Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here you will find answers to the most common questions about Gone.WTF.

How does this service work to protect my privacy?

This tool uses a powerful cryptographic method called zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) to create a secure privacy shield. The process breaks the on-chain link between your source and destination wallets through three main steps:

1. Deposit & Mix: You deposit your SOL into a large, shared pool of assets. Upon deposit, you receive a cryptographically unique "Secret Note." Your funds are now mixed with others in the pool, obscuring the original source. Think of it like adding a drop of water to a river—it becomes indistinguishable from the rest.

2. Generate a Proof: When you decide to withdraw, your browser uses the Secret Note to generate a ZK-proof. This proof mathematically demonstrates that you own funds within the pool without revealing any information about your original deposit. Your Secret Note never leaves your device.

3. Withdraw Anonymously: A "relayer" submits this proof and your withdrawal request to the Solana network. The on-chain program verifies the proof and sends the funds to your new address. Because the proof contains no links to your deposit, the transaction is completely anonymous.

Are my funds safe? Is this a centralized service?

Security and self-custody are fundamental to this service. Here’s how we ensure your funds are safe:

• Non-Custodial: We are a non-custodial service, which means we never have access to or control over your funds. The assets are held securely in audited on-chain programs on Solana, not in a company-controlled wallet.

• Audited Programs: The underlying technology from Light Protocol has been rigorously audited by third-party security experts to ensure it is free from vulnerabilities that could put funds at risk.

• You Hold the Key: The Secret Note is your private key. Without it, no one—not even our team—can access or move your funds. This places security firmly in your hands.

What exactly is a "Secret Note" and why is it so critical?

Think of the Secret Note as the digital equivalent of a private key and a password combined for your deposited funds.

It is a unique string of characters generated during your deposit. It contains all the cryptographic data required to create a proof of ownership for your withdrawal. Because of its importance, you must:

• Back It Up Immediately: Save it in a secure, offline location like a password manager or an encrypted file.

• Never Share It: Anyone with access to your note can withdraw your funds.

• Do Not Lose It: There is no recovery mechanism if it is lost.

What happens if I lose my Secret Note? Is there a recovery option?

If you lose your Secret Note, your funds will be permanently and irretrievably lost. There are no exceptions.

This is not a flaw, but a deliberate security feature. The absence of a recovery mechanism is what guarantees that no one—including developers, administrators, or authorities—can ever seize, freeze, or access your funds. The system is designed to be trustless, and that trust is based on the mathematical certainty that only the holder of the note can control the assets.

Please treat your Secret Note with the same level of security as a hardware wallet's seed phrase.

What are the fees, and what are they for?

The fee structure is designed to be transparent and to enable the core privacy features of the protocol.

• Deposit Fee: There is no protocol fee for depositing funds. You only pay the standard, minimal Solana network transaction fee.

• Withdrawal Fee (0.5%): This small fee is critical for enabling anonymous withdrawals. It pays for a "relayer," which is a service that submits your transaction to the network on your behalf. This is important because the relayer pays the network fee for you, allowing you to withdraw to a brand-new wallet with a 0 SOL balance. Without this, you would first need to send SOL to your new wallet to pay for the withdrawal, creating an on-chain link that would compromise your privacy.

What are the essential best practices for achieving maximum privacy?

Using the tool correctly is just as important as the technology itself. For the strongest privacy guarantees, follow these essential practices:

1. Withdraw to a Brand New Address: Never withdraw to a wallet that has a previous transaction history or is linked to your identity (e.g., an exchange wallet). Always generate a fresh address for each withdrawal.

2. Be Patient and Randomize Timing: Do not withdraw immediately after you deposit. Wait a variable amount of time—several hours or even days. Avoid predictable patterns, as sophisticated analysis could potentially use timing to infer behavior. The more deposits that enter the pool after yours, the stronger your privacy.

3. Use a Privacy-Focused Browser and VPN: Protect your network-level data. Use a reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network) to mask your IP address. For an even higher level of security, consider using the Tor Browser, which anonymizes your internet traffic.