Aztec is a privacy-focused Layer 2 network for Ethereum, combining zero-knowledge rollups with programmable privacy to enable encrypted smart contracts. It allows developers to build applications where data—balances, transactions, and logic—is private by default while still inheriting Ethereum’s security. Aztec’s hybrid execution model enables both public and private functions within the same contract, unlocking use cases such as private DeFi, confidential payments, secure identity flows, and compliance-friendly privacy. Its novel zk architecture dramatically reduces gas costs while ensuring end-to-end encryption across the network.