Confidential Layer Launches Decentralized Cross-Chain Bridge for Enhanced Crypto Privacy

Confidential Layer, an interoperability startup built on the Bridgeless L1 blockchain, has unveiled its non-custodial cross-chain bridge, marking a significant step toward integrating privacy features into mainstream cryptocurrencies. The platform, which went live today, allows users to transform assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, and others into “confidential assets” with advanced privacy protections on networks like Zano. Unlike conventional bridges, Confidential Layer ensures users retain full control of their funds, leveraging smart contracts and cryptographic proofs to facilitate secure, anonymous transactions across multiple blockchains. This launch positions the platform as a key player in bridging public and privacy-focused crypto ecosystems, opening new possibilities for decentralized finance (DeFi).

The bridge supports seamless asset transfers while prioritizing user privacy and security. By locking original coins in non-custodial wallets or audited smart contracts, the system mints corresponding privacy tokens on the target chain, shielding transaction details from public view. This development addresses a growing demand for transactional anonymity in an industry often criticized for its transparency, enabling users to engage in DeFi with enhanced confidentiality. Confidential Layer’s approach could redefine how users interact with cryptocurrencies across diverse networks.

Key Features and Future Roadmap

The platform currently supports major networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, Base, Bridgeless, and Zano, with plans to integrate Solana and TON by Q3 2025. Users can upgrade their assets into Confidential Assets on Zano or X Assets on Bridgeless, which offer improved interoperability and access to cross-chain opportunities. These privacy tokens obscure critical transaction details, such as amounts, addresses, and asset types, ensuring a higher degree of anonymity compared to traditional blockchain transactions. The bridge’s non-custodial design means users maintain control over their assets at all times, reducing risks associated with centralized intermediaries.

The process begins with users locking native assets on the source chain, either through smart contracts for EVM-compatible networks or threshold-signature escrows for UTXO-based chains like Bitcoin. A zero-knowledge witness is then posted to the Bridgeless L1, verifying the deposit without exposing sensitive data. Equivalent confidential tokens are minted on the destination privacy chain, which users can hold, spend, or redeem back to any supported public chain. This streamlined mechanism ensures both security and flexibility for cross-chain transactions.

Looking ahead, Confidential Layer is preparing to roll out its Transaction Bundler in phase two, enabling one-step native asset swaps, such as BTC for ETH, directly through the bridge. The company also plans to launch a mobile Confidential Wallet and an open API to further enhance accessibility and developer integration. The upcoming $CLONE token, set to debut later this quarter, will incentivize community governance and reward stakers with a share of bridging fees, fostering a decentralized ecosystem around the platform.

Pavel Nikienkov, co-founder of Zano, emphasized the significance of this launch, noting that Zano’s Confidential Assets, introduced via the Zarcanum hard fork in March 2024, have been limited by a lack of interoperability until now. The Confidential Layer bridge connects Zano to major crypto ecosystems, unlocking deeper liquidity and seamless DeFi access. This integration is expected to drive adoption of privacy-focused assets by making them more accessible to users across diverse blockchains.

Available now at app.confidentiallayer.com, the bridge supports desktop browsers with MetaMask and Zano Companion extensions, offering a user-friendly interface for managing cross-chain transactions. As the crypto industry continues to prioritize privacy and interoperability, Confidential Layer’s innovative approach could pave the way for broader adoption of confidential assets. By combining non-custodial security with advanced privacy features, the platform is well-positioned to attract users seeking both flexibility and anonymity in their crypto transactions.