# Privacy Layer-2s Push Confidential Smart Contracts Onto Ethereum as Aztec and Miden Ship

Aztec's Alpha V5 proves a fully private transaction in about 2.5 seconds on a laptop, while Miden presents practical privacy as a prerequisite for serious on-chain use.

- Published: 2026-07-31T05:29:19.625Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-07-31/privacy-layer-2s-push-confidential-smart-contracts-onto-ethe
- Publisher: Polylog (Crypto desk)
- Section: tech
- Sources: [Aztec Network](https://aztec.network/alpha-v5), [Miden](https://miden.xyz/blog/practical-privacy), [Miden (Guardian)](https://miden.xyz/blog/what-is-miden-guardian)

Privacy-focused projects on Ethereum are releasing working networks rather than promises. Aztec's Alpha V5 release moves client-side proving onto ordinary hardware, generating zero-knowledge proofs directly on a user's device and proving a…

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