Ethereum’s PSE team rebranded from Privacy & Scaling Explorations and released a detailed privacy roadmap.
The roadmap focuses on private writes, private reads, and private proving as long-term development priorities.
Projects include PlasmaFold, private voting, confidential DeFi, privacy-preserving RPC, and zero-knowledge proof tools.
The Ethereum Foundation announced a new roadmap for building full privacy on its blockchain. The team formerly called Privacy & Scaling Explorations rebranded to Privacy Stewards of Ethereum (PSE). The group shifted from exploratory research to solving immediate technical problems.
The roadmap, published September 12 by team member Sam Richards, details progress and future targets. The path centers on three areas: private writes, private reads, and private proving. These categories outline how the blockchain can support confidential actions while remaining accessible and compliant.
Private Writes and Confidential Transactions
Private writes aim to make onchain actions as efficient as public ones. PSE continues work on PlasmaFold, an experimental Layer 2 system designed for private transfers. The group is developing a proof of concept for the feature and plans to present it at Devconnect in Argentina on November 17.
The roadmap also mentions efforts around private voting. A “state of private voting 2025” report will summarize progress on cryptographic ballot methods. Additionally, the group is building confidential DeFi protocols that can meet compliance standards for institutions. Work on private computation projects also remains underway.
Protecting User Data Through Private Reads
For private reads, the team is building privacy-preserving RPC services. Current RPC calls can expose sensitive data, such as IP addresses or user interests. To address this, PSE created a private RPC working group to test possible solutions.
The roadmap confirms ongoing evaluation of methods to limit exposure during blockchain interactions. Private proving, referred to as “prove anywhere,” involves improving generation and verification of zero-knowledge proofs.
PSE is developing tools to make these proofs faster and more affordable. The work includes enabling generation on consumer devices, which could reduce reliance on high-cost infrastructure.
Collaboration and Ecosystem Input
The roadmap credits contributions from across the Ethereum ecosystem. Richards cited input from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, independent researcher Oskar Thorén, and the Silviculture Society. The PSE team emphasized that timelines and specific projects will evolve alongside ecosystem needs, though the three focus areas will guide development for years.
The document also stressed that without effective privacy, Ethereum could risk functioning as a surveillance infrastructure. Richards wrote that privacy is essential for protecting users who depend on the network.
The roadmap reflects a structured approach, combining experimental projects, institutional compliance, and long-term technical goals. By defining private writes, private reads, and private proving, the PSE team presented a clear agenda for advancing Ethereum’s privacy layer.
