ZCurve Protocol

ZCurve Protocol

ZCurve is a privacy-first DEX on Mantle Network enabling compliant, shielded trading of Real World Assets (RWAs). Powered by Noir ZK proofs, it solves the "Privacy Paradox" by decoupling custody from execution, offering institutional-grade privacy with regulatory view keys.

Project Description

The Problem: The Privacy Paradox

Institutional investors are eager to enter DeFi for its yield and efficiency, but public AMMs expose their trading strategies to front-running, copy-trading, and counter-party analysis. Conversely, existing privacy tools (mixers) are often non-compliant "black boxes," making them unusable for regulated entities.

The Solution: ZCurve Protocol

ZCurve is a hybrid privacy DEX built natively on Mantle Network. It allows users to deposit assets (like USDY, mETH, USDC) into a shielded pool and execute swaps atomically without revealing their identity or trade details to the public.

Crucially, ZCurve introduces "Selective Disclosure":

• Privacy by Default: All transaction data is encrypted and shielded using Zero-Knowledge proofs.

• Compliance by Design: The protocol mandates the generation of a dual-encrypted note—one for the user and one for an authorized auditor. This ensures that while the public sees nothing, regulators or auditors can decrypt transaction metadata if required (e.g., for OFAC compliance), solving the institutional hurdle.

Key Innovations

1. Selective Disclosure via ECDH

ZCurve uses Ephemeral Key Exchange (ECDH) to enable selective disclosure. For every transaction, users encrypt metadata for themselves AND a whitelisted auditor. Regulators can decrypt the flow of funds when required, while the public sees nothing. This "Private by Default, Transparent upon Consent" model is the key to institutional adoption.

2. Atomic Private Swaps

Single-transaction privacy with no waiting periods or mixing delays. Unlike traditional mixers that require deposit-wait-withdraw cycles, ZCurve executes swaps atomically—deposit, swap, and withdraw in one seamless flow.

3. Institutional Grade Compliance

Unlike Tornado Cash, ZCurve is not a black box. Each transaction includes encrypted metadata that can only be decrypted by the user and authorized auditors. This "Private by Default, Transparent upon Consent" model is key for institutional adoption.

4. Mantle Ecosystem Synergy

We don't fracture liquidity. ZCurve composes directly with Crust Finance and other Mantle AMMs to execute swaps. This drives volume to the ecosystem while adding a privacy layer on top.

5. Future-Proof Tech Stack: Built with Noir (Aztec's ZK DSL) and UltraHonk proving system, enabling incredibly fast client-side proof generation (~2s) directly in the browser.

How It's Made

• Smart Contracts: Solidity (Foundry) on Mantle Sepolia.

• ZK Circuits: Written in Noir, utilizing the UltraHonk backend.

• Frontend: React, Vite, TailwindCSS, and bb.js for WASM-based proving.

• Infrastructure: Uses Mantle's high-throughput execution and low-cost Data Availability.

Tech Stack

• Network: Mantle Network (Sepolia)

• ZK Language: Noir

• Proving System: UltraHonk

• Languages: Solidity, TypeScript, Noir (for Circuits)

• Tools: Foundry, Nargo, Viem, Wagmi, TanStack Query

Team bios and contact info

Yash Sharma - Solo Developer

EVM & Smart Contract Engineer specializing in Zero Knowledge (ZK) privacy protocols and DeFi infrastructure.

I am an active researcher in privacy-preserving technologies, focused on ZK proofs and cross-chain interoperability.

Key Achievements:

• 1st Prize, Avalanche Hack2Build (Payments x402): For Ava-Optimizer (Solo submission).

• 1st Prize, EthGlobal New Delhi (Ethereum Foundation Track): For zkETHer, a mobile-first privacy protocol.

• Finalist Judging Qualifier, ETH Global Online 2025: For Ztomic-Swap, a cross-chain private atomic swap protocol.

• Published Co-Author: IEEE ISCON-2025 paper on Oracle-powered Secure Healthcare Supply Chain.

Technical Stack:

• Languages: Solidity, Noir (ZK), Rust, TypeScript.

• Tools: Foundry, Hardhat, Viem, Wagmi, bb.js, Circom.

Contact Info:

• Email: yashsharma22003@gmail.com

• Twitter: https://x.com/yash_ether

• GitHub: https://github.com/yashsharma22003

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yash-sharma-655985205/

• Telegram: https://t.me/yash_ether

Compliance declaration

Yes, this project involves regulated assets.

ZCurve Protocol is designed with Compliance by Design principles to support Real World Assets (RWAs) such as USDY (Ondo Finance).

Our architecture solves the regulatory challenges of privacy pools through Selective Disclosure:

1. Dual-Encryption: Every deposit and swap generates two encrypted notes—one for the user and one for the Auditor.

2. Auditor Access: An authorized entity (e.g., a compliance auditor or regulator) holding the Auditor Private Key can decrypt transaction metadata (amounts, asset types) to ensure compliance with OFAC or AML regulations.

3. Non-Custodial: The protocol never takes custody of the assets in a way that bypasses these checks; the audit trail is cryptographically bound to the state.

This ensures institutional-grade privacy without becoming a non-compliant "black box" mixer.

Project Links

• GitHub: https://github.com/ZCurve-Protocol/ZCurve-Protocol

• Demo URL:

• Live Link: https://zcurve-frontend.vercel.app/

• Documentation:
  1. Protocol - https://github.com/ZCurve-Protocol/ZCurve-Protocol?tab=readme-ov-file#zcurve-protocol

  2. Circuits - https://github.com/ZCurve-Protocol/Circuits/tree/main?tab=readme-ov-file#zcurve-protocol---zero-knowledge-circuits

  3. Contracts - https://github.com/ZCurve-Protocol/Contracts?tab=readme-ov-file#zcurve-protocol---smart-contracts

• One-Page Pitch: ZCurve Pitch.docx