Jan. 30, 2025

The Road to Private Smart Contracts: Aztec's Multi-Year Journey with Zac Williamson

The Road to Private Smart Contracts: Aztec's Multi-Year Journey with Zac Williamson

In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Zac Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Aztec, a startup operating in the blockchain technology space focusing on privacy. Together, they dive into the evolution of ZK technology, the importance of privacy in blockchain, and the exciting developments leading up to Aztec's Mainnet launch in 2025.

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The Smart Economy Podcast
In this episode of The Smart Economy Podcast, host Dylan Grabowski is joined by Zac Williamson, CEO and co-founder of Aztec, a startup operating in the blockchain technology space focusing on privacy.

Join them as they discuss:

  • How ZK technology evolved from niche to mainstream
  • The connection between privacy and digital identity
  • Creating a new programming language for privacy
  • Building decentralized sequencer networks
  • The importance of moral legitimacy in privacy tech
  • The evolution of Aztec's network architecture
  • What's next for blockchain privacy in 2025

And much more!

Zac has been a key figure in advocating for enhanced privacy within the blockchain space. Under his leadership, Aztec spearheads efforts to integrate privacy at the core of blockchain technology, aiming to address the critical balance between transparency and data protection. With a rich background that includes a stint as a software developer and as a member of Entrepreneur First’s cohort, Zac brings a unique perspective to the ongoing dialogue about privacy in Web3.

Highlights (To follow)


Previous guests include: Rusty Matveev, Chief Strategy Officer at Calaxy; Andrew Lawrence, CEO and Co-Founder of Censo; Zac Townsend, CEO and Co-Founder of Meanwhile; Jesper Johansen, CEO and Co-Founder of Northstake; Tama Churchouse, COO of Cumberland Labs; Holly Wood of Boson Protocol; Sid Powell of Maple Finance; Chad Barraford of THORChain; and many others.

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