-Stake (Tendermint)
- Privacy tech: Encrypted smart contracts
- Network type: Layer-1 blockchain
Secret’s mission is to make privacy a core feature of Web3, not an optional add-on.
How Does Secret Network Work?
Secret contracts use Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) — special secure hardware areas inside validator nodes — to encrypt inputs, states, and outputs.
That means even the node operators can’t see your data.
Use cases include:
- Private DeFi: hide balances or trading strategies.
- Secret NFTs: metadata and ownership details can be private.
- Data sharing: users control who sees their data via encryption keys.
This gives developers tools to create Web3 apps that respect user confidentiality — something no public chain can fully offer.
Why Secret Network Matters 🔒
- Privacy + smart contracts — a rare combination in crypto.
- Built on Cosmos — interoperable and scalable.
- User-controlled data — privacy for individuals and organizations.
- Active ecosystem — dApps like Shade Protocol and SecretSwap.
Secret Network pioneers the next step in Web3 — programmable privacy — enabling secure finance, healthcare, and identity apps.
Secret Network Use Cases
- DeFi privacy: shielded trading and lending positions.
- Private NFTs: artwork or documents with hidden metadata.
- Decentralized identity: selective data sharing.
- Private DAOs: confidential governance and voting.
Risks of Secret Network ⚠️
- Complex technology: TEEs and privacy layers can be hard to audit.
- Limited adoption: fewer dApps compared to Ethereum or Solana.
- Hardware dependency: relies on trusted Intel SGX hardware.
- Regulatory risk: privacy protocols may face restrictions.
Lanzo Tip 🧠
Secret Network shows that privacy isn’t about hiding — it’s about control.
You decide what to reveal, when, and to whom. That’s real decentralization.