Aptos has introduced three optional privacy features on its mainnet: Keyless Accounts, Confidential APT, and an Encrypted Mempool. These tools, announced on October 13, 2026, are primarily accessible through the Petra Wallet and compatible services.
Keyless Accounts allow users to create wallets using Google or Apple credentials, decoupling on-chain identity from specific blockchain addresses. Confidential APT utilizes zero-knowledge proofs to encrypt balances and transfer amounts while keeping addresses visible for verification.
The Encrypted Mempool secures transaction payloads until they are finalized in blocks, aiming to mitigate miner extractable value (MEV). These privacy layers are opt-in, and the network maintains a transparent default state.
Utilizing these encrypted features requires paying a minimum gas fee that is double the network's standard base rate. Additionally, certain account types, such as Keyless Accounts, currently lack the capability to sign encrypted transactions.
The Confidential APT feature received governance approval in April 2026. By mid-August 2026, users had moved approximately 15,000 APT into confidential pools. Aptos, which launched in 2022, utilizes the Move programming language and Block-STM parallel execution.
