Arcium is a confidential computing network that enables blockchain applications to process encrypted data without exposing the underlying inputs. It uses multi-party computation, or MPC, to split data and computation across separate nodes, so no single node is intended to access the full input while the network carries out the computation.

The network is designed as an execution layer for confidential computation rather than as a standalone blockchain. Its documentation focuses on integration with existing chains, with Solana used for coordination, transaction finalisation and application interaction. Developers can use Arcium to add encrypted computation to applications while keeping settlement and user activity on the underlying blockchain.

Arcium’s architecture is built around Multi-Party eXecution Environments, or MXEs. These environments allow distributed node groups to jointly run encrypted computations. The network is intended for use cases where applications need to process private data and produce outputs that can be used by smart contracts or on-chain systems.

ARX is used to support participation, resource allocation and governance within the Arcium network. Node operators stake ARX as collateral to provide computation services. The amount of ARX staked is linked to the level of compute capacity a node can make available, which connects token staking to the network’s available resources.

Tokenholders can also delegate ARX to node operators. Delegation increases the capacity that a node operator can provide to the network, although any fee-sharing arrangement between an operator and its delegators depends on that operator’s own terms rather than a protocol-wide guarantee.

ARX is also used in governance. Arcium separates governance into a Technical track and a Community track. The Technical track is for node operators and covers protocol parameters linked to network operation, such as staking thresholds and fee distribution settings. The Community track is for tokenholders who lock ARX to vote on non-technical governance matters, with voting power linked to the lock-up period.

Computation fees are not paid in ARX. They are paid in the native asset of the underlying blockchain, such as SOL on Solana. These fees are distributed to network participants involved in running and maintaining confidential computation, including node operators, recovery nodes and the network treasury.

Arcium was founded by Yannik Schrade, Chief Executive Officer, Nico Schapeler, Chief Technology Officer, Julian Deschler, Chief Strategy Officer and Lukas Steiner, Chief Operating Officer. The team previously worked on Elusiv, a Solana-based privacy protocol, before shifting its focus towards confidential computing for blockchain applications.

The move from Elusiv to Arcium reflects a broader change in scope. Rather than focusing only on private transactions, Arcium is centred on encrypted computation as infrastructure for applications. The project covers cases where data needs to remain private during processing while still being usable in blockchain-based systems.