Celo Unveils Nightfall for Private Enterprise Payments

The Celo Foundation has announced the launch of Nightfall, an open-source privacy layer application originally developed by EY and released into the public domain, now deployed as a Layer 3 on the Celo network. This represents the first payments-oriented blockchain development of Nightfall, designed to deliver private, enterprise-grade transactions while preserving the advantages of a public blockchain infrastructure. The move positions Celo as a frontrunner in the enterprise B2B payments sector, which is forecast to surpass $180 trillion in cross-border flows.

Celo has already built a strong presence in onchain peer-to-peer payments, with more than 500,000 daily active users, over $2 billion in stablecoin volume each month, and adoption across more than 150 countries. These foundations have placed the network in a strategic position to expand its solutions into enterprise payments while continuing to serve consumer markets, particularly in emerging economies such as Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Strengthening Global Financial Infrastructure

Rene Reinsberg, Co-Founder of Celo and President of the Celo Foundation, noted that the deployment of Nightfall brings enterprise-level privacy features to the same mobile-first infrastructure that has already scaled globally. He indicated that the addition of this Layer 3 solution now allows the platform to address both institutional and individual payment needs, particularly in markets underserved by conventional banking systems.

Nightfall has been evolving in the public domain since 2017, with the most recent version, Nightfall_4 (NF_4), utilizing Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to facilitate private transfers of multiple token standards. These include ERC-20, ERC-721, ERC-1155, and ERC-3525. The system employs a ZK-ZK rollup structure, bundling transactions into concise and efficient blocks that safeguard privacy while maintaining scalability. This architecture significantly reduces costs—bringing transaction fees down to nearly one-tenth of standard transfers—while removing reliance on intermediaries.

Bridging Enterprise Confidentiality with Blockchain

Through the deployment of Nightfall, Celo aims to connect enterprise confidentiality requirements with the transparency and efficiency of public blockchain systems. This hybrid approach creates an environment where high-value transactions, including supply chain finance and B2B settlements, can be conducted securely, with privacy maintained but still auditable when necessary.

Celo’s mobile-first ecosystem, which includes features like phone number-based addressing and extremely low-cost transaction fees, has already demonstrated strong adoption in markets where traditional financial services remain inaccessible. MiniPay, Opera’s stablecoin wallet built on Celo, has surpassed 10 million activated wallets and facilitated more than 270 million transactions, highlighting both scalability and real-world usability.

Expanding Options for Enterprise Payments

Enterprises leveraging Celo can now execute private B2B transactions using stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. The system also supports gas fee abstraction in ERC-20 tokens, simplifying the user experience for institutions adopting blockchain-based payment solutions. The Nightfall integration enhances Celo’s capabilities, reinforcing its identity as a leading Ethereum Layer-2 network tailored for inclusive, global finance.

By combining a strong consumer base with advanced privacy-focused tools, Celo is creating a unified platform capable of serving both individuals and enterprises. The integration of Nightfall is being seen as a critical step in expanding blockchain’s role in global payments, enabling secure and cost-efficient financial transactions while broadening access to regions most in need of digital financial inclusion.