The convergence of AI, DeFi, and Real World Assets (RWA) faces a critical infrastructure bottleneck: converting off-chain facts into credible on-chain data while preserving privacy and control. Primus Labs, formerly PADO Labs, established in 2022 and headquartered in Hong Kong, addresses this by deploying a dual-stack architecture of zkTLS and Full Homomorphic Encryption (FHE). The project aims to construct a verification layer that establishes trust between real-world data sources, on-chain states, and smart systems. This initiative aligns with broader industry shifts, including the March 2025 launch of the EY Blockchain Privacy Sandbox for Ethereum EVM chains and Vitalik Buterin's May assertion that zero-knowledge payments and ZK APIs will become essential for AI agents managing funds on the 以太坊 network. Market sentiment reflects this urgency, with the privacy token ZEC surging over 270% to a peak of $688 in May 2025. Woofun AI analysis suggests this valuation spike signals a structural pivot toward privacy-preserving verification as a core requirement for the next generation of digital infrastructure.

Primus targets two distinct cryptographic challenges: proving data authenticity and enabling computation without data disclosure. The first pillar, zkTLS, merges the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol with zero-knowledge proofs. While TLS secures the communication channel between clients and servers, zkTLS extends this by generating verifiable cryptographic proofs directly from data sources like banks or exchanges. For instance, a user can prove a monthly income exceeds 20,000 yuan to a landlord via a mathematically signed proof from a bank system, revealing no transaction history. This mechanism ensures data authenticity during transmission while minimizing information leakage through zero-knowledge constraints.

The second pillar, FHE, enables computations on encrypted data without decryption. In this model, data remains encrypted throughout the processing lifecycle, allowing computing nodes to derive correct results without accessing the plaintext. This capability, termed 'computable encryption,' facilitates scenarios where hospitals analyze medical records or lending platforms verify asset sufficiency without viewing specific balances. By combining zkTLS for source verification and FHE for secure computation, Primus creates a closed-loop framework where zero-knowledge proofs validate result correctness. Data compiled by Woofun AI indicates this stack is already deployed in DeFi credit scoring and off-chain asset verification, enabling users to access services without compromising personal privacy.

The technical leadership behind Primus draws from deep expertise in cryptography and blockchain. Co-founder and CEO Xiang Xie holds a Ph.D. in cryptography from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and previously engineered zk-solutions at O(1)Labs for the Mina Protocol. Co-founder Vicky Zhang brings experience as former CMO at BIT, while researcher Fubiao Xia, formerly a privacy scientist at TikTok, focuses on cryptographic protocol development. Chief Cryptographer Xiao Wang, an assistant professor at Northwestern University and Sloan Research Fellow, authored the EMP-toolkit and directly applied his multi-party computation research to Primus' zkFHE protocol. This team composition underscores the project's focus on rigorous cryptographic standards rather than speculative tokenomics.

Financially, Primus secured $6.5 million in Pre-Seed and seed financing in February 2025, led by Dispersion Capital, Symbolic Capital, and VanEck, with participation from Samsung Next, Alchemy, and Maelstrom Fund. In October 2025, the team launched AlphaNet, a decentralized data verification network where verifiers are randomly selected from a participant pool. Each node operates within a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) to bolster security. Woofun AI notes that the AlphaNet phase lacks a fixed timeline, with the team prioritizing iterative upgrades before a mainnet transition. This cautious rollout strategy emphasizes network stability and security over rapid expansion.

Ecosystem expansion accelerated in 2026, marked by a March partnership with Brevis and BNB Chain to build a privacy-protected identity layer. This integration aims to bring real-world credit into DeFi by using zkTLS to authenticate Web2 data, such as Binance account duration and payment history, directly on user devices. By generating verifiable proofs without exposing raw data, the system lowers collateral requirements and enhances lending efficiency. In May, Primus joined the 0G AI Alliance Carnival alongside NeoSoul and Ghast AI to further promote AI and Web3 integration. Currently, no official token or airdrop exists; however, users can earn an AlphaNet Reputation Score by installing the browser extension and verifying data for accounts on platforms like TikTok, X, and 币安. Developers can access the primus-labs/skills repository on GitHub to build zkTLS applications, while node operators run Attestor Nodes to earn task fees. As the mainnet approaches, Primus positions itself as a foundational element of the privacy-centric digital economy.