Vitalik Buterin-backed Nocturne protocol ceases operations

Ethereum-native privacy protocol Nocturne Labs is shutting down its operations. Nocturne had the support of well-known cryptocurrency experts, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and announced its closure in a June 5th X post without providing any explanation for the shutdown. Nocturne was originally intended to bring private accounts and transactions into the Ethereum ecosystem. In October 2023, the company raised $6 million in seed funding led by Bain Capital Crypto and Polychain Capital, with Buterin also participating.