Onchain Privacy in Action: A Guide to vetKeys Use Cases

The Internet Computer’s Niobium milestone introduces vetKeys, a privacy-enhancing breakthrough for onchain applications. vetKeys solve one of blockchain’s biggest limitations: the inability to keep sensitive user data private on a public ledger - offering confidential, decentralized cryptographic key management without relying on off-chain components.

What You Can Build

Personal Privacy Vaults – Password managers, encrypted diaries, or document lockers using identity-derived keys.
Encrypted Messaging – Send messages using usernames as encryption targets; gate access with canister-level identity verification.
Time-Released Content – Dead-man switches, sealed-bid auctions, delayed NFT reveals—where decryption is unlocked by time.
MEV-Proof Trading – Encrypt transactions pre-inclusion to prevent front-running and ensure fair DeFi mechanics.
Verifiable Randomness – Use vetKeys as VRFs for fair games, lotteries, and randomized drops.
Onchain Multichain Signatures – Enable canisters to issue BLS signatures for interoperability with other blockchains.