Secret Network

What Secret Network does

Secret Network operates a Layer-1 blockchain launched in 2020 as the first mainnet with privacy-preserving smart contracts, built on Cosmos SDK with CosmWasm and operated by the Secret Network Foundation (a nonprofit based in Chicago). Its core technical differentiator is confidential computing via Trusted Execution Environments: Secret Contracts encrypt inputs, outputs, and state by default, while SecretVM extends this to general-purpose workloads and LLM inference using Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP hardware isolation. Independent hardware attestation is delivered through Intel Trust Authority, integrated by default into every SecretVM and exposed via a TLS-bound token endpoint.

The platform's product surface spans Secret Contracts (privacy-preserving smart contracts), Secret Bridges and the SNIP-20 token standard (which wrap any bridged token with privacy), SecretVM/SecretAI (confidential compute and AI inference infrastructure), and a recently announced DataHaven integration for verifiable private storage. Revenue mechanics are split between on-chain SCRT token utility (transaction fees, staking, governance) and subscription-style billing for enterprise-facing SecretAI/SecretVM services. Distribution is primarily self-serve through developer documentation and the SecretAI portal, with a Builder's Program and developer-relations motion targeting technical audiences.

Go-to-market targets multiple segments in parallel: AI developers and data-sensitive application builders (primary), privacy-focused DeFi users (primary), and enterprise/regulated-industry buyers (secondary) needing HIPAA/GDPR/SOC 2/ISO 27001-aligned confidential compute. Leadership includes Alex Zaidelson (CEO of SCRT Labs) and Lisa Loud (Executive Director of the Foundation, also FLUIDEFI co-founder). The company raised $11.5 million in 2021 from Blocktower Capital and Arrington Capital and suffered a $4.67 million bridge exploit in June 2026 stemming from a third-party token contract vulnerability.

Name

Secret Network

Legal name

Secret Network Foundation

Website

https://scrt.network

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Secret Network is a nonprofit-operated Layer-1 blockchain launched in 2020 that enables privacy-preserving smart contracts and confidential AI compute via TEE-based Secret Contracts, SecretVM (Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP), and the SNIP-20 token standard, serving developers, DeFi users, and regulated-industry enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Layer 1 Base Protocols & Consensus (execution, consensus, security, clients) (FSAPAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confidential Computing & Hardware-backed Protection (TEE/HSM) (HDADAFAJ), Regulatory Reporting, Tax & Audit Trails (reconciliation, provenance) (FSAPAJAI), Authorization & Permissions (delegation, allowances, capability-based access, session keys) (FSAPACAJ)

Keywords

• Privacy-preserving blockchain
• Confidential smart contracts
• Trusted execution environments
• Decentralized confidential computing
• Blockchain infrastructure platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SCRT Token Utility: SCRT is the native token used for staking, governance participation, and transaction fees on the Secret Network. Validators and delegators earn rewards through the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.
2. Confidential Computing Services: SecretVM services for confidential AI inference and enterprise workloads, with independent attestation via Intel Trust Authority available as a standard feature.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Secret Network operates a privacy-preserving Layer 1 blockchain that enables decentralized applications with encrypted smart contract execution via Trusted Execution Environments. The platform sells confidential computing infrastructure (SecretVM) and developer tooling for building private dApps, confidential AI inference, and cross-chain privacy via the SNIP-20 token standard.

Product overview

Secret Network is a privacy-first blockchain platform and Confidential Computing Hub for web3 and AI. The core offering consists of Secret Network (the mainnet blockchain with privacy-preserving smart contracts), powered by Secret Contracts that encrypt inputs, outputs, and state by default. The platform provides confidential computing through SecretVM, supporting both Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP trusted execution environments. Key products include Secret Bridges and SNIP-20 standard for making any blockchain token private, Secret AI for confidential LLM inference inside TEEs, and the DataHaven integration for verifiable private storage. The ecosystem enables developers to build dApps that are decentralized yet private, with hardware-grade isolation and independent attestation capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SecretVM: Confidential computing platform powered by trusted execution environments (Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP) for secure, private computation.
• Secret Contracts
• SNIP-20

Products and services

• Secret Network The first mainnet blockchain with privacy-preserving smart contracts, launched in 2020, enabling decentralized and permissionless applications with end-to-end encryption through confidential computing. Targeted at developers and enterprises building privacy-sensitive dApps and AI workloads.
• Secret Contracts Privacy-preserving smart contracts where inputs, outputs, and state are encrypted by default, allowing sensitive data to be used onchain without being publicly exposed. Built for developers of confidential dApps.
• SecretVM Confidential virtual machines providing hardware-encrypted execution environments powered by Intel TDX and AMD SEV-SNP trusted execution environments. Enables confidential computing for AI inference and private enterprise workloads.
• Secret AI AI infrastructure layer enabling confidential AI inference with large-scale GPU work for LLM models inside trusted execution environments, positioned as part of the Confidential Computing Hub for web3 and AI.
• Secret Bridges Cross-chain bridge infrastructure enabling users to make any blockchain token private by bridging assets and wrapping them with the SNIP-20 standard for cross-chain privacy.
• SNIP-20 Token Standard Privacy-preserving token standard for Secret Network that enables any bridged token to become privacy-preserving with encrypted balances and transaction data.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~35% higher events per second on AMD Zen 4 vs Intel in CPU benchmarks
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AxelarcoreTechnology or IntegrationAxelar provides cross-chain interoperability via IBC for Secret Network's bridge. The June 2026 exploit stemmed from a modified CW20-ICS20 contract on Secret's side, not Axelar's core protocol. Axelar disabled affected connections and is coordinating with law enforcement.
• DataHavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDataHaven provides private, verifiable storage complementing Secret Network's confidential computation. Together they form a complete privacy pipeline: confidential compute paired with verifiable memory. DataHaven testnet is live with mainnet integration planned.
• IntelcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntel Trust Authority integrated into every SecretVM for independent hardware attestation. Intel TDX (Trust Domain Extensions) provides the trusted execution environment foundation for Secret Network's confidential computing platform.
• AMDcoreTechnology or IntegrationAMD SEV-SNP (Secure Encrypted Virtualization with Secure Nested Paging) added to SecretVM fleet, running on Zen 4 architecture EPYC 9124 processors, providing AMD-based TEE option alongside Intel TDX.
• GenesysGominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenesysGo sponsored the DePIN panel at Futurist Conference 2024 featuring Lisa Loud of Secret Network Foundation, discussing innovations in Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks.
• Women in Web3 PrivacyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen in Web3 Privacy is collaborating with Secret Network as part of the .privacy initiative to bring privacy-focused technology into web infrastructure through an ICANN top-level domain application.
• FLUIDEFIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLUIDEFI co-founder Lisa Loud serves as Executive Director of Secret Network Foundation. FLUIDEFI participates in the .privacy initiative alongside Secret Network for ICANN top-level domain application.
• .privacy InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between .privacy team, Women in Web3 Privacy, Secret Network, and FLUIDEFI announced October 2025, aiming to apply for ICANN top-level domain in 2026 to promote privacy and data sovereignty on internet infrastructure.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oasis Network: Privacy-preserving L1 using TEEs (Intel SGX) for confidential smart contracts. Closest direct competitor to Secret Network's privacy-by-default execution model, targeting similar confidential DeFi and data tokenization use cases.
• Aleo: L1 blockchain using zero-knowledge proofs for private programmability. Competes with Secret Network in the privacy-preserving smart contract category, albeit via ZK rather than TEE.
• Phala Network: TEE-based confidential computing platform on Polkadot offering private smart contracts. Directly comparable to SecretVM's hardware-encrypted execution model for AI and DeFi workloads.
• Inco Network: Confidential computing EVM chain using TEEs and FHE. Competes head-to-head with Secret Network in confidential DeFi and is one of the closest architectural analogues in the Ethereum-aligned privacy space.
• Aztec Network: Privacy-focused L2/zk-rollup for Ethereum with private smart contracts. Competes with Secret Network for privacy-preserving programmable chains, particularly for institutional DeFi.

Emerging players

• Lit Protocol: Decentralized key management and confidential compute network using TEEs. Overlaps with Secret Network on TEE-based privacy infrastructure and access control for AI and web3 applications.
• iExec RLC: Decentralized cloud computing marketplace leveraging Intel SGX TEEs for confidential compute. Comparable to SecretVM's positioning as TEE-based confidential compute infrastructure.
• Mina Protocol: Lightweight ZK-based L1 with privacy-preserving programmability. Partial overlap with Secret Network in offering privacy primitives, though via ZK-SNARKs rather than TEEs.
• Alephium: Sharded L1 focused on programmability and privacy through stateful UTXO and custom VMs. Tangentially comparable as a privacy- and developer-focused alternative L1.

Broad incumbents

• Sui: High-throughput L1 from Mysten Labs built on Move with growing privacy features. A broader incumbent that competes for developer mindshare and liquidity in the same smart contract platform category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SecretNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secretnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Secret Network