Ethereum Foundation’s New Privacy Cluster and Kohaku SDK Could Strengthen Privacy Tools Across the Ecosystem

• 47-member team led by Igor Barinov to develop privacy tools across Ethereum

• Includes coordination with the Institutional Privacy Task Force to align privacy and compliance goals

• Launches follow Kohaku wallet SDK news; privacy coin interest (e.g., Zcash) is rising, per market moves

Meta description: Ethereum privacy cluster launches with 47 experts to build privacy tools and Kohaku wallet SDK—get timeline, expert reactions, and key takeaways. Read now.

What is the Ethereum privacy cluster?

The Ethereum privacy cluster is a Foundation-led effort that brings together 47 researchers, engineers, coordinators, and cryptographers to accelerate privacy work across the Ethereum ecosystem. The cluster will design privacy-preserving infrastructure, coordinate with the Institutional Privacy Task Force, and support projects like the Kohaku wallet SDK.

How will the cluster operate and who leads it?

The cluster is led by Igor Barinov, founder of Blockscout and the Gnosis Chain. It will not operate in isolation; instead, it will collaborate with other Foundation clusters and external experts to integrate privacy features into core Ethereum tooling. Coordination aims to balance technical privacy advances with regulatory considerations.

What is Kohaku and how does it relate to the cluster?

Kohaku wallet SDK is a privacy-first browser wallet SDK announced by the Foundation to enable wallets to process private transactions with minimal trusted-party dependencies. Kohaku is expected to debut at EFDevcon in late November and will be a primary project the privacy cluster supports and evaluates for wider adoption.

Why is the Foundation prioritizing privacy now?

Privacy concerns have become more prominent amid regulatory debates and rising market interest in privacy coins such as Zcash. Foundation leaders, including Vitalik Buterin, have publicly defended strong privacy protections for users. The cluster is a structural response to ensure the Foundation can deliver robust, auditable privacy improvements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are in the privacy cluster and what roles do they fill?

The privacy cluster comprises 47 members, including researchers, engineers, coordinators, and cryptographers. Roles focus on protocol design, wallet privacy, cryptographic research, and cross-cluster project coordination.

Will Kohaku require trusted third parties?

Kohaku is designed to minimize dependencies on trusted third parties, aiming to enable private transactions while limiting centralized data exposure. Implementation details will be shared by the Foundation at EFDevcon.

Is Ethereum private enough today?

Current Ethereum tooling offers privacy options but has notable exposure points—example: some popular wallets can reveal IP metadata unless users run their own nodes or use privacy tools. The new cluster targets these gaps without promising immediate turnkey privacy for all users.

Key Takeaways

• New cluster: 47 experts led by Igor Barinov focused on privacy engineering and research.
• Kohaku synergy: Kohaku wallet SDK is a priority project for private transaction tooling.
• Cross-cluster work: Collaboration with the Institutional Privacy Task Force will align privacy and compliance.

Conclusion

The Ethereum privacy cluster marks a strategic step by the Foundation to make privacy a core development priority. With leadership from Igor Barinov and complementary projects like the Kohaku wallet SDK, the cluster aims to harden privacy across wallets and protocol layers while engaging with regulatory realities. Follow COINOTAG for ongoing updates and technical analysis.

Author: COINOTAG — Published: 2025-10-09 — Updated: 2025-10-09

Sources: Ethereum Foundation announcement; public statements by Vitalik Buterin; reporting by COINOTAG; market movements in privacy coin projects such as Zcash.