Ethereum News Today: Ethereum's Privacy Push: Future-Proofing Wallets for a Quantum Era

Ethereum Foundation has launched the Kohaku Roadmap, a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing wallet privacy and security across the Ethereum network. The project, announced by coordinator Nicolas Consigny, introduces a modular privacy framework designed for developers and advanced users. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum co-founder, emphasized the importance of full-stack privacy and security, stating that these are "first-class priorities in Ethereum." The initiative includes a software development kit (SDK) that allows third-party wallets to integrate privacy tools selectively, either in full or in parts relevant to their use cases.

Kohaku's technical architecture features a browser extension forked from the Ambire wallet, initially targeting advanced users. The framework prioritizes reducing reliance on centralized services by incorporating features such as private sending and receiving, IP address masking, and peer-to-peer (P2P) transaction broadcasting that bypass traditional remote procedure call (RPC) servers. A key component is the Helios light client, which enables users to validate blockchain data locally, eliminating the need to trust external RPC providers. Additionally, the project integrates zero-knowledge recovery tools like ZKemail and Anon Aadhaar, which facilitate identity verification and account recovery without exposing personal data.

The roadmap also addresses long-term security challenges, including quantum computing threats. Kohaku introduces a "post-quantum killswitch" using Falcon and Dilithium verifiers, optimized for Ethereum's Solidity smart contracts. This feature allows users to enable post-quantum accounts, safeguarding assets against potential quantum attacks. The initiative further plans to develop a zero-knowledge hardware signer compatible with existing privacy protocols and a universal Ethereum app for hardware devices to prevent vendor lock-in.

Collaboration is central to Kohaku's development. The Ethereum Foundation has partnered with teams such as Ambire, Railgun, DeFi Wonderland, Helios, and Oblivious Labs. The project is open source, with contributions welcomed via GitHub repositories. The foundation also launched the Privacy Cluster, a 47-member group of researchers, engineers, and cryptographers focused on embedding privacy tools directly into Ethereum's protocol layer. The cluster works alongside the Privacy and Scaling Explorations (PSE) team to advance private payments, confidential identity systems, and zero-knowledge infrastructure on Ethereum's Layer 1.

Future phases of Kohaku include the development of a native Ethereum browser with IPFS-based interfaces, local AI for transaction risk scoring, and privacy-preserving account abstraction by 2026. The roadmap envisions a "privacy-first" ecosystem where users can interact with decentralized applications (dApps) without compromising anonymity. By 2026, the foundation aims to implement account abstraction using zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-EVM or ZK-RISC-V) to verify wallet control, ensuring privacy is embedded into the network's core.

The Kohaku Roadmap reflects Ethereum's strategic shift toward proactive privacy design, addressing growing regulatory and technological challenges. With 47% of crypto users engaging in DeFi and NFT transactions, the initiative aligns with market demands for secure, self-custodial solutions. By prioritizing modular privacy tools and protocol-level integration, Ethereum aims to solidify its position as a leader in decentralized finance while addressing user concerns about surveillance and data exposure.

Source: [1] The Ethereum Foundation releases roadmap for private wallets, https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ethereum-foundation-roadmap-for-kohaku/

Source: [2] Ethereum Devs Unveil Kohaku Roadmap to Boost Wallet Privacy, https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-devs-unveil-kohaku-wallet-privacy-roadmap

Source: [3] Kohaku Unveils Ethereum's Privacy and Security Roadmap, https://atomicwallet.io/academy/articles/kohaku-unveils-ethereums-privacy-and-security-roadmap

Source: [4] Ethereum Foundation: Kohaku improves dapps security, https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/10/ethereum-launches-kohaku-roadmap-to-strengthen-wallet-privacy/

Source: [7] Top 10 Best Crypto Wallets in 2025, https://www.chainup.com/blog/top-10-best-crypto-wallets-in-2025/