Aztec (AZTEC)

Aztec launched as Ethereum's first privacy-focused Layer 2, letting developers build applications that shield user data by default. The team invented PLONK, a cryptographic proving system that handles privacy computations efficiently without complex setup requirements. With $100M in Series B funding from a16z and growing developer adoption, Aztec demonstrates that privacy can form the foundation of real financial infrastructure, not just a surface-level feature.