Thanks all for the amazing contributions here – @Gavin, @ResourceLogic, @brentstone, @dismad, @citizenweb3, @neocybereth, @Rigorous, @tokidoki, @Matteo, @hjg888, and others! I’ve attempted to synthesize this discussion and the composable privacy layer product proposition into a four-phase roadmap:
- Shielded Ignition
The Shielded Ignition phase is roughly where we are today – this phase would commence with phase 5 of the mainnet roadmap. Shielded Ignition would focus on security, performance, and reliability of the core stack (including Namadillo), making sure all core functionality is iron-clad and a delight to use. Shielded Ignition includes hard fork #1, which brings much faster shielded sync with Fuzzy Message Detection + TEEs, additional PGF convenience features, and the first basic version of the Namada Foreign Reserve. Before moving on to any further development, we’d focus on making sure the basics all work well.
Shielded Ignition would already include basic shielded actions and the tools for developers to start innovating (as proposed by @Gavin and @brentstone), and I know some folks are already working on mobile wallets too! I think building community (as brought up by @citzenweb3 and others) would be a big focus on this phase too, and I would encourage folks to “take to the PGF streets” of proposals, stewards, etc. to help make this happen – it takes a village!
- Shielded Expansion
The Shielded Expansion phase would commence sometime after hard fork #1. During this phase, Namada would prioritize expansion into additional ecosystems via bridging solutions like Wormhole, IBC Eureka, and possibly others such as Axelar or LayerZero. These connections would include the first Namada outputs – smart contracts on external networks (e.g. Ethereum and Cosmos chains) – which woudld enable new kinds of shielded actions, such as shielded swaps, shielding lending, shielded staking, and more. This phase would also include continued PGF experimentation – perhaps with prize-based PGF, cross-chain partnerships – and perhaps product experimentation such as initial versions of shielded asset management. Shielded Expansion would also focus on integration of Namada into more wallets and user-facing touchpoints – we’d want to make it as easy to access as possible.
Shielded Expansion could include support for PoL in the Foreign Reserve (as suggested by @ResourceLogic), and potentially Tendermint optimizations if we want. It could also include experiments in shielded voting (brought up by @dismad) or other cross-chain shielded action integrations.
- Shielded Integration
The Shielded Integration phase would focus on integrating more advanced shielded outputs into external chains, with some shielded functionality (perhaps not full, this depends on different specific constraints and product goals). These shielded outposts may be built on top of initial versions of the Anoma resource machine and protocol adapter. Shielded Integration would bring even more wallet integrations (including some wallets which may only support outposts to start), and more public goods and product experimentation (perhaps shielded bonds, more complex shielded asset management, cross-chain deals with Valence, or ideas we haven’t even thought of yet).
Shielded Integration would start on Anoma integration (as suggested by @ResourceLogic), which would be completed in the next phase…
- Shielded Transformation
The Shielded Transformation phase would focus on gradually evolving and updating Anoma to use more and more of the Anoma tech stack, including the resource machine, protocol adapters, controllers system, and consensus. The controllers system, in particular, would be able to bring shielded bridging to Namada, enabling a fully unified shielded asset pool for all of web3 (including across outposts) and eliminate the need for transparent bridging. This phase will enable Namada to fully realize the composable privacy layer vision – one privacy layer and one shielded set for all of web3!