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Live on SKALE Base - Encrypted Transactions (Phase 1) is available on SKALE Base Mainnet and Testnet.

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What Are Encrypted Transactions?

BITE’s first phase hides the to address and data fields of transactions until after they execute. Once decrypted and executed, transaction details are visible on-chain like any other transaction. The encryption protects during mempool and consensus—before finality. After execution, the transaction is part of the immutable blockchain record and fully visible.

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How It Works

  1. Encrypt - Wallet encrypts the transaction payload using SKALE’s threshold public key
  2. Submit - Encrypted transaction is sent to the BITE precompile (magic address)
  3. Finalize - Consensus finalizes the encrypted transaction without seeing contents
  4. Decrypt - After finality, the validator committee runs threshold decryption
  5. Execute - Decrypted transaction executes in the EVM
Because inclusion happens before decryption, SKALE achieves commit-then-reveal semantics at the protocol layer.

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MEV Resistance

MEV bots need visible transaction data to extract value. By encrypting to and data during mempool and consensus, BITE removes the information they rely on:
  • No front-running - Transaction intent is hidden until execution
  • No sandwich attacks - Bots cannot see incoming swaps
  • No censorship - Validators cannot selectively filter based on content
Combined with SKALE’s zero gas fees and instant finality, encrypted transactions eliminate the primary MEV vectors that plague other chains.

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Use Cases

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Private Token Transfers

Encrypt ERC20 transfers to hide amounts and recipients: 
import { BITE } from '@skalenetwork/bite';

const bite = new BITE(rpcEndpoint);

const transferData = iface.encodeFunctionData('transfer', [recipient, amount]);
const tx = {
  to: tokenAddress,
  data: transferData,
  gasLimit: 200000
};

const encryptedTx = await bite.encryptTransaction(tx);
// Send encryptedTx - to and data are now hidden

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Confidential Contract Interactions

Keep function calls and parameters private: 
const callData = iface.encodeFunctionData('confidentialFunction', [secretParam]);
const tx = { to: contractAddress, data: callData, gasLimit: 300000 };
const encryptedTx = await bite.encryptTransaction(tx);

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Private Voting

Encrypt votes to prevent bribery and coercion: 
const voteData = iface.encodeFunctionData('vote', [proposalId, support]);
const tx = { to: governanceAddress, data: voteData, gasLimit: 100000 };
const encryptedTx = await bite.encryptTransaction(tx);

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NFT Mint Privacy

Hide metadata and mint details until reveal: 
const mintData = iface.encodeFunctionData('mint', [recipient, encryptedMetadata]);
const tx = { to: nftAddress, data: mintData, gasLimit: 250000 };
const encryptedTx = await bite.encryptTransaction(tx);

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Getting Started