Mastering Blockchain - Second Edition

Usage of hardware to provide confidentiality

Trusted computing platforms can be used to provide a mechanism by which confidentiality of transaction can be achieved on a blockchain, for example, by using Intel Software Guard Extension (SGX), which allows code to be run in a hardware-protected environment called an enclave. Once the code runs successfully in the isolated enclave, it can produce a proof called a quote that is attestable by Intel's cloud servers. However, it is a concern that trusting Intel will result in some level of centralization and is not in line with the true spirit of blockchain technology. Nevertheless, this solution has its merits and, in reality, many platforms already use Intel chips anyway, therefore trusting Intel ...