Polygon launches private ZKP payments for USDC and USDT

Polygon and Hinkal have launched a private payments feature on the Polygon network that allows transfers of USDC and USDT without revealing sender, recipient or amount. The private send option is available now in the Polygon wallet.

Transfers are routed through a shielded pool operated by Hinkal. Zero-knowledge proofs validate each transfer so the network can confirm a transaction occurred without exposing transaction-level details. Polygon and Hinkal say the system does not take custody of users’ funds.

A know-your-transaction layer is integrated with the shielded pool to allow regulators to screen transactions for legality while keeping details off the public ledger. Polygon described the design as mirroring current banking practice, where transaction data is private to the market but accessible to authorities when required.

Polygon emphasized the feature for organizations that move large volumes and need confidentiality for payments, payroll and treasury operations. The company framed the offering as a way to pair cryptographic privacy tools with compliance controls on a faster, lower-cost blockchain.

Polygon said it will develop additional privacy-focused products and publish details as each product becomes available. The company included a direct message about institutional demand: “We heard it from partners across payments, payroll, and treasury: confidentiality is not a feature request, it is a prerequisite.”

Hinkal maintains the technical implementation of the shielded pool and the zero-knowledge validation. Polygon limited the initial private-send capability to USDC and USDT and indicated more privacy features are planned for the network.