Namada

Namada is a Proof-of-Stake Layer 1 focused on interchain, asset-agnostic privacy, designed to let users move and interact with assets while minimizing on-chain data leakage (balances, counterparties, and transaction history), especially across the Cosmos/IBC ecosystem.

Namada combines three main directions under one umbrella:

• Unified privacy layer (MASP): a Multi-Asset Shielded Pool that enables shielded transfers for multiple assets using zero-knowledge proofs. Users can shield, transfer privately, and unshield assets, with privacy guarantees improving as more activity flows through the shielded pool.

• Interchain privacy via IBC: supports shielded IBC flows, allowing assets coming from IBC-connected chains to be deposited into (and withdrawn from) the shielded pool, extending privacy benefits to cross-chain usage rather than keeping privacy isolated on a single chain.

• PoS security + governance + public funding: secured by validators and delegators staking NAM, with on-chain governance. Namada also includes Public Goods Funding (PGF) mechanisms (continuous and retroactive) to fund ecosystem public goods via protocol-level issuance and governance decisions.

Key features typically highlighted by Namada include multi-asset shielded transfers, incentives for contributing to the shielded set (shielding rewards in NAM), IBC-based interoperability for privacy-preserving cross-chain asset movement, and built-in governance-driven public goods funding.