The Ethereum Foundation has opened a site that demonstrates how zero-knowledge proofs hide sensitive data while proving rules were followed. It targets people who build, hold, issue or validate tokens and need to keep certain facts private. The site acts as a library of working code and documents rather than an investment pitch.
The site focuses on two practical uses: turning real estate, bonds or other real-world property into tokens on a public chain while keeping price or owner data secret, and using the same stake that secures Ethereum to secure extra services while still hiding operator details. Both uses demand privacy, safe custody and ready liquidity, and the site gathers the necessary materials in one place.
Zero-knowledge proofs work like a sealed envelope: anyone can verify a valid signature without reading the letter inside. This is crucial when a business must prove that a loan is covered by collateral without revealing the borrower’s name. The site lists different kinds of proofs, compares them and offers sample code that auditors can run, helping teams choose the right approach.
Purpose and how it works
Live demos shorten the time needed to test token ideas, but they also force teams to decide how oracles, custodians and settlement rails will handle the parts of the deal that remain off chain. This clarifies integration points before production decisions are made.
Issuers and builders gain a clear starting point, so more pilots can start sooner with less trial-and-error. If owners know that sensitive numbers will stay hidden, they may put more assets on chain, though buyers could face harder price discovery.
When custody sits with a traditional bank and validation sits on chain, contracts must spell out who pays if either side fails. Regulators still demand KYC in addition to AML reports, so proofs must let an auditor check identity without leaking it to the public.
The Foundation now acts as a neutral librarian between coders and companies. The site’s value rests on the quality of its examples and on whether banks, issuers and regulators use them. The next signal to watch is the release of full demos and copy-ready code that teams can run in test nets and audit on their own, which will determine practical uptake and market readiness.
