Cypher Technical Roadmap: Pioneering Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) in EVM
MerovingianZero1
Cypher is on a mission to redefine data privacy and confidentiality in decentralized applications (dApps) through the integration of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) into the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Our technical roadmap outlines the intricate steps we will take to achieve this ambitious goal over the next 18 months, detailing the core milestones for 2024.
This in-depth breakdown highlights the technological innovations we’ll implement, targeting developers who are keen on the specifics of our custom fork, precompiled contract setups, gas optimizations, and privacy-focused rollup mechanics.
Q3 2024: Laying the Groundwork with FHE-EVM Integration
The cornerstone of Cypher’s future chain is the integration of FHE into an Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 architecture. Q3 2024 will focus on several critical tasks:
1. Initial Code Base for Cypher Base Client Repo
Cypher will initiate development by creating a customized base client repository, built on a scalable EVM-compatible rollup framework. This will serve as the core infrastructure for Cypher’s FHE-powered rollup. By selecting this optimized rollup foundation, we ensure a stable and efficient platform for integrating advanced cryptographic capabilities such as Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE).
2. Adding fhEVM Support
We will enhance the base client by introducing fhEVM functionality, making it capable of processing FHE-based cryptographic operations within the EVM runtime. This involves tight integration of the FHE encryption schemes at the virtual machine layer to enable encrypted data operations while maintaining compatibility with existing Solidity contracts.
3. Precompiled Contracts for Cryptographic Operations
To efficiently handle the computational complexity of FHE, we will implement precompiled contracts. These contracts will manage critical FHE operations (e.g., homomorphic addition/multiplication, ciphertext packing/unpacking), ensuring that the client can execute complex cryptographic procedures without introducing excessive gas costs or performance bottlenecks.
4. Gas Calculation Updates
Given the unique requirements of FHE, our team will develop a custom gas optimization and calculation module that accounts for FHE-specific computational overhead, ensuring that the network remains efficient while maintaining security and privacy standards.
5. Build Optimization
Compiler configurations and dependency management will be adjusted to support FHE integration. We’ll focus on optimizing the build system for efficient compilation and deployment of the modified Nitro client with FHE extensions. This involves tuning GCC/LLVM settings for cryptographic operations, reducing compilation time, and ensuring deployment-ready binaries.
6. Dockerfile Setup
A Dockerfile will be developed to containerize the modified Nitro client, ensuring that the entire stack can be easily deployed and tested across different environments. This containerization step is critical for simplifying the DevOps workflow, enabling seamless integration, and deployment in various infrastructure settings.
7. Initial Integration Testing
Once all components are in place, we will conduct rigorous integration testing, focusing on ensuring that the modified Nitro client, precompiled contracts, and custom gas calculations operate cohesively. This phase will involve both unit and integration tests covering cryptographic operations, gas accounting, and EVM compatibility.
Deploying Cypher
With fhEVM integration complete, the next logical step is deploying the Cypher chain, using it to launch the customized rollup chain.
1. Set Up Cypher’s Layer 2 Environment
We’ll configure and launch Cypher’s custom Layer 2 rollup environment, specifically tailored to support FHE integration. This step involves setting up the network infrastructure, preparing initialization scripts, and optimizing the environment to enable the seamless operation of Cypher’s FHE-EVM capabilities.
2. Deploy the Chain
Cypher’s customized execution client will be deployed on a dedicated Layer 2 network. This deployment will enable the launch of a custom chain powered by FHE, marking a significant milestone in our roadmap toward confidential and private decentralized computation.
3. Ongoing Synchronization and Continuous Updates
Maintaining synchronization with the upstream Arbitrum Nitro repository is critical. We’ll continuously track upstream developments to ensure that our fork remains aligned with the latest enhancements. In parallel, we will monitor and merge custom FHE-specific updates into the active chain.
4. Performance Testing & Upgrades
After deployment, extensive performance testing will be conducted to ensure that both the cryptographic operations and network throughput meet the expected benchmarks. This phase also involves stress tests and continuous upgrades, ensuring the chain can handle real-world dApp workloads without compromising on security or performance.
Q4 2024: Private Testnet Launch and Developer Onboarding
By Q4 2024, Cypher will roll out its private testnet, allowing internal teams and early testers to validate the FHE functionality and provide feedback on optimizations.
1. Private Testnet Deployment
The infrastructure needed to support the private testnet will be deployed, setting the stage for internal testing. This environment will mirror the conditions of the public testnet but remain restricted for development and validation purposes.
2. Internal Testing and Feedback
Our internal testing phase will focus on rigorous validation of the FHE-EVM integration. This includes gas performance, cryptographic integrity, EVM compatibility, and operational stability. Developers will thoroughly test how encrypted transactions, smart contracts, and privacy-preserving computations behave in a live environment.
3. Public Testnet Preparation
Based on feedback from internal testing, the Cypher team will implement necessary fixes and improvements before configuring the public testnet for broader access.
4. Public Testnet Launch
Once the private testing concludes, Cypher’s public testnet will be made available for external developers and users. This open testing phase is designed to uncover edge cases, allowing a wider community to experiment with FHE transactions and confidential smart contracts.
5. Developer Portal Launch
Accompanying the public testnet launch will be a dedicated developer portal, providing all the necessary resources, from documentation to code libraries and SDKs. The portal will help onboard developers looking to build on Cypher’s FHE-integrated Layer 2.
Public Testnet Phases: Unlocking FHE Functionality for Developers and Users
The public testnet will be rolled out in a series of incentivized stages, with each phase introducing new FHE-based features.
Phase 1: FHE Transactions for Users
Users will be able to stake DEAI tokens to access faucet tokens and perform FHE transactions. These will be encrypted transfers, where users can see the difference between standard and encrypted transactions on a block explorer.
Phase 2: FHE Token Contracts and Confidential Smart Contracts
Developers will be empowered to create FHE token contracts using familiar tools like Hardhat and Remix. This will allow developers to deploy custom ERC-20 tokens with encrypted functionality, expanding the use cases of confidential transactions in DeFi, governance, and more.
Phase 3: Confidential Voting Platform
Cypher will introduce an encrypted Confidential Full Trust (eCFT) voting system, where participants can submit encrypted votes, visible only to authorized admins, while preserving public visibility of the voting process.
Phase 4: eAuctions
The final testnet stage will introduce eAuctions, where encrypted bidding allows participants to place private bids, enabling a new decentralized auction model.
Participants across these phases will earn testnet points for each activity, which will convert into airdrops and rewards when Cypher transitions to mainnet.
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