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# What is Lethean

Lethean is an open-source layer-1 blockchain where every transaction is private by default. Amounts, addresses, and even asset types are hidden. This is enforced at the protocol level, not opt-in.

You can send funds, stake, issue your own tokens, trade peer-to-peer, and build apps on Lethean. Nobody can see what you sent, who received it, or which asset was involved. All an outside observer sees is that a transaction happened.

![Comparison of details revealed by ETH’s transactions and Lethean ones.](/img/learn/what-is-lethean/transfer.png)

The sender and receiver can verify transactions through transaction IDs, but none of the data is publicly exposed.

### Origin

Lethean is a community-owned fork of [Zano](https://zano.org) (CryptoNote+), whose lead developer Andrey Sabelnikov wrote the original CryptoNote reference implementation — the codebase that Monero and hundreds of other projects forked from. Lethean inherits this battle-tested cryptographic foundation and extends it with decentralised VPN, identity, and service-layer features. The chain is operated by Lethean CIC, a UK community interest company.

- **Source:** [github.com/lethean-io](https://github.com/lethean-io)
- **Explorer:** [explorer.lthn.io](https://explorer.lthn.io)
- **Downloads:** [downloads.lthn.io](https://downloads.lthn.io)
- **Trade:** [trade.lthn.io](https://trade.lthn.io)

### Key technologies

Each technology is covered in detail in the [Features Overview](/docs/learn/lethean-features/overview). The research papers behind them are in [Whitepapers](/docs/learn/whitepaper).

**Zarcanum** is the world’s first Proof of Stake scheme with hidden amounts. Stakers secure the network without revealing their balances.

**Confidential Assets** let anyone issue privacy tokens on the Lethean chain, with the same protections as native LTHN: hidden addresses and hidden amounts. You can create private stablecoins, shielded versions of existing assets, and more, without running your own blockchain.

**Ionic Swaps** improve on atomic swaps by enabling peer-to-peer asset exchange with full privacy. Neither party has an unfair advantage. This is what powers Lethean Trade, the built-in DEX.

**Hybrid PoW/PoS Consensus** alternates Proof of Work and Proof of Stake blocks. Attacking Lethean requires both hashpower and stake, so no single vector is enough.

**Auditable Wallets** are opt-in transparent wallets for situations where a third party needs to verify balances. Enabling them on one wallet doesn’t affect privacy for anyone else on the network.

**Fungibility**: every LTHN is identical. No coin has a "history" that can be traced, flagged, or blacklisted.

**Uncensorable**: when transactions are invisible, they can’t be blocked, reversed, or selectively enforced.

Check the [roadmap](https://lethean.io) for what’s coming next, or the [FAQ](/docs/learn/frequently-asked-questions) for common questions.

