In a recent announcement, human.tech made the Clean SDK available to developers. This programmable toolkit gives developers the flexibility to create products that prioritize privacy by default and transparent accountability. The software development kit (SDK) was released concurrently with Aztec’s version 5 release. It provides developers with the fundamental components necessary to incorporate zero-knowledge identity verification, sanctions screening, and private transactions into their applications. This is accomplished without the need to handle sensitive user data or establish a compliance infrastructure from the ground up.
The Clean Software Development Kit (SDK) addresses one of the most persistent challenges that Web3 has faced: enabling privacy without compromising accountability. The software development kit (SDK) combines zero-knowledge proofs with programmable verification, which enables applications to demonstrate that users are legitimate participants and that funds have passed sanctions screening while maintaining the confidentiality of personal identities. This eliminates the need for developers to choose between user confidentiality and regulatory expectations.
Shield, the first application to be built on the Clean Software Development Kit, goes live concurrently with the SDK. Shield is a bridge to Aztec that protects users’ privacy and takes responsibility for its actions. It showcases how developers can utilize the software development kit (SDK) in order to create private financial apps. Without disclosing their identities, users and autonomous agents are able to bridge assets into Aztec while simultaneously demonstrating, without any prior knowledge, that a genuine and one-of-a-kind human being is behind each and every transfer and that the monies that have been deposited have been checked against sanctions sources. According to the findings of an impartial audit conducted by Nethermind in May 2026, all of Shield’s contracts were found to be in good standing.
“Privacy without accountability invites abuse, while accountability without privacy becomes surveillance,” said Shady El Damaty, co-founder of human.tech. “The Clean SDK eliminates that false choice by giving developers programmable building blocks for private, accountable applications. Shield demonstrates what’s possible today, but our goal is to enable an entire ecosystem of applications built on the same foundation.”
Providing three fundamental verification techniques, the Clean Software Development Kit (SDK) includes sanctions screening, also known as Proof of Innocence, human verification, also known as Proof of Personhood, and zero-knowledge identity verification, also known as Proof of Clean Hands. During both the deposit and withdrawal processes, Proof of Innocence is able to check wallets and funds against 23 different sanctions sources. Proof of Personhood allows for simpler verification through the use of Human Passport, whereas Proof of Clean Hands offers a higher level of assurance through the use of zero-knowledge government identity credentials for transactions of a higher value. These characteristics, when combined, make it possible for apps to authenticate users and transactions without revealing personal information or retaining unencrypted personally identifiable information.
The software development kit (SDK) was created for builders on Aztec, and it gives developers the ability to integrate programmable privacy directly into decentralized applications. This eliminates the need for developers to independently engineer identity verification, sanctions screening, and zero-knowledge infrastructure. Applications that are designed with the Clean Software Development Kit (SDK) have the capacity to provide consumers with confidential transactions while still retaining visible accountability via the use of cryptographic proofs.
With its role as the flagship implementation of the Clean Software Development Kit (SDK), Shield demonstrates how these capabilities interact with one another in practice. Despite the fact that Shield is primarily concerned with providing a private bridge between Ethereum and Aztec, the software development kit (SDK) is intended to enable a wide variety of financial applications, autonomous agents, and decentralized services that need verification that protects users’ privacy.
The launch is also a reflection of the growing demand for institutional infrastructure that strikes a balance between privacy and accountability in a transparent manner. The Clean Software Development Kit (SDK) does not rely on conventional identity databases; rather, it stores identity data in an encrypted state off-chain. Additionally, screening is performed at both entry and exit (not just during onboarding), and a gated disclosure mechanism is designed to comply with legitimate legal requests only.
As artificial intelligence and autonomous agents take over more of the work on the internet, human.tech develops solutions that keep people informed of what’s going on. human.tech’s products enable developers and users to demonstrate personhood, maintain privacy, and create scalable and accountable digital systems by utilizing zero-knowledge technology. Its ecosystem consists of Human Passport, Wallet as a Protocol (WaaP), Human Network, the Clean Software Development Kit (SDK), and Shield, which is the first application built on the Clean SDK.
