The Fully Homomorphic Encryption Virtual Machine (fhEVM) ensures privacy-preserving computations on blockchain networks. Its architecture combines cryptographic principles with blockchain infrastructure to handle encrypted data without ever exposing the plaintext.
The architecture consists of several interdependent components:
- Smart Contracts: Interact with encrypted data to execute logic securely on the blockchain.
- fhEVM-native: A on-chain processing that handles homomorphic computations on ciphertexts using evaluation keys.
- Key Management System (KMS): Safeguards private keys for decryption and re-encryption processes.
- Gateway: Acts as a bridge between the blockchain and the KMS, enabling secure operations like decryption and re-encryption.
- Connector: A service that connects the gateway to the KMS.
- Gateway Store: A service that stores the ciphertexts.
- fhEVM.js Library: Facilitates client-side interactions such as encryption, decryption, and re-encryption.
By combining these processes, fhEVM ensures that:
- Plaintext data is never exposed during processing or transmission.
- Homomorphic computations enable complex operations on encrypted data.
- Secure mechanisms like re-encryption allow sharing and interoperability without compromising privacy.
This tightly integrated architecture supports decentralized applications (dApps) that require privacy-preserving operations, paving the way for more secure and trustless systems. For more detailed insights, you can refer to the original documentation provided by Zama (https://docs.zama.ai/fhevm).
With your understanding of the fhevm architecture, let's get started. Move on to the Preparation section to learn how to.