CIP-0115: Confidential Computation Standard

Overview

CIP-0115 defines a standard for confidential computation on the Canton Network using trusted execution environments and secure multi-party computation. The proposal enables Canton applications to perform computations on encrypted data without exposing the underlying information to any single party. CIP-0115 specifies interfaces for TEE-based confidential computing, MPC protocol integration, and homomorphic encryption for limited computation patterns. Use cases include privacy-preserving trade matching, confidential portfolio analytics, and encrypted order books where no party sees the full state. The standard also defines attestation protocols that prove computations were performed correctly within secure enclaves.

Impact on Canton Network

Confidential computation would enable entirely new classes of Canton applications where business logic executes on encrypted data. This is transformative for institutional use cases like private auctions, confidential analytics, and encrypted order matching.

About Canton Network Governance

Canton Improvement Proposals (CIPs) are the formal mechanism for suggesting changes to the Canton Network protocol, standards, and ecosystem processes. Each CIP goes through a lifecycle from Draft to Proposed to Active or Implemented, with community review and validator consensus required for adoption.

The CIP process ensures that protocol changes are carefully considered, widely reviewed, and transparently documented. This governance framework is essential for maintaining Canton's position as the leading institutional blockchain, where predictability and stability are paramount.