Hello to the Secret community!
Since the launch of Secret Contracts in 2020, Secret Network has experienced massive amounts of organic growth, with 30,000+ delegators, 70 nodes, 70,000+ accounts, 9,000+ contracts, a 10x increase in daily transactions, and a distinct uptick in developer attention. Even after all this growth, Secret Network remains the first and only layer-1 chain that offers privacy-preserving smart contracts!
The Secret Network community is united by a common mission: to advance privacy as a public good, empowering people by providing the tools, technologies, education, and support necessary to preserve their freedom. Fundamentally, we believe privacy is a human right. An overly centralized internet and giant data monopolies have jeopardized our security, our right to privacy, and our society. We must scale privacy preserving technologies that can help us confront and overcome these systemic risks. And we must continue to push for better education surrounding individuals’ right to privacy.
In addition, we believe privacy is fundamental to expanding what’s possible to build with Web3 technologies, from decentralized finance, to digital identity, to NFTs, to gaming metaverses, and wherever innovation takes us next. Private smart contracts unlock 100x the use cases for decentralized apps – and as such, we believe they will power the next phase of Web3’s growth and adoption.
Today Secret Network is an exciting sandbox for creating privacy-centric and permissionless applications, permitting individuals the freedom to traverse and use Web 3.0 to its full potential while remaining secure. United by our guiding principles – usability, sustainability, impact, and empowerment – we are building a committed and collaborative community where every individual is a source for meaningful change.
This year was filled with countless successes as Secret Agents from all over the world helped build and promote Secret Network globally! We are making Secret Network the de facto privacy platform of Web3 has continued to cement itself – whether it be privacy for DeFi, NFTs, or other Layer-1 networks in the Cosmos ecosystem and beyond.
This annual review of the progress that has been achieved by Secret Network is a celebration of the 1000s of hours of work across the Secret ecosystem, preparing for the wave of success to come in 2022…
What is Secret Network?
Secret Network is the first blockchain with privacy-preserving smart contracts, known as “secret contracts.” That means applications built on Secret can utilize encrypted data without revealing it to anyone, even the nodes in the network. For the first time, Secret Network allows developers to build powerful, permissionless, privacy-preserving applications – Secret Apps.
Blockchains are public by default. That means that all the data used in smart contracts is exposed to everyone. For blockchain technology to achieve global adoption, users and organizations need control over how their data is used – they can’t just expose it to everyone. Secret Network solves the problem of privacy, helping to secure and scale the decentralized web.
Growth Metrics
December of 2020 saw ~220 transactions per day. In 2021, there was a distinct growth pattern in network usage, peaking at 35.3k transactions in mid-November, and averaging approximately 9,000 transactions.
The steady uptick in transactions in 2021 represents tangible growth in network utilization – but we’ve only just begun to see critical applications deployed and scaled. How much will daily transaction usage increase by in 2022?
Gas usage also saw a significant uptick in 2021, but with a twist. Supernova brought a massive increase in transaction and contract efficiency, lowering gas prices across the board. So while the middle components of 2021 represented increased usage, late 2021 gas usage represents the massive technical efficiency boost the Supernova upgrade gave to Secret Network!
Bridge usage on Secret Network has continued to grow over time, signaling cross-ecosystem demand for Secret Apps from networks such as Ethereum, Monero, BSC, and so on. With IBC finally enabled, total bridge addresses will see a massive uptick in 2022 (note that IBC addresses are not included in the data below).
Between both SecretSwap & SiennaSwap in 2021, there was a combined cumulative volume of over $1,200,000,000! Liquidity continues to grow on Secret Network as more individuals experience Secret DeFi – and the best DeFi features are yet to come. Stay tuned in Q1…
A special thank to Secret Analytics for providing and tracking this data for Secret Network.
Emergence of SecretNFTs
If 2020 was defined by the beginning of Secret Contracts and the emergence of the first Secret Tokens, then 2021 was defined by the growth of SecretNFTs. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are in themselves a powerful concept, introducing provable digital scarcity for creative works, in-game items, collectables, financial assets, and more. But up until today, NFTs have had major limitations for creators, collectors, and consumers that prevent NFTs from reaching their full potential as a disruptive technology.
Their main limitation is privacy. And Secret NFTs have solved it.
As a private-by-default Layer 1 foundation, Secret Network enables the first NFTs with programmable privacy, unlocking the next generation of functionality, utility, and value for NFTs in Web3. We believe this is the revolution that will elevate NFTs from billions to trillions in value – and due to the native privacy controls, that value can be sustained and grow.
Read the blog below for highlights of over twenty Secret NFT collections that launched in Q4 2021 alone!
Perhaps most iconic of the SecretNFTs in 2021 was announced by Quentin Tarantino, the award-winning director, screenwriter, producer, author, film critic and actor announced he would auction off Secret NFTs representing classic chapters of Pulp Fiction. Each NFT contains never-before-seen content, including the original handwritten scripts and exclusive audio commentary from Quentin Tarantino himself. This is made possible by the private metadata of Secret NFTs, ensuring only the owner of the NFT can access these rare materials.
Emergence of Secret Apps
Throughout 2021 began key work by the Secret Network developer ecosystem to develop secret contracts and applications from scratch. Many of these developers created groundbreaking standards (SNIP-20s, SNIP-721s) that would be the foundation of the many various dApps and tooling that would begin to emerge. The following are a list of applications, features, tokens, and tools that emerged or were announced in 2021:
- sSCRT
- Secret Bridges
- Secret Binance Smart Chain Bridge
- Secret Ethereum Bridge
- Secret Wrap
- Secret Atom Bridge
- Secret Luna Bridge
- Secret Osmo Bridge
- Secret DVPN Bridge
- Secret Auctions
- SecretSwap
- SEFI and Private Governance
- SiennaSwap
- Alter
- Fardels
- Secret Heroes
- Secret Garden
- Shade Protocol
- Secret BTN dApps
- Stashh
- Shinobi Bitcoin Bridge
- Secret Monero Bridge
- Secret Contract Code Verification System
- Secret Analytics
- Crypto Clerk
- Polar Contract Framework
- Secret Dreamscape
- Staking Optimizer
- Staking Calculator
- Duplex
- Token Factory
- Validator Calculator
- SecretSwap LP Calculator
- Orbem Wars
- DataVault
- JackalDAO
- SecretPY
- Griptape
- Secret Nodes
- Secret Analytics
In Q1 2022, we will be completely focused on the application growth within the Secret ecosystem and expanding our Secret Grants program. Secret Grants are split into three categories: Secret Apps, for everything that is directly built on top of Secret Network; Ecosystem, for tools that expand Secret Network and improve general usability; and Network improvements, for major upgrades to the network itself.
With a list consisting of over 35+ grant ideas, get started with the grant application process today!
Above is the Secret Network Ecosystem Roadmap for January, with a significant amount of new applications (of course, some are still secret) in the pipeline! Now more than ever before is a phenomenal time to join the network as a creator or builder. Learn more about Secret Network development today!
Emergence of Supernova
It’s been one year since Secret Network pioneered private smart contracts. The SCRT Labs team led the way with their impressive work on Supernova – a major network upgrade that established Secret as the cross-chain privacy-first platform for Web3, enabling hundreds of new unique use cases for DeFi, NFTs, and beyond. Supernova went live in late 2021, bringing programmable privacy to Cosmos and embedding Secret further into the foundation of the Web3 metaverse.
Supernova introduced IBC integration, which connected Secret Network with blockchains across the Cosmos ecosystem (in addition to the existing Secret bridges to Ethereum, BSC, Monero, and more!). IBC also allowed SCRT to be used in cross-chain Cosmos applications (such as Osmosis, Gravity DEX, and Terra-based dApps) and provided Secret Network’s unique privacy features to the entire Cosmos ecosystem.
Supernova also empowered the following:
- Up to 10x cheaper gas fees
- Faster & more efficient transactions
- Improved network performance and greater scalability
- Secret Contract specification optimization
- Cosmos SDK 0.44 features
- Relayers to other networks such as Atom, Terra/Luna, Osmosis, Juno, etc.
- Fee Grant module – allows an address to give an allowance to another address
- Upgrade module – Allows triggering of network-wide software upgrades, which significantly reduces the amount of coordination effort hard-forks require
- Auto Registration – New node registering process is now automated via a new command
See the full change log here – and check out the full Supernova Documentation!
Reveal of Secret Agents
The true secret to Secret Network’s success has always been its community. In 2021 major updates were made to Secret Agents, a growth-focused program designed and executed by the Secret community itself. In 2021 thousands of Secret Agents from around the globe registered to become a Secret Agent – helping defend privacy by working together to build a more decentralized, democratic, and empowering internet with privacy- preserving technologies.
When you become a Secret Agent you’ll execute missions, earn rewards, and become a core part of our long-standing global community of privacy pioneers, artists, developers, entrepreneurs, and evangelists. We can’t wait for you to meet your fellow Agents – and they’re excited to have your help in 2022. The program is expected to expand substantially, with new missions, new rewards, and new secret opportunities…
There’s no time to lose – become a Secret Agent now!
Secret Events
In 2021, despite a global pandemic, the Secret community still had the amazing opportunity to attend a variety of blockchain events all over the world. Here are just some of the events we were able to attend in the second half of the year:
- Messari Mainnet, NYC
- ETH Portland
- Comsoverse, Lisbon
- Secret Beers, Chicago
- NFT NYC
- DeFi Miami
- DeFi NYC
- NFT NYC (Quentin Tarantino announces his Secret NFT collection)
- Tor Bair (Secret Foundation) at ETH Portland
- Messari Mainnet, NYC
- TeFI Alpha, NYC
- DCentral / DeFi Miami
- DeFi NYC
- Secret Beers, Chicago
- Cosmoverse, Lisbon
Mainstream Coverage
In 2021 the secret finally started to get out, with coverage of Secret Network from 20+ different media outlets. Most notably was media coverage on Secret NFTs from CNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and more! Here’s just a small selection:
Quentin Tarantino will sell 7 never-before-seen clips from ‘Pulp Fiction’ as NFTs
Secret Network Raises $11.5M to Further Privacy and App Development
In addition, there were a number of amazing podcasts and appearances featuring Secret Network! We’ve highlighted a few below.
December Ecosystem Update
Of course, let’s not forget our usual monthly update! Secret Network saw a range of products get launched and announced – from a fully functional SecretNFT marketplace to a decentralized privacy-preserving content management and data exchange protocol. All built on Secret Network!
Stashh mainnet launch. DataVault reveal. Terra Bites hosts Secret Code Podcast. Secret NFT hackathon submission. DeFi Summit in Miami. Orbem Wars. Hashoshi coverage of Secret Network. Shinobi Protocol private beta. And so much more.
December saw the launch of more Secret NFT collections than any other month in Secret Network history. See what’s been done lately on Secret Network, and how you can get involved!
Stashh
December of 2021 saw the successful mainnet deployment of Stashh, the first full-stack marketplace and platform for NFTs with native privacy, allowing creators, collectors, and consumers to truly benefit from and control the Web3 digital economy. We believe Secret Network’s unique privacy capabilities – and the use cases it enables – make it the ideal chain for NFT creators and collectors that care about long-term value, real connections, and true digital ownership.
This is a groundbreaking moment for the projects who have already launched their NFT projects on Secret Network, as well as for those that are approaching launch. Come check out the earliest stages of the platform today, and get your hands on the very first Secret NFT collections!
Stashh’s roadmap contains the following features:
- Content and financial privacy for artists
- Private-by-default ownership for collectors
- On-platform minting and secondary sales
- Trustless access control
- Public/private metadata, with private content for owners only
- Private galleries (v2)
- Private auctions (v2)
Secret Feature: DataVault & Secret Bazaar
DataVault is the world’s first decentralized privacy-preserving content management and data exchange protocol built on blockchain technology. Using the privacy guarantees of Secret Network to handle data encryption and access management as well as the decentralized data storage solution of IPFS, DataVault as a protocol empowers a suite of front-end applications that can easily plug into the modular secret contracts that compose DataVault.
Key to the design of DataVault applications is the ease of uploading data, purchasing access to the data, as well as disputing the integrity of the underlying data. YouTube, Periscope, Theta, Xbox Game Pass, and Provenance are all conceivable use cases that could be partnered with or replicated using a decentralized and privacy-preserving equivalent. This would be powered by the DataVault contract and the ecosystem of DataVault-based applications secured by Secret Network.
Orbem Wars – Airdrop Details
Orbem Wars is a full-blown tower defense game set in a sci-fi world. Corporate earth has ventured out in space in search of riches. They expanded faster than governments could follow with laws or order. Space is a dangerous place. You run, or you fight. Survival of the fittest.
You are a mercenary, exploring space, and doing the dirty work for those that pay enough. Although you could venture out for yourself and your own gains. The corporate factions have access to technologies you are going to want.
Orbem Wars will offer 4 game modes for players to explore;
- Campaign — in which you explore the constellation of Ehen.
- Events — in which you unfold the storyline, together with other players. You will contribute to galactic wars, interstellar infrastructure projects, and groundbreaking research that will change the course of humankind. Mercenaries with exceptionally high commitment are to be rewarded!
- Leagues — in which you brawl (PVP) with other mercenaries. For fun, for training, for status — and of course — for prizes.
- Contracts — in which you fulfill requests from various factions. Contracts in Orbem Wars are public, meaning that you compete with other players. The mercenary with the highest contract fulfillment rate will go home with top pay.
Shinobi Protocol – Beta
Shinobi Protocol is a trustless, bidirectional bridge that connects Bitcoin mainnet users directly to Secret Network. With a hash verification system, Shinobi Protocol avoids the traditional direct custodial model by instead being a privacy-secured trustless bridge. With the advent of Shinobi Protocol, it is now possible for Bitcoin holders to have direct access to Secret DeFi in a way that has never been possible before. With Shinobi there is no middleman, and the peg in/out actions communicating with Secret Network are not discernible from ordinary transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Come visit the Shinobi Protocol website to learn more!
Shade Protocol Airdrop Calculator
The Shade Protocol Airdrop Calculator is LIVE!
The Shade Calculator is the result of hours of hard work and feedback from a range of Shade contributors — providing one of the smoothest multichain calculator experiences to date. The calculator empowers users to import and check their individual wallets for the SHD airdrop, with automated wallet detection turning the calculation process into a seamless user experience.
SHD Airdrop Calculator: https://airdrop.shadeprotocol.io/
Telegram: https://t.me/ShadeProtocol
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shade_Protocol
Discord: https://discord.gg/BVk28X52
December Media
Forum Post Highlights
Recent Monthly Ecosystem Updates
What now?
What a summary! There was almost too much progress to document. But as exciting as 2021 was, 2022 promises to bring even more growth to the Secret ecosystem as hundreds of new Secret Apps come online!
With the introduction of Supernova – allowing Secret Network to connect with countless chains – there is potential for massive growth in just a short time. So what other announcements and collaborations lie in store? You’ll have to wait and see what new secrets 2022 brings… ⚡🌊
Onwards and upwards!
To discuss Secret Network and Secret Apps, visit our community channels:
