# Researchers Target the Relayer Dependency That Links Shielded Withdrawals Back to Their Depositors

A new Ethereum Research proposal cites measurements of 1,049 Railgun withdrawals that were traceable through the account that paid the gas, while Miden shipped a wallet that proves transactions on the user's own device.

- Published: 2026-09-20T05:45:09.559Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-09-20/researchers-target-the-relayer-dependency-that-links-shielde
- Publisher: Polylog (Crypto desk)
- Section: crypto
- Sources: [Ethereum Research](https://ethresear.ch/t/strict-role-alternation-reciprocal-broadcast-without-relayers-for-evm-shielded-pools-spec-population-simulation-no-code-yet/26051), [Miden](https://miden.xyz/prifi-stack), [Miden](https://miden.xyz/blog/bread-is-privacy-baked-in</source)

Shielded pools on Ethereum have a structural leak that has nothing to do with the cryptography. Someone has to pay gas, and the account that pays is visible. A researcher's proposal on Ethereum Research sets out the problem using a June 202…

This story is for subscribers. Read it in full at https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-09-20/researchers-target-the-relayer-dependency-that-links-shielde (subscription information: https://polylog.news/pricing).