EY and Polygon have updated the public domain source code for Nightfall to enable the development of privacy-focused enterprise blockchain solutions.
Nightfall is an optimistic zero-knowledge roll-up that helps enable private transactions on the public Ethereum blockchain. Using Nightfall, enterprises can orchestrate private transactions efficiently on the Ethereum mainnet without compromising the transparency, data immutability and security that Ethereum provides.
EY first contributed Nightfall to the public domain in 2019 as a set of protocols to enable private transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. In September 2021, EY teamed up with Polygon to create a beta version of Nightfall that can mitigate network congestion and high transaction prices resulting from increased usage and wider adoption of Ethereum.
EY OpsChain and EY Blockchain Analyzer both use Nightfall, and both solutions are delivered through EY Blockchain’s SaaS platform, Blockchain.ey.com.
This version of Nightfall introduces two important changes over prior versions: First, to prevent control by an organization or group, the code can be deployed on a fully decentralized basis. Second, to prevent anonymous usage while retaining an open and permissionless network model, users are required to have an enterprise-class X.509 identification certificate to deposit or withdraw.
Nightfall will remain in the public domain to facilitate the adoption of privacy-focused enterprise solutions among companies seeking to enter Ethereum and conduct business on the network.
Paul Brody, EY global blockchain leader, said: “This update marks the readiness of Nightfall to enable development of enterprise solutions. With more than six months of testnet operations, we consider this a ‘production beta’, ready for enabling client supply chain and business operations.”
Antoni Martin, Polygon co-founder responsible for Nightfall, said: “The move to update Nightfall in the public domain is a major milestone in scaling the Ethereum ecosystem and will open up new use cases for enterprises in Web3.”
