Privacy on Solana is a set of application-level tools rather than a single network mode. The right solution depends on what your product needs to hide, who must be able to inspect it, and how much control the operating institution requires.
Privacy has explicit boundaries
“Private” does not mean the same thing in every model. Define whether you need amount confidentiality, participant anonymity, policy controls, private execution, or audit access before choosing an integration path.
Compare the three solutions
| Solution | Best fit | Privacy boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Confidential Balances | Confidential Token-2022 balances and transfers | Amounts and balances are private; accounts and transaction participation remain public |
| Solana Privacy Protocol | Programmable onchain privacy and custom policies | Default and custom Rings define whether assets, amounts, and participants are private |
| Private Channels | Institution-operated private execution | Channel activity and data access stay inside an institution-controlled perimeter |
Confidential Balances
Confidential Balances is a Token-2022 extension for encrypting token balances and transfer amounts while continuing to use public Solana accounts.
- Private: token balances and confidential transfer amounts.
- Public: the mint, token accounts, account owners, and transaction participation.
- Audit model: a mint may configure an optional ElGamal auditor key that can decrypt transfer amounts. It does not reveal an account's full balance or grant authority to move tokens.
- Execution: the Token Extension Program updates encrypted state, while the ZK ElGamal Proof Program verifies the transfer proof on Solana.
Learn how Confidential Balances works, plan an integration, or configure issuer controls.
Solana Privacy Protocol
The Solana Privacy Protocol, documented by Helius as Solana Rings, provides encrypted onchain balances and programmable privacy through APIs. It is currently in beta.
- Default Ring: permissionless and confidential. The asset and amount are private, while the sender and recipient remain public.
- Custom Rings: Solana programs that can be confidential or anonymous and can add transfer policy, reporting, compliance controls, and auditor visibility.
- Execution: transfers are self-custodial, can move between Rings, and settle natively on Solana in one transaction.
Read the Solana Privacy Protocol documentation.
Private Channels
Private Channels is private execution infrastructure for institutions that need operational control in addition to transaction privacy.
- Inside the channel: transfers are private, instant, and have no set per-transaction fee.
- Institution controls: the operator defines participation, access controls, ordering, rate limits, compliance requirements, and data visibility.
- Audit model: external observers cannot inspect channel activity, while the institution can grant auditors the visibility required by its policy.
- Mainnet relationship: value moves into and out of the channel through Solana mainnet while execution inside the channel remains private.
Is this page helpful?