Summary
July was a month of conferences, summer holidays, and building.
Development progress was mostly behind the scenes: a new Keyper release, progress on the Primev X Shutter PoC, event-based decryption triggers, and permanent private voting POC (using linearly homomorphic encryption).
Marcoms focused on the Ethereum Time Capsule: which earned 259 entries from a diverse range of Ethereum communities, and widespread media coverage.
Team
0.3 CEO, 0.5 Admin, 1.5 Business, 1.25 MarComs, 3.75 Developers, 1 Researcher
Keypers
Keyper Sets - Gnosis Keypers: 6 Keypers active / 1 Keyper not showing in metrics (Threshold 4/7). API Keypers: 6 Keypers active (3 external + 3 internal) (Threshold 5/11).
Packages - Worked on a list of features and fixes to be included under the next releases: Keyper issue that was causing the Keyper to crash after a restart [Issue 600], Keyper backup script to generate a full export of keypers [PR 29].
Encrypted Mempools
Gnosis Chain - We’re making new Keyper releases to improve stability and we’re supporting Nethermind and Erigon in improving the system from their end. We continued supporting Keypers in operating and recovering their nodes.
Ethereum Mainnet -
Making solid progress around the Primev X Shutter PoC. We have initial implementations for the sequencer and keyper logic and are expecting a bidder node update & testnet finalization by Primev.
Began assembling key transaction supply chain actors for a closed door roundtable discussion at Devconnect.
BNB Chain - Engaged with CZ and other members of the BNB community; raised awareness for our Binance Evolution Proposal (BEP).
Shutter API
Event-based Decryption Triggers: Defined and specified work around having event-based decryption triggers to greatly extend the use case spectrum for Shutter into fields such as smart account privacy and encrypted limit orders.
Shielded Voting: Developed a working PoC and published a blog post on permanent shielded voting using linear homomorphic encryption.
Kleros - Continuing to support Kleros in integrating Shutter API into Kleros V2, the release of this integration is imminent.
Paddle Battle - Supported GM in building sealed bid auctions on Paddle Battle.
Ethereum Time Capsule - Closed Ethereum Time Capsule. No new entries can be created. All 259 entries will be decrypted on 30 July 2026. Generated 0.259 ETH for Protocol Guild.
Cryptography Research
Research Posts - Published the research post on private voting from linearly homomorphic encryption and implemented a PoC of it. Started reaching out to partners like Snapshot for a potential integration.
Perspective on Glamsterdam - The Ethereum Foundation reached out to ask for our perspective on Glamsterdam. Shared our views here.
Novel Cryptographic Primitives - Wrote down the cryptographic specification of potential Shutter extensions such as threshold BLS, distributed randomness beacon, and linearly homomorphic encryption.
Research grant - Started to work on a government research grant application together with TU Darmstadt and PolyCrypt. The goal is to research advanced cryptographic primitives for the use in encrypted mempools to improve scalability and efficiency of threshold encryption, to allow for computation on encrypted transactions, and reduce trust in the keypers.
Developer Support
SAFE on Base - Supported Blockful in setting up a SAFE on Base controlled by Shutter DAO 0x36 on Mainnet via oSnap.
DAO Proposals - Supported Decent and Luna PR in creating proposals to Shutter DAO 0x36.
Conferences
Delivered presentations at EthCC[8] on anti-collusion mechanisms for encrypted mempools, encrypting banker agents, funding public goods. Delivered a presentation at NapulETH on funding public goods.
MarComs
Ethereum Time Capsule - Posts by Ethereum Foundation endorsing time capsule and acknowledging Shutter 1,2, Distribution of 2nd press release, Launch of POAP for Ethereum Time Capsule, Shutter hosted livestream with EthCC and Protocol, Participation & support by communities such as Arbitrum, Base, Blockdaemon, BOE - Build on ETH, Book of Ethereum, cartel.sh, Circle, Copenhagen Ethereum, Cryptokitties, DappCon, Dappnode, DavaoDefi, Devcon, Devconnect, EigenPhi, ETHBelgium, ETHBelgrade, ETHDenver, ETHGlobal, ETHIndia, ETHLondon, ETHMumbai, ETHPH, EthAuckland, EthCC, EthPanda, EthPrague, EthSingapore, EthTaipei, Ethereum France, Ethereum Toronto, Frontier Network, Giveth, Gnosis, Greenpill, Growthepie, imToken, Kleros, LUKSO, NapulETH, Nouns DAO, Optimism, Paddle Battle, POAP, Protocol Guild, SEEDLatam, Walletbeat, XueDAO., and many other 10th anniversary events.
PR Commentary: Provided commentary in Crypto.News article: What Ethereum built in ten years — and what it still hasn’t delivered.
Blog Content - Published 3 blog articles: On the Limits of Encrypted Mempools – A Response to a16z Crypto’s Analysts, Coming Soon to DAOs: Permanent Shielded Voting via Homomorphic Encryption, Understanding Good and Bad MEV - and How Encrypted Mempools Stop the Bad.
Video Content - Twitterspace with EigenPhi: Encrypted Mempool: Merits, Myths, and Milestones, Octant Presentation (fast-forward to 10:40), Klero presentation of Shielded Voting on platform, Interviews at EthCC: What do EthCC goers know about MEV?.
Requests
Event-Based Decryption Triggers - In addition to the time-based decryption trigger for Shutter, we’re implementing smart contract event-based decryption triggers. This greatly extends the use cases to areas such as smart account privacy and encrypted limit orders. Approach us if you have a use case for this or know someone who does!
Keypers - We would like to have direct communication with all Keypers. If you have not been in direct contact with me in the past couple months, please get in touch with me here (DM on the Shutter Forum), Telegram or email.