In an exclusive Ultra Times interview last week, we had the privilege of speaking with Matthias Schönebeck, the developer behind Cloak Protocol - one of the most anticipated privacy solutions coming to the Ultra blockchain.
This comprehensive discussion revealed fascinating insights into Cloak's development, its revolutionary privacy features, and the future of privacy in blockchain technology.
From Computer Engineer to Privacy Pioneer
Matthias's journey in blockchain began in early 2015, though his roots in computer engineering stretch back to his teenage years. "I had a computer very early on already at the age of six," he explained, crediting his tech-enthusiast father for fostering his passion. This early exposure to technology eventually led him to blockchain, where he was particularly drawn to EOS due to its potential for building sophisticated decentralized finance applications.
His first major blockchain project was working on Vigor, an innovative DeFi protocol on EOS. Though Vigor didn't achieve the success initially anticipated, it provided Matthias with valuable experience in EOS development and set him on the path to creating Cloak, originally known as ZEOS.
Cloak: More Than Just a Privacy Token
What makes Cloak stand out in the privacy blockchain space? According to Matthias, it's the protocol's versatility and integration capabilities.
"The main objective about Cloak is actually really not building a privacy token in itself, but rather providing a protocol that allows users to cloak their underlying blockchain assets and make them invisible to observers of the underlying public blockchain," he explained.
Unlike privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Zcash or Monero, which are limited to sending their native tokens, Cloak operates on top of a general-purpose blockchain. This allows it to support a diverse range of assets - from fungible tokens to NFTs - while providing comprehensive privacy features.
Perhaps most groundbreaking is how Cloak enables third-party applications to easily integrate with its privacy protocol. This means developers can offer their users private access to decentralized applications - a feature Matthias is particularly excited about demonstrating soon.
The Tech Behind Cloak: Zcash Inspiration
Cloak draws heavily from Zcash technology, particularly Zcash Sapling and Orchard implementations. Matthias expressed his admiration for the Zcash team, noting they've been "leading the space in zero-knowledge tech over the last couple years like no other group of engineers."
This relationship with the Zcash community has been growing stronger, with even the founder of Zcash following Cloak's progress. Several Zcash enthusiasts have joined the Cloak community, recognizing the innovation happening within the project.
The Trusted Ceremony: A Critical Security Component
One of the more technical aspects discussed was Cloak's trusted ceremony - a critical security component that generates parameter files for zero-knowledge proofs. This multi-party computation ensures that no single person can compromise the protocol.
"The setup is essentially safe if at least one of these 120 people or so remains honest and doesn't collude," Matthias explained, emphasizing the security model's strength. The Ultra community has shown remarkable engagement with this process, with several members already participating in the ceremony.
Why Ultra?
When asked why he chose Ultra for Cloak's development, Matthias highlighted several key factors:
- Ultra's sophisticated EOSIO-based blockchain technology
- The welcoming Ultra community and leadership
- A more convenient resource model compared to other EOSIO chains
"From all EOSIO chains, I have to say, Ultra has the most convenient resource model, not just for development, but also for the end users," he noted. The way Ultra manages resources through Ultra Power makes deploying applications much easier compared to other blockchains.
Beyond Cloak: Ashes of Mankind and DEX Development
Matthias also discussed his involvement with Ashes of Mankind (AOM), one of the most anticipated games coming to Ultra. While keeping specific details under wraps, he confirmed he's building large parts of the application stack, including smart contracts for the game economy and front-end development.
What's particularly notable about AOM is its extensive use of blockchain technology: "It's really one of the first games that I'm aware of where you have so many assets tokenized," Matthias explained. These tokenized in-game assets will be compatible with Cloak from day one, allowing players to protect their valuable in-game items.
Additionally, Matthias revealed he's been working on a decentralized exchange that will launch on Ultra soon and integrate with Cloak, enabling private trading.
Token Distribution and Timeline
In breaking news during the interview, Matthias announced that Cloak's token distribution has been postponed until July, primarily to align with the upcoming Ultra bridge launch. The bridge, developed by Ultra's Block Producers, will enable easier access to native Ultra tokens necessary for the Cloak token distribution.
Importantly, when the token distribution begins, the protocol will already be fully functional on the mainnet - something Matthias believes is unprecedented in the crypto space. "The moment you buy the token, you will already be able to use the protocol right away," he stated.
The Role of Privacy in a Decentralized Future
Throughout the interview, Matthias emphasized the importance of privacy—not necessarily as a right, but as a fundamental human desire—especially as blockchain technology continues evolving. When asked about criticisms that privacy features enable criminal activity, he argued this perspective is flawed.
"You can make the same argument also about cash itself," he pointed out. "It's still the most used medium of exchange for illegal activities... but what are we gonna do? Shutting down cash?"
He stressed that privacy solutions like Cloak aren't about empowering criminals but rather protecting innocent users from becoming targets due to their transparent blockchain activities - especially when valuable assets are involved.
Looking Forward
As the interview concluded, Matthias expressed optimism about the future of blockchain privacy. He anticipated privacy becoming increasingly important for mainstream adoption, noting that serious business adoption requires confidentiality.
With multiple major launches on the horizon for Ultra - including the bridge, Ashes of Mankind, Cloak, and a new DEX - 2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for the ecosystem.
For Ultra community members interested in participating in Cloak's trusted ceremony or learning more about the project, Matthias welcomed their engagement through the project's official channels.
Watch the replay of the interview here.
If you want to get more info on Cloak, go to their website.
Finally, if you want to take part in the trust ceremony, you can join their Telegram.
Interview by Thybow.
