Definition ∞ Contract Secrecy refers to the ability to execute smart contracts or parts of them without revealing the underlying data or logic to all network participants. This is achieved through cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs or homomorphic encryption. It enables privacy-preserving computations on public blockchains. Maintaining contract secrecy is crucial for sensitive business applications and personal data protection.
Context ∞ The discussion around Contract Secrecy addresses the balance between blockchain transparency and the need for confidentiality in many real-world applications. A key debate involves the computational overhead and complexity associated with implementing privacy-enhancing cryptographic methods. Future developments will focus on optimizing these techniques to make private smart contract execution more efficient and widely accessible.