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Aleo Privacy Layer

🔐 Overview​

The Aleo Privacy Layer brings zero-knowledge cryptography to Ethereal Offering, enabling anonymous governance, private voting, and confidential recovery meeting attendance.

🎯 Why Privacy Matters​

The Privacy Problem​

Blockchain is transparent:

  • All transactions are public
  • Wallet addresses are visible
  • Voting choices are public
  • Meeting attendance is traceable

This creates issues:

  • Recovery anonymity - AA/NA emphasize anonymity
  • Voting privacy - Sensitive proposals need private votes
  • Personal safety - Doxxing risk for controversial votes
  • Social pressure - Public votes can be influenced

The Aleo Solution​

Zero-knowledge proofs enable:

  • ✅ Anonymous voting - Prove you voted without revealing choice
  • ✅ Private proposals - Submit proposals anonymously
  • ✅ Confidential attendance - Prove meeting attendance without revealing identity
  • ✅ Encrypted data - Store sensitive information privately

Example:

  • You attend a recovery meeting
  • Receive soulbound attendance chip
  • Prove you have 90-day chip
  • Without revealing our wallet address
  • Complete anonymity

🔬 How Zero-Knowledge Proofs Work​

The Concept​

Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP):

  • Prove a statement is true
  • Without revealing why it's true
  • Cryptographically verifiable
  • Impossible to fake

Classic example (Ali Baba's cave):

  1. You know the secret password to open a door
  2. You want to prove you know it
  3. Without revealing the password
  4. You enter the cave, go through the door, exit the other side
  5. Observer knows you know the password
  6. But doesn't learn the password itself

In Blockchain​

ZKP enables:

Private Transactions:

  • Prove you have enough balance
  • Without revealing exact amount
  • Transfer funds privately

Anonymous Voting:

  • Prove you're eligible to vote
  • Without revealing our identity
  • Cast vote privately

Confidential Data:

  • Prove you meet criteria
  • Without revealing personal info
  • Maintain privacy

🗳️ Anonymous Governance​

Private Voting​

How it works:

  1. Eligibility Proof

    • Prove you hold MDAO
    • Without revealing wallet address
    • ZKP verifies eligibility

  2. Vote Casting

    • Submit encrypted vote
    • ZKP proves vote is valid
    • Vote choice remains private

  3. Vote Tallying

    • Votes are counted
    • Results are public
    • Individual votes stay private

Example:

Proposal: Allocate $100K to psychedelic research

Traditional Voting (Public):
- 0x1234...abcd voted YES (1,000 MDAO)
- 0x2345...bcde voted NO (500 MDAO)
- Everyone sees your vote

Aleo Voting (Private):
- Anonymous voter voted YES (amount hidden)
- Anonymous voter voted NO (amount hidden)
- Only results are public: 60% YES, 40% NO

Anonymous Proposals​

Submit proposals privately:

Why?

  • Controversial topics
  • Personal safety
  • Avoid bias
  • Focus on merit

How:

  1. Write proposal
  2. Encrypt with ZKP
  3. Submit anonymously
  4. Community discusses
  5. Vote on merit, not author

Example:

  • Proposal: "Integrate with [controversial project]"
  • Submitted anonymously
  • Discussed on merits
  • No personal attacks
  • Vote based on idea

Delegation Privacy​

Delegate voting power privately:

Traditional:

  • Public delegation
  • Everyone sees who you delegate to
  • Social pressure

Aleo:

  • Private delegation
  • Prove you delegated
  • Delegate identity hidden
  • No social pressure

🙏 Recovery Meeting Privacy​

Soulbound Attendance Chips​

Digital AA/NA chips:

Traditional (Physical):

  • Receive chip at meeting
  • Shows days sober
  • Visible to others
  • Can be lost

Aleo (Digital):

  • Receive soulbound NFT
  • Proves attendance
  • Completely private
  • Permanent record

Anonymous Attendance Proof​

Prove attendance without doxxing:

Use case:

  • Apply for recovery grant
  • Need to prove 90 days sober
  • Don't want to reveal identity

How it works:

  1. You have 90-day chip NFT
  2. Generate ZKP: "I have 90-day chip"
  3. Submit proof to grant committee
  4. They verify proof
  5. You remain anonymous

Example:

Grant Application

Requirement: 90+ days sober
Your proof: ZKP of 90-day chip
Committee sees: "Applicant has 90-day chip ✅"
Committee doesn't see: Your wallet, identity, or history

PIR Fellowship DAO​

Psychedelics in Recovery Fellowship:

Vision:

  • Anonymous recovery community
  • Private meeting attendance
  • Confidential sharing
  • Zero-knowledge governance

Features:

  • Anonymous Meetings - Attend without revealing identity
  • Private Sharing - Encrypted stories and reflections
  • Soulbound Chips - Prove sobriety privately
  • DAO Governance - Vote on fellowship decisions
  • Grant Program - Support members anonymously

Example:

  • Join PIR Fellowship
  • Attend weekly meetings (Telegram/Discord)
  • Receive attendance chips
  • Vote on fellowship proposals
  • All completely anonymous

🔐 Technical Implementation​

Aleo Blockchain​

What is Aleo?

  • Layer 1 blockchain
  • Built for privacy
  • Zero-knowledge by default
  • Programmable privacy

Key Features:

  • Leo Language - Rust-like language for ZK programs
  • Snark VM - Virtual machine for ZK execution
  • Decentralized - No central authority
  • Fast - Sub-second finality

Smart Contracts​

Example: Anonymous Voting

// Aleo program for anonymous voting
program anonymous_voting.aleo {
    // Record representing voting power
    record VotingPower {
        owner: address,
        amount: u64,
    }
    
    // Cast vote anonymously
    transition cast_vote(
        voting_power: VotingPower,
        proposal_id: u64,
        vote_choice: bool, // true = yes, false = no
    ) -> VotingPower {
        // Verify voting power
        assert(voting_power.amount > 0u64);
        
        // Cast vote (encrypted)
        // Vote is recorded but choice is private
        
        // Return voting power (can vote again)
        return VotingPower {
            owner: voting_power.owner,
            amount: voting_power.amount,
        };
    }
}

Cross-Chain Bridge​

Aleo ↔ Ethereum:

How it works:

  1. Lock MDAO on Ethereum
  2. Mint wrapped MDAO on Aleo
  3. Use for private voting
  4. Burn wrapped MDAO
  5. Unlock MDAO on Ethereum

Benefits:

  • Use Ethereum liquidity
  • Vote privately on Aleo
  • Best of both worlds

🚀 Use Cases​

1. Sensitive Proposals​

Examples:

  • Controversial partnerships
  • Salary allocations
  • Personal matters
  • Legal issues

Why private voting?

  • Avoid social pressure
  • Honest opinions
  • Protect voters
  • Focus on merit

2. Recovery Privacy​

Examples:

  • Meeting attendance
  • Sobriety milestones
  • Personal sharing
  • Grant applications

Why privacy?

  • AA/NA tradition of anonymity
  • Personal safety
  • Reduce stigma
  • Encourage participation

3. Whistleblowing​

Examples:

  • Report misconduct
  • Suggest improvements
  • Raise concerns
  • Challenge leadership

Why anonymity?

  • Protect whistleblower
  • Encourage honesty
  • Prevent retaliation
  • Improve governance

4. Research Participation​

Examples:

  • Psychedelic studies
  • Recovery research
  • Anonymous surveys
  • Data collection

Why privacy?

  • Protect participants
  • Honest responses
  • Legal protection
  • Ethical research

📊 Privacy vs Transparency​

The Balance​

Transparency is important:

  • Accountability
  • Trust
  • Verification
  • Community oversight

Privacy is important:

  • Safety
  • Honesty
  • Freedom
  • Personal sovereignty

Aleo enables both:

  • Public results
  • Private votes
  • Verifiable proofs
  • Anonymous participation

When to Use Privacy​

Use Aleo for:

  • ✅ Sensitive votes
  • ✅ Personal data
  • ✅ Recovery information
  • ✅ Controversial topics
  • ✅ Whistleblowing

Use Ethereum for:

  • ✅ Public proposals
  • ✅ Treasury transparency
  • ✅ Token transfers
  • ✅ General governance
  • ✅ Community visibility

🔗 Getting Started​

Prerequisites​

To use Aleo layer:

  • ✅ Aleo Wallet - Leo Wallet or Aleo SDK
  • ✅ Aleo Credits - For transaction fees (~$0.01 per tx)
  • ✅ MDAO Tokens - Bridge from Ethereum
  • ✅ Understanding of ZKPs - Basic knowledge helpful

Setup Guide​

Step 1: Get Aleo Wallet

  1. Install Leo Wallet (browser extension)
  2. Create new wallet
  3. Save seed phrase securely
  4. Fund with Aleo credits

Step 2: Bridge MDAO

  1. Go to bridge interface
  2. Connect Ethereum wallet
  3. Connect Aleo wallet
  4. Enter MDAO amount
  5. Confirm bridge transaction
  6. Wait 5-10 minutes
  7. Receive wrapped MDAO on Aleo

Step 3: Vote Privately

  1. Go to Aleo governance page
  2. View active proposals
  3. Click "Vote Privately"
  4. Choose Yes/No/Abstain
  5. Generate ZKP
  6. Submit vote
  7. Vote recorded anonymously

🔮 Future Features​

Planned Additions​

Q4 2025:

  • ⏳ Anonymous voting launch
  • ⏳ Private proposals
  • ⏳ Soulbound attendance chips

Q1 2026:

  • ⏳ PIR Fellowship DAO
  • ⏳ Anonymous meetings
  • ⏳ Encrypted messaging

Q2 2026:

  • ⏳ MPC wallet recovery
  • ⏳ Private grants
  • ⏳ Research participation

Q3 2026:

  • ⏳ Cross-chain privacy
  • ⏳ Mobile app
  • ⏳ Advanced ZK features

📚 Resources​

Learn More​

Tools​

Support​

🙏 Privacy Philosophy​

From the Whitepaper:

"Privacy is not about hiding. It's about sovereignty. The right to choose what to share, when to share it, and with whom. In recovery, anonymity is sacred. In governance, privacy enables honesty. In community, confidentiality builds trust."

Our commitment:

  • Privacy is a right, not a privilege
  • Transparency where needed, privacy where wanted
  • User choice always
  • No backdoors, no exceptions
  • Open-source, auditable

"In the digital age, privacy is the foundation of freedom. Zero-knowledge proofs are the key." 🔐✨