Aztec Launches StealthNote App Giving Privacy to Corporate Whistleblowers

Aztec Labs Launches ‘StealthNote’ to Enable Anonymous Corporate Whistleblowing Using ZK-Proofs

Aztec Labs, the development team behind the Ethereum Layer-2 privacy protocol Aztec Network, has unveiled a new platform designed to empower corporate whistleblowers while preserving their anonymity. The platform, called StealthNote, leverages zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) to verify users’ workplace credentials without exposing their identity.

Announced on April 14 by Aztec developer Saleel Pichen, StealthNote uses a ZK-proof of a Google JSON Web Token to authenticate users. This allows the platform to confirm that a post was made by someone with access to a company email address, while ensuring no personal or identifiable information is disclosed.

Two of the latest posts on StealthNote from personnel at Aztec Labs and Cornell University. Source: StealthNote.xyz

"We can prove a user has an email from a company domain without revealing any personal info," Pichen wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Verified Voices, Anonymous Identities

With StealthNote, users can post messages or grievances about their employers, fully anonymized but cryptographically verified. The platform is especially targeted at corporate environments where voicing internal issues publicly could put employees at professional or legal risk.

The privacy-first system has already attracted attention from employees at several high-profile organizations. Early test posts came from individuals affiliated with the Ethereum Foundation, StarkWare, Scroll, as well as researchers at Columbia and Cornell Universities. Most posts thus far are positive or exploratory, signaling enthusiasm for enhanced privacy tech.

A post from a Nim Network worker summed up the community’s sentiment: “Let’s make privacy cool again.”

According to Aztec's documentation, development on StealthNote began as early as October 2022, with initial testing occurring around three months prior to the official announcement.

A Growing Demand for Privacy-First Tools

The launch of StealthNote comes amid renewed focus on privacy solutions across the tech and crypto industries. In an April 14 blog post, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin voiced strong support for the use of ZK-proofs to balance transparency and privacy in digital systems.

Buterin warned against the assumption that governments always act in good faith when pushing for increased transparency. He argued that ZK-proofs offer “fine-grained control of who can see what information,” making them ideal for a future where data ownership and user control are paramount.

Aztec’s Expanding Role in Privacy Infrastructure

Aztec Network first launched on Ethereum in February 2020 as a privacy-focused Layer-2 scaling solution. Since then, the team has been at the forefront of ZK-rollup development. In December 2022, Aztec Labs secured $100 million in Series B funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from A Capital and King River Capital.

StealthNote represents a natural evolution of Aztec’s mission: to provide powerful, privacy-preserving infrastructure that puts control back in the hands of users.

As concerns over surveillance, censorship, and data misuse grow globally, platforms like StealthNote could offer a vital safeguard for truth-tellers—ensuring their voices are heard without putting their livelihoods at risk.