Casa Wallet, a leading cryptocurrency self-custody platform, has introduced a new feature aimed at bolstering transactional privacy for its Ethereum (ETH) users. Following the launch of its multi-signature Ethereum self-custody vault in June 2023, the company has now implemented a relay mechanism that allows users to transact via an ETH pay wallet. This development comes as a significant addition to Casa’s initial Bitcoin (BTC) custody offering, which has been operational since its inception.
The new feature addresses a critical privacy concern associated with the company’s in-house Casa Relay. Previously, the Casa Relay facilitated interactions between users’ ETH vaults and the Ethereum blockchain, including contract deployment and transaction sending. However, this function exposed users’ Ethereum addresses to public view through blockchain scanning tools.
ETH pay wallet: A step towards customization and privacy
The ETH pay wallet serves as a single-signature alternative wallet that can act as a relay for transactions originating from a user’s vault. According to Casa CEO Nick Neuman, transactions and gas fees associated with the ETH pay wallet will not be linked to Casa on-chain. This feature had been in the pipeline even before the launch of the Ethereum custody vault and offers users an opportunity for customization.
Neuman clarified that the ETH pay wallet is not an obfuscation service. All on-chain activities will still be publicly viewable, but the connection to Casa on-chain will be removed. This additional step offers a trade-off: users will have to cover gas fees with their pay wallet, but in return, they gain an added layer of privacy by preventing their on-chain ETH addresses from being connected to Casa.
The introduction of the ETH pay wallet is part of Casa’s broader mission to provide secure and user-friendly self-custody solutions. It also aligns with the growing demand for enhanced privacy features in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. While the service involves additional steps compared to the Casa Relay, the payoff in terms of user privacy makes it a worthwhile addition.