Developers behind the Ethereum layer 2 Aztec Network have launched a whistleblowing platform called StealthNote that allows workers to vent about their employer without revealing themselves.

StealthNote uses zero-knowledge proofs to prove that posts on its platform are written by someone with access to an email address of the company that they’re reviewing.

Aztec Labs developer Saleel Pichen wrote in an April 14 X post that StealthNote creates a zero-knowledge proof of a Google JSON Web Token, which is used to authenticate users and allows the platform to prove a poster owns “an email from a company domain without revealing any personal info.”

Two of the latest posts on StealthNote from personnel at Aztec Labs and Cornell University. Source: StealthNote.xyz

According to Aztec’s documentation, the privacy solution had been in development since at least Oct. 22, while the first test post from Aztec occurred about three months ago.

Workers from Ethereum Foundation, StarkWare and Scroll as well as Columbia and Cornell universities have made posts on StealthNote, primarily sharing greetings and voicing their support for privacy solutions.

“Let’s make privacy cool again,” a worker from Nim Network wrote.

ZK-proofs needed more than ever, says Buterin

ZK-proofs have become an increasingly used privacy solution in the internet age as concerns over data security and government surveillance continue to grow.

The concerns were raised in an April 14 blog post by Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin, who criticized the assumption that governments are generally well-intentioned when it comes to sacrificing privacy for a more “transparent society.” 

Related: Vitalik Buterin unveils roadmap for Ethereum privacy

He championed ZK-proofs as a solution to mitigate this trade-off, highlighting the technology’s ability to provide “fine-grained control of who can see what information.”

Related: Vitalik Buterin unveils roadmap for Ethereum privacy

The privacy-focused Aztec Network launched on Ethereum in February 2020. 

The firm raised $100 million in Series B funding led by the tech-focused venture capital firm Andreessen “a16z” Horowitz in December 2022, with A Capital and King River also contributing.

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Local governments in China are reportedly seeking ways to offload seized crypto while facing challenges due to the country’s ban on crypto trading and exchanges.

The lack of rules around how authorities should handle seized crypto has spawned “inconsistent and opaque approaches” that some fear could foster corruption, lawyers told Reuters for an April 16 report.

Chinese local governments are using private companies to sell seized cryptocurrencies in offshore markets in exchange for cash to replenish public coffers, Reuters reported, citing transaction and court documents. 

The local governments reportedly held approximately 15,000 Bitcoin (BTC) worth $1.4 billion at the end of 2023, and the sales have been a significant source of income.

China holds an estimated 194,000 BTC worth approximately $16 billion and is the second largest nation Bitcoin holder behind the US, according to Bitbo. 

Zhongnan University of Economics and Law professor Chen Shi told Reuters that these sales are a “makeshift solution that, strictly speaking, is not fully in line with China’s current ban on crypto trading.”

Countries and governments that hold BTC. Source: Bitbo

The issue has been exacerbated by a rise in crypto-related crime in China, ranging from online fraud to money laundering to illegal gambling. Additionally, the state sued more than 3,000 people involved in crypto-related money laundering in 2024. 

China crypto reserve floated as solution

Shenzhen-based lawyer Guo Zhihao opined that the central bank is better positioned to deal with seized digital assets and should either sell them overseas or build a crypto reserve.

Ru Haiyang, co-CEO at Hong Kong crypto exchange HashKey, echoed the suggestion saying that China may want to keep forfeited Bitcoin as a strategic reserve as US President Donald Trump is doing. 

Related: Bitcoin rebounds as traders spot China ‘weaker yuan’ chart, but US trade war caps $80K BTC rally

Creating a crypto sovereign fund in Hong Kong, where crypto trading is legal, has also been proposed.

This issue has gained attention amid rising US-China trade tensions and Trump’s plans to regulate stablecoins and foster growth and innovation in the crypto industry.

Several industry observers have suggested that China’s tariff response could result in a devaluation of the local currency, which may result in a flight to crypto. 

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Brazilian fintech firm Meliuz has floated a plan to expand its Bitcoin holdings and make the cryptocurrency a strategic asset on the company’s books.

Meliuz, which provides cashback and financial technology services, is taking the plan to make Bitcoin (BTC) the primary strategic asset in the firm’s treasury to shareholders in a meeting slated for May 6, according to a translated April 14 statement.

The company said its core business will remain unchanged, but “the generation of cash from operations is fundamental to the strategy of acquiring more Bitcoin over time.” 

If shareholders approve the measure, Bitcoin will be adopted as the firm’s main strategic treasury asset, but it will also look to foster “the incremental generation of Bitcoin for its shareholders, whether through the generation of operating cash or through possible financial transactions and strategic initiatives.” 

Shareholders who disagree with the new direction and held their shares before April 14 can request reimbursement. 

Meliuz shares jump on Bitcoin plan

In the trading session after its new Bitcoin plan was announced, Meliuz (CASH3) jumped over 14% from 3.28 Brazilian reals ($0.56) to 3.76 Brazilian reals ($0.64) on the Brazilian Stock Exchange, according to Google Finance.

In total, Meliuz’s share price has spiked up over 27% in the last five days to 3.85 Brazilian reals ($0.65).

Meliuz’s share price has risen over 27% in the last five days, including a 14% spike after its new Bitcoin plan was revealed. Source: Google Finance 

Meliuz purchased Bitcoin for the first time in March after its board of directors approved using up to 10% of the company’s cash for Bitcoin, purchasing 45 BTC for about $4.1 million.

Related: Corporate Bitcoin treasuries drop more than $4B on US tariff hike impact

The amount of Bitcoin held on the books of publicly traded companies rose by 16.1% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Bitwise. Public companies bought around 95,431 Bitcoin over the quarter, increasing the total holdings across all company’s balance sheets to around 688,000. 

Meliuz was among 12 firms that added Bitcoin to their balance sheets for the first time in Q1 20025, joining the likes of video-sharing platform Rumble.

Michael Saylor’s digital asset firm, Strategy, has also continued its long-term strategy of acquiring more Bitcoin with its most recent April 14 purchase consisting of 3,459 Bitcoin bought for $285.5 million. 

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