Private Channels

Private Channels is an enterprise layer for internet capital markets on Solana. It provides a configurable app-layer for private, instant, zero-fee transfers inside payment channels: users deposit SPL tokens into an on-chain escrow program, transact off-chain through a gateway, and settle back to Mainnet via a Sparse Merkle Tree proof, giving app developers instant, zero-fee, private transfers without leaving the Solana ecosystem.

Resources

• Product page
• GitHub
• Brochure

Why Private Channels?

• Instant transfers: off-chain throughput beyond Solana's native TPS; transfers confirm when the sequencer processes them, not when a block confirms
• Zero per-transfer fees: no gas cost on individual channel transfers; users pay only for on-chain deposits and withdrawals
• Privacy: transfers between channel participants are not recorded on Solana Mainnet
• Permissioned access: RBAC with JWT authentication lets you control who can send and receive
• Mainnet settlement: funds are always redeemable to Solana via a Sparse Merkle Tree exclusion proof, which the escrow program enforces on-chain

See the Overview for the full architecture, data flow diagram, and security model.

Quick Start

import { getDepositInstructionAsync } from "../private-channel-escrow-program/clients/typescript/src/generated";

const depositIx = await getDepositInstructionAsync({
  payer: payerSigner,
  user: userSigner,
  instance: instancePda,
  mint: mintAddress,
  userAta: userAtaAddress,
  amount: 1_000_000n, // 1 USDC
  recipient: null
});
// send via your preferred Solana client

TypeScript clients are generated from the IDL; see Installation. For Token-2022 mints, pass tokenProgram: TOKEN_2022_PROGRAM_ADDRESS explicitly, since it defaults to the standard SPL Token Program.

Full Quickstart - environment setup and client generation

Overview - architecture and data flow

Use Cases

• Institutional bilateral payments - banks and institutions that need high-volume, private USDC flows without every transfer appearing on-chain
• High-frequency app-layer transfers - gaming, loyalty, and consumer apps that need sub-second, zero-fee transfers at scale beyond native Solana TPS
• Privacy-preserving token flows - any use case where counterparty and amount privacy is a product requirement

When to use native SPL transfers instead

Next Steps

Community & Support

• Questions? Ask on Solana Stack Exchange (use the solana tag)
• Issues? Report on GitHub Issues

Built and maintained by the Solana Foundation. Licensed under the MIT License.