Broadcaster Network
When you submit a private transaction, Anon needs to get it on-chain without revealing your IP address. Directly submitting a transaction from your browser would link your network identity to the transaction. A broadcaster changes who submits the on-chain transaction, but does not by itself guarantee IP anonymity.
What Is a Broadcaster?
A broadcaster (also called a relayer) is an independent third-party node that:
- Receives your signed, zero-knowledge-proven transaction over an encrypted peer-to-peer channel
- Submits it to the blockchain on your behalf
- Deducts a small fee (paid from within your shielded balance) for the service
Because the broadcaster submits the transaction, the on-chain "from" address belongs to the broadcaster, not you. Network peers and infrastructure may still observe connection metadata; the on-chain sender is separate from network-level privacy.
Broadcasters have no ability to steal funds — the transaction is fully signed and proven before they receive it. They can only submit or drop it.
Waku — Decentralized P2P Messaging
Anon communicates with broadcasters over Waku, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging protocol. Waku is:
- Decentralized: multiple nodes participate; individual peers and gateways remain trust and availability considerations
- Encrypted: messages are encrypted end-to-end
- Multiple relays: alternative nodes can improve resilience, but delivery is not guaranteed
Your transaction is encrypted and broadcast to the Waku network. Available broadcaster nodes pick it up, execute it, and post the result back through Waku.
Broadcast Modes
Delivery options depend on the network and transaction. Check the selected method and fee estimate before confirming:
| Mode | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Waku | Automatic broadcaster selection from the decentralized network | Most private transactions |
| Paymaster | Gas sponsorship through Anon's encrypted OHTTP relay | When you want fee payment in a specific token or gas sponsorship |
| Self-broadcast | You submit the transaction directly from your EOA | When you want direct control or broadcasters are unavailable |
Broadcaster Selection
In Waku mode, Anon automatically selects a broadcaster based on fee, reliability, and latency. You can also manually specify a broadcaster in Advanced → Broadcaster Selection.
Fee Structure
Broadcaster fees are small and paid from your shielded balance — you don't need to hold ETH in your public wallet to transact privately (as long as your shielded balance covers the fee).