Guy Zyskind is a computer scientist and entrepreneur working in the fields of privacy-preserving technologies and blockchain infrastructure. He founded SCRT Labs, creators of the Secret Network. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Zyskind graduated from Tel Aviv University in 2011 with a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning his M.S. in Media Lab in 2016 and his PhD in Applied Cryptography and Security in 2024. ^[3]

Career

Before working in crypto and blockchain, Zyskind held various roles in software development, data infrastructure, and digital media. From 2007 to 2009, Zyskind was vice editor-in-chief and director of reviews at HWzone, where he oversaw editorial operations and contributed to the site's growth in readership and advertising revenue. Between 2009 and 2012, he worked as a software developer at SAP, where he helped develop a mobile platform and integrated open-source technologies to improve cost efficiency.

In 2011, he co-founded Tamkix and was chief technology officer, developing a real-time location-based couponing system. During the same period, he also co-founded CityOwls, where he led algorithm design and secured a spot in a local startup accelerator. From 2012 to 2014, he was chief technology officer at Athena Wisdom, where he worked on data infrastructure for analyzing large datasets and partnered with enterprises for applied research.

From 2014 to 2016, he transitioned into academic research at the MIT Media Lab, publishing work on secure computation and developing the Enigma platform to enable private data processing using blockchain. In 2015, he also taught MIT's first engineering course on blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

In 2016, Zyskind entered the blockchain space as founder and chief executive officer of SCRT Labs, which developed Secret Network, a privacy-oriented smart contract platform. In 2023, he launched Fhenix, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution focused on confidentiality, where he currently leads research, product strategy, and technical development. ^[4]

Interviews

Pulp Fiction NFTs

In this interview on The Wolf of All Streets Podcast, Zyskind discussed Secret Network’s focus on enabling privacy within Web3 applications. He described how Secret Network collaborated with Quentin Tarantino to release Pulp Fiction NFTs that protected the content from public access, addressing Tarantino’s concerns about digital ownership and privacy. Zyskind explained that Secret Network allowed only NFT owners to access exclusive content, a feature also used in a project with filmmaker Kevin Smith. He emphasized that blockchain lacks privacy by default, often exposing user data more than Web2 platforms. He argued that privacy should be viewed as a functional necessity, not just a tool for anonymity. Zyskind outlined how Secret’s technology uses secure enclaves to privately process data and enforce access control, offering potential use cases in areas like decentralized finance, secure custody, and encrypted data sharing for machine learning. He believed increased regulatory pressure and user awareness would eventually push Web3 and traditional systems toward integrating privacy-focused solutions. ^[5]

About Secret Network

On the Crypto Coin Show, Zyskind discussed the development of Secret Network, a layer-1 blockchain focused on privacy-preserving smart contracts. SCRT Labs served as the main contributor to Secret Network, aiming to offer functionalities such as private voting, confidential transactions, and encrypted metadata for NFTs. Zyskind highlighted applications being built on the network, including a secure messaging platform, a decentralized file-sharing system for journalists, and an encrypted medical data platform for researchers. The network also supported DeFi projects and NFT initiatives, notably a collaboration with Quentin Tarantino to release private content through NFTs. Secret Network raised $400 million through an ecosystem fund to support builders via grants and investment. Additionally, Zyskind introduced a gamified NFT platform, “Play to Mint,” which incorporated lootboxes and character progression. Interoperability with other blockchains and the Cosmos ecosystem was also emphasized, along with efforts to make minting and access to Secret NFTs more user-friendly through bridges and the Keplr wallet. ^[6]

Presentations

Privacy in Web3

In his presentation at a Cosmos event in Prague, Zyskind discussed the evolving role of privacy in Web3, emphasizing that privacy should be seen not just as a method of protecting sensitive data, but as an enabling technology for building decentralized applications. He critiqued the narrow focus on private transactions in blockchain discourse and instead highlighted how privacy can power broader functionalities, such as randomness generation for games and efficient secret auctions. Zyskind introduced the concept of “Unstoppable Wallets,” a new class of wallets built on Secret Network’s smart contracts that remove reliance on centralized service providers. These wallets build on MPC (Multi-Party Computation) concepts but are fully on-chain, programmable, and cross-chain compatible. He detailed how his team developed a new cryptographic protocol that overcame performance limitations of existing solutions, enabling faster, robust, and fairer transaction signing. Zyskind concluded by exploring the programmability of Unstoppable Wallets, including use cases like customizable multi-signature wallets and the ability to securely transfer wallet ownership, potentially disrupting how digital assets and token agreements are handled. ^[7]

Secret Network

At OsmoCon 2022, Zyskind discussed Secret Network’s integration within the Cosmos ecosystem and its role in advancing privacy features across interchain applications. He explained how Secret enabled encrypted smart contracts, allowing developers to determine which data remains private or public, and noted that its architecture supported private transactions and on-chain randomness. Zyskind detailed recent infrastructure upgrades like Shockwave Alpha and the upcoming Shockwave Omega, aimed at boosting scalability and cross-chain compatibility. He also mentioned the adaptation of Terra’s Mental Mint for Secret to enhance query capacity, and future plans such as privacy-preserving KYC, reusable credentials, and trustless on-chain wallets using threshold signatures. Emphasizing collaboration over competition, he encouraged developers to leverage Secret for privacy services while promoting the Cosmos vision of interconnected yet sovereign chains through IBC. ^[8]

Panels

Key to Mass Adoption

At Interop Denver, Zyskind, Zooko Wilcox (Electric Coin Co), Elena Nadolinski (Iron Fish), Howard Wu (Aleo), and Red Sheehan (Messari) discussed the limitations of pseudonymity in crypto and emphasized the importance of privacy-by-default systems. They highlighted that while pseudonymous systems like Bitcoin and Ethereum offer some separation from real-world identities, transaction histories remain traceable, undermining true privacy. The speakers argued that privacy and transparency serve different purposes—transparency is essential for public accountability, while privacy protects individuals from surveillance and exploitation. Zcash was cited as an example of a hybrid model where private and public components can coexist without compromising user anonymity. Nadolinski described efforts to make privacy-preserving node participation more accessible, noting that full privacy at the base layer with optional transparency at higher layers could balance usability and confidentiality. The panel concluded that broader adoption of privacy technologies depends on improved software and hardware accessibility and reframing digital privacy as a foundational requirement rather than a niche concern. ^[9]