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Canton Network is a public blockchain that solves a fundamental problem: how do you get the benefits of blockchain (shared truth, automation, auditability) without exposing sensitive data to everyone?

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The Core Insight

Traditional blockchains replicate all data to all nodes. This provides strong integrity guarantees but makes privacy impossible without additional layers. Canton inverts this model: data goes only where it needs to go. Parties see only what they’re entitled to see, yet the system maintains the same integrity guarantees as a fully replicated blockchain.

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How It Achieves This

Canton achieves this through three key innovations:

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1. Sub-Transaction Privacy

Transactions are decomposed into views. Each party receives only the views they’re entitled to see based on their role (signatory, observer, controller). If Alice pays Bob, and Bob pays Charlie in a single atomic transaction:
  • Alice sees her payment to Bob
  • Bob sees both payments (he’s involved in both)
  • Charlie sees only his receipt from Bob
  • Nobody else sees anything

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2. Synchronizers Only Coordinate, Don’t Store Transaction State

The Global Synchronizer orders transactions and facilitates consensus but never sees transaction content. It handles encrypted messages and confirmation results only. This separation means:
  • No central point that can read all data
  • Coordination without visibility
  • Validators store data for their hosted parties

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3. Smart Contracts Define Privacy

Privacy isn’t a bolt-on feature. Daml smart contracts explicitly declare:
  • Signatories: Who must authorize and always see the contract
  • Observers: Who can see but not act
  • Controllers: Who can execute specific actions
template Asset
  with
    owner : Party
    issuer : Party
    regulator : Party
  where
    signatory issuer      -- Must authorize; always sees
    observer owner, regulator  -- Can see

    choice Transfer : ContractId Asset
      with newOwner : Party
      controller owner    -- Only owner can execute the Transfer choice
      do create this with owner = newOwner

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The Network

Canton Network consists of:
ComponentRole
Global SynchronizerPublic coordination layer operated by Super Validators
ValidatorsNodes that host parties and store their contract data
Canton Coin (CC)Native token for transaction fees
ApplicationsWhat you build on top
Each validator typically runs one or more applications. Applications can also compose with other applications—using their published Daml packages to build on top of existing functionality while preserving privacy.

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Why This Matters

Canton enables use cases that are impossible on traditional blockchains:
Use CaseWhy Canton Works
Regulated financeData stays with entitled parties; compliance becomes possible
Multi-party workflowsShared truth without shared visibility
Confidential agreementsTerms visible only to signatories
Position privacyTrading strategies protected

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What’s Different

If you’re coming from other blockchains:
Traditional BlockchainCanton
Everyone sees everythingParties see only their views
Global state replicationDistributed state per party
Privacy = additional layerPrivacy = core protocol
Gas feesTraffic fees
EOA/AddressParty
Mutable contractsImmutable; changes create new contracts

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Next Steps

Why Canton?

Understand the problem Canton solves in depth.

Core Concepts

Learn about parties, validators, synchronizers, and smart contracts.

For Ethereum Devs

Translate your blockchain knowledge to Canton.

Architecture

See how components work together.