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url: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy
last_updated: 2026-09-03
---

# Helius Privacy (Solana Rings)

Programmable privacy for Solana with native performance: confidential transfers secured by zero-knowledge proofs that settle fully onchain in a single Solana transaction. Built on TSPP, the open-source Solana Privacy Protocol maintained by Helius Labs (https://github.com/helius-labs/zolana).

Status: Beta, devnet only — mainnet has not launched. Programs are live on devnet and under audit by three independent security firms; names, endpoints, and behavior may change.

## Quick Reference

- Core operations: deposit (public → private), transfer (private → private), withdraw (private → public), read private balance, read private history. Assets: SOL, SPL, and Token-2022.
- Privacy models: confidential (asset and amount private; sender and recipient public) and anonymous Custom Rings (asset, amount, sender, and recipient all private; relayer-submitted). Transaction hashes stay public in both.
- Self-custodial: in the permissionless Default Ring, spending always requires the owner's signature; Custom Ring policy can add co-signers, freeze/thaw authorities, or a permanent delegate. Helius never receives spending keys.
- Endpoints (devnet RPC, indexer, prover, localnet): https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/endpoints.md
- Enterprise REST API base: `https://privacy.helius.xyz/v1/` with `Authorization: Bearer $HELIUS_API_KEY` (ring reporting, freeze/thaw, webhooks — part of Custom Rings for enterprises; contact Helius for access)
- Program IDs and devnet addresses: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/addresses.md

## SDKs

- TypeScript: `@heliuslabs/zolana` (npm) — pair with `@solana/kit`
- Rust: `zolana-client` plus `zolana-interface`, `zolana-keypair`, `zolana-transaction` (git: https://github.com/helius-labs/zolana)
- CLI: `zolana-cli`, installed from the zolana git repo (`zolana dev start` runs localnet with RPC, indexer, and prover)
- Examples: https://github.com/helius-labs/zolana-examples
- SDK page: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/sdk.md

## Don't Confuse

- A private balance is NOT a Solana token account — it is held as UTXOs (Private Solana Token Accounts) in a shared onchain Merkle tree.
- A shielded keypair is NOT a Solana keypair — it bundles signing, nullifier, and viewing keys; the Shielded Address is not an onchain address.
- In local decryption mode, the indexer and RPC serve only encrypted state and never decrypt. In delegated mode, the wallet shares a viewing key so the provider can decrypt balances and history — view access only, never spending authority. Custom Ring auditors may also decrypt per ring policy.
- A Helius API key authenticates projects; it does NOT authorize spending.
- A private transfer to a recipient without a Private Wallet resolves to a private-to-public withdrawal — label it as a withdrawal in UIs.
- No sequencer or sidechain: everything executes natively on Solana (Rings are not a rollup).
- The Default Ring is permissionless with no authority or auditor; Custom Rings add programmable policy (allowlists, limits, freeze/thaw, auditors) for enterprises. All rings currently share one state Merkle tree.

## Pages

- Overview: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy.md
- Concepts (how it works, key model, rings, decryption): https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/concepts.md
- Integration — private wallet: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/integration/wallet.md
- Integration — embedded private wallet (not live yet; will integrate with WaaS): https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/integration/embedded-wallet.md
- Integration — Custom Rings for enterprises: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/integration/enterprise.md
- Integration — confidential fiat on/off-ramp: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/integration/on-off-ramp.md
- Guide — deposit: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/guides/deposit.md
- Guide — transfer: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/guides/transfer.md
- Guide — withdraw: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/guides/withdraw.md
- Guide — read a private balance: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/guides/read-balance.md
- Guide — read private history: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/guides/read-history.md
- Addresses: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/addresses.md
- AI tools (docs search, markdown export, MCP): https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/ai-tools.md
- Endpoints: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/endpoints.md
- SDK: https://www.helius.dev/docs/privacy/sdk.md

## Related

- WaaS embedded wallets: https://www.helius.dev/docs/waas/llms.txt
- Contact for Custom Rings and enterprise access: https://www.helius.dev/contact

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Full documentation index: https://www.helius.dev/docs/llms.txt