Ethereum Foundation Updates Kohaku SDK for Wallet Privacy
New standardized interfaces aim to integrate shielded-pool protocols into wallets by default to thwart onchain tracking.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Cybersecurity
Live Poll
Do you believe cryptocurrency wallets should offer default privacy protections for your transactions?
The Ethereum Foundation has updated its Kohaku SDK to support default privacy integration for crypto wallets, aiming to protect users from onchain surveillance. This open-source development is currently available for testing and research, with a mainnet demonstration scheduled for November 2026.
Why it matters
By standardizing how wallets interact with shielded-pool protocols, the Foundation seeks to mitigate risks from attackers who exploit public onchain user histories. This shift toward privacy-by-default is a response to recent ecosystem security vulnerabilities.
The Kohaku SDK supports post-quantum account implementations at an estimated cost of $0.07 per account. The reference wallet currently supports the Sepolia testnet to facilitate protocol testing before the mainnet launch.
The players
Ethereum Foundation
A non-profit organization that supports the development of the Ethereum protocol, its ecosystem, and open-source blockchain infrastructure.
Jordan Enev
A lead contributor to the Ethereum ecosystem advocating for the adoption of default privacy standards in wallet software.
The details
The Kohaku SDK provides a standardized interface for shielded-pool protocols such as Railgun, Privacy Pools, and Tornado Cash. By embedding these protocols directly into the wallet user interface, the SDK allows developers to obscure transaction metadata that would otherwise allow attackers to map onchain activity. The underlying reference implementation uses a modular architecture that separates wallet software from the underlying privacy network, intended to reduce the technical barrier for developers integrating these safeguards.
Timeline
March 21, 2025: US Treasury removed economic sanctions against Tornado Cash.
October 2025: Ethereum Foundation introduced the Kohaku SDK and reference wallet.
March 2026: Kohaku browser wallet demonstration was created.
October 23, 2026: Jordan Enev urged developers to adopt the privacy integration.
November 3, 2026: The Foundation will perform a mainnet demonstration at Devcon.
The Tech Race
This development follows the legal normalization of privacy tools like Tornado Cash after the US Treasury removed sanctions in 2025. The Foundation is now working to move these privacy protocols from fringe implementations to standard, integrated features in the wallet stack.
Wallet developers are currently encouraged to integrate these standardized privacy interfaces to better shield their users from history-mapping attacks. While the reference implementation is currently limited to testing environments, it sets the stage for a privacy-first standard across the ecosystem.
The takeaway
The Ethereum Foundation is prioritizing privacy as a default security layer to stop attackers from weaponizing user onchain histories. Users should watch for adoption rates of the Kohaku SDK among popular wallet providers following the demonstration at Devcon in November 2026.
What happens next
The Ethereum Foundation will demonstrate the Kohaku SDK on the Ethereum mainnet on November 3, 2026, at the Devcon conference.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Cybersecurity for blockchain and wallet infrastructure.
Live Poll
Do you believe cryptocurrency wallets should offer default privacy protections for your transactions?
