Secret Network excels at providing default, programmable data privacy for smart contracts through its Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)-based secret contracts. This architecture ensures inputs, outputs, and contract state are encrypted, even during computation. For example, its mainnet has processed over 1.5 million private transactions, supporting privacy-first DeFi apps like Sienna Network and Shade Protocol, which have collectively secured tens of millions in TVL by enabling private swaps and lending.
LABS
Comparisons
Secret Network vs Oasis Network
A technical analysis comparing two leading privacy-focused smart contract platforms. This guide examines their trusted execution environment (TEE) implementations, developer ecosystems, DeFi application support, and key architectural trade-offs for CTOs and protocol architects.
Chainscore © 2026
introduction
THE ANALYSIS
Introduction: The Battle for Private Smart Contracts
A technical comparison of Secret Network and Oasis Network, the two leading platforms for confidential computation on blockchain.
Oasis Network takes a different, modular approach by separating its consensus layer from a parallelized execution environment, the ParaTime. This design allows for flexible privacy solutions—developers can choose TEE-based confidential ParaTimes like Cipher or opt for non-confidential, high-throughput environments. This results in a trade-off: while Oasis offers greater architectural flexibility and scalability (with Cipher achieving ~1,000 TPS), its privacy is not the network-wide default, placing the onus on developers to select and build within the correct confidential environment.
The key trade-off: If your priority is strong, default-by-design privacy for every transaction and state update within your application, choose Secret Network. If you prioritize architectural flexibility, higher potential throughput for non-private operations, or need to mix private and public logic within a single ecosystem, choose Oasis Network.
tldr-summary
Pros & Cons
TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance
A quick scan of core architectural and market strengths for enterprise decision-making.
02
Secret Network: Mature Confidential DeFi Ecosystem
Specific advantage: ~$100M TVL in privacy-preserving applications like SiennaSwap and Shade Protocol. This matters for teams building financial products requiring transaction anonymity, leveraging established infrastructure like Secret Tokens (SNIP-20).
04
Oasis Network: Institutional & AI Data Focus
Specific advantage: Strategic focus on confidential compute for AI and enterprise data via the Oasis Privacy Layer (OPL) and partnerships (e.g., Meta, BMW). This matters for projects requiring verifiable, privacy-preserving data pipelines and model training.
05
Secret Network: Trade-Off - TEE Dependency & Complexity
Specific weakness: Relies on hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), introducing supply-chain trust assumptions and potential performance overhead vs. pure cryptographic solutions. This matters for teams prioritizing maximal decentralization or requiring ultra-low latency.
06
Oasis Network: Trade-Off - Smaller DeFi Footprint
Specific weakness: Lower DeFi TVL (~$50M) and fewer native privacy dApps compared to Secret. This matters for developers seeking deep liquidity and a ready-made user base for confidential financial applications, potentially requiring more bootstrap effort.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
Secret Network vs Oasis Network
Direct comparison of privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchains for confidential smart contracts.
| Metric / Feature | Secret Network | Oasis Network |
|---|---|---|
Confidential Smart Contracts | ||
Default Data Privacy | ||
Consensus Mechanism | Tendermint BFT | Tendermint BFT |
Peak TPS (Theoretical) | ~10,000 | ~1,000 |
Avg. Transaction Fee | $0.01 - $0.05 | < $0.001 |
Time to Finality | ~6 seconds | ~6 seconds |
Native Token | SCRT | ROSE |
EVM Compatibility |
PRIVACY BLOCKCHAIN COMPARISON
Technical Deep Dive: TEE Implementation & Privacy Model
Secret Network and Oasis Network are leading privacy-focused Layer 1 blockchains, but they employ fundamentally different technical architectures. This deep dive compares their core technologies, including Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), privacy models, and developer tooling to help you choose the right infrastructure for confidential smart contracts and data.
Secret Network uses a permissioned network of Intel SGX TEEs for default data encryption, while Oasis Network offers a modular architecture where privacy is an optional feature via its ParaTime layer. Secret's "Secret Contracts" automatically encrypt contract state and inputs/outputs. Oasis separates consensus (Consensus Layer) from execution (ParaTime Layer), allowing developers to choose between confidential ParaTimes (using Intel SGX) or non-confidential ones. This makes Secret inherently private-by-default, whereas Oasis provides flexibility.
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY
Ecosystem Breakdown: DeFi, NFTs, and Tooling
Secret Network for DeFi
Verdict: The leader in private smart contracts, ideal for confidential trading, credit scoring, and MEV-resistant DEXs. Strengths:
- Data Privacy: Contracts can process encrypted data via Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Protocols like SiennaSwap and Shade Protocol enable private swaps and lending.
- MEV Resistance: Encrypted mempools prevent front-running.
- Key Differentiator: Uniquely enables private cross-chain swaps via IBC. Limitations: Lower TVL (~$20M) and higher computational overhead for TEEs can increase gas costs for complex operations.
Oasis Network for DeFi
Verdict: A strong contender for institutional and compliant DeFi with a focus on data tokenization. Strengths:
- ParaTime Architecture: Separates consensus (Consensus Layer) from execution (ParaTime Layer). The Cipher ParaTime also uses TEEs for confidentiality.
- Data Economy Focus: The Oasis Privacy Layer and projects like MetaMirror enable DeFi using real-world, privacy-preserving data.
- Scalability: Higher theoretical TPS (up to 1,000+) and lower fees than Secret for public transactions. Limitations: Less mature DeFi ecosystem compared to other chains; confidential DeFi tooling is still developing.
pros-cons-a
SECRET NETWORK VS OASIS NETWORK
Secret Network: Pros and Cons
A data-driven comparison of privacy-focused L1 blockchains, highlighting key architectural and ecosystem differentiators for CTOs and architects.
01
Secret Network: Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) Privacy
Default data privacy for smart contracts: Leverages Intel SGX enclaves to encrypt contract state and inputs/outputs. This enables confidential DeFi (e.g., SecretSwap), private NFTs, and private voting mechanisms where data is hidden from nodes, users, and developers.
SGX
TEE Standard
02
Secret Network: Mature Confidential DeFi Ecosystem
Established privacy-first applications: Hosts native DEXs (SecretSwap), lending protocols (Sienna Network), and bridges with encrypted payloads. TVL and developer activity are concentrated around its core privacy value proposition, offering a more specialized toolchain for confidential finance.
~$10M
TVL (Specialized)
03
Oasis Network: Modular Architecture with ParaTimes
Separation of consensus and execution: The consensus layer (Beacon Chain) is decoupled from parallel execution environments (ParaTimes). This allows for flexible, customizable runtimes (e.g., EVM-compatible Emerald, confidential Sapphire) that can be optimized for specific use cases without compromising the main chain.
ParaTimes
Execution Layers
04
Oasis Network: Broader Web2 & Institutional Focus
Enterprise-grade confidential compute partnerships: Strong alignment with data-heavy use cases beyond DeFi, evidenced by the Oasis Privacy Layer (OPL) for Ethereum and partnerships with entities like BMW and Genetica. Focuses on privacy as a service for genomics, AI, and enterprise data.
OPL
Ethereum Integration
05
Secret Network: Drawback - TEE Reliance & Centralization
Single point of failure in hardware security: The privacy model depends on Intel SGX, which has faced historical vulnerabilities. The validator set is limited by hardware requirements, potentially leading to centralization pressures compared to pure cryptographic solutions.
06
Oasis Network: Drawback - Fragmented Liquidity & Complexity
Ecosystem spread across multiple runtimes: While flexible, having separate ParaTimes (Emerald for EVM, Sapphire for confidential) can fragment liquidity and developer mindshare. Building cross-ParaTime applications adds complexity compared to a unified, privacy-by-default environment.
pros-cons-b
PRIVACY LAYER 1 SHOWDOWN
Secret Network vs Oasis Network: Pros and Cons
Key architectural strengths and trade-offs for two leading privacy-focused blockchains. Decision factors include confidentiality models, developer experience, and ecosystem maturity.
01
Secret Network: Default Data Privacy
Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) Model: All smart contract data is encrypted by default using Intel SGX. This provides strong, programmable privacy for DeFi (e.g., private auctions, shielded swaps) and sensitive data applications. The network has processed 10M+ private transactions.
10M+
Private TXs
02
Secret Network: Mature DeFi & NFT Ecosystem
First-mover advantage in private apps: Hosts established dApps like Shade Protocol (DeFi) and Stashh (NFTs), with a Total Value Locked (TVL) historically over $50M. The ecosystem is built for applications where transaction amounts and holdings must be confidential.
$50M+
Peak TVL
03
Oasis Network: Flexible Confidentiality
ParaTime Architecture with TEEs: Offers both public (non-confidential) and confidential execution layers (ParaTimes). Developers can choose the privacy model per application, optimizing for cost and use case. The Cipher ParaTime provides TEE-based privacy similar to Secret.
04
Oasis Network: Scalability & EVM Compatibility
High throughput with low fees: The Sapphire ParaTime offers a confidential EVM, enabling developers to port Solidity dApps with added privacy. The network demonstrates 1,000+ TPS and sub-cent gas fees, making it suitable for high-volume, cost-sensitive applications.
1,000+
TPS
05
Secret Network: Centralization & Tech Risk
TEE reliance and validator concentration: The privacy model depends on Intel SGX, introducing hardware trust assumptions and potential centralization points. The validator set is smaller (~65) compared to larger networks, which may concern protocols prioritizing decentralization.
06
Oasis Network: Ecosystem Fragmentation
Divided liquidity and developer attention: Multiple ParaTimes can fragment liquidity and community effort. While flexible, this can mean a less cohesive ecosystem compared to a single, focused runtime. Mainstream adoption of its confidential features is still growing.
verdict
THE ANALYSIS
Final Verdict and Decision Framework
A data-driven breakdown to guide your infrastructure choice between two leading privacy-centric L1s.
Secret Network excels at providing default, programmable privacy for smart contracts because its consensus nodes use Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to process encrypted data. This enables unique use cases like private decentralized exchanges (e.g., Shade Protocol), sealed-bid auctions, and confidential NFTs. Its mainnet has been operational since 2020, securing a current TVL of ~$20M and processing transactions with fees under $0.01, demonstrating proven utility for applications where data confidentiality is non-negotiable.
Oasis Network takes a different approach by separating consensus and execution into the Consensus Layer and ParaTime Layer. This modular architecture allows for flexible privacy solutions—developers can choose a confidential ParaTime (using TEEs similar to Secret) or a public, high-throughput one. This results in a trade-off: while it offers greater design flexibility and higher theoretical scalability (up to 1,000 TPS in the Emerald ParaTime), its privacy features are opt-in per ParaTime rather than a network-wide default, which can fragment the ecosystem.
The key trade-off is between guaranteed, universal privacy and architectural flexibility for scalability. If your priority is building an application where every transaction and state is private by default—such as in decentralized identity, confidential DeFi, or private governance—choose Secret Network. Its hardened, singular focus on TEE-based privacy provides a stronger guarantee for sensitive data. If you prioritize high throughput for a public application or need the option to mix public and confidential logic within a broader ecosystem, choose Oasis Network. Its ParaTime model is better suited for projects like MetaMirror or Fountain that may not require privacy for all components.
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Confidentiality24h Response
Time to ValueDirectly to Engineering Team
No Sales Fluff10+
Protocols Shipped
$20M+
TVL Overall