Vitalik Buterin supports new Kohaku Wallet feature providing Ethereum users with unique addresses for each dapp
May 27, 2026
Vitalik Buterin has thrown his support behind a feature of the Kohaku wallet that provides Ethereum users with a unique blockchain address for each decentralized application (dapp) they engage with. This approach, known as per-dapp address isolation, has been hailed by Buterin as a crucial step in establishing robust onchain privacy.
Currently, most Ethereum users rely on a single persistent wallet address to interact with the network. However, this model poses a significant privacy risk, as it allows external parties to track all of a user’s activities, including tokens held, protocols used, and transactions made, by analyzing public blockchain data. In response to this issue, Kohaku, an initiative supported by the Ethereum Foundation, aims to enhance privacy by equipping wallet developers with tools to integrate shielded transaction pools and private query infrastructure directly into existing wallets, eliminating the need for separate privacy protocols.
The per-dapp address feature, highlighted by Buterin on May 27 and developed by kassandraETH and ncsgy, tackles the problem of metadata leakage head-on. With this feature, every time a user connects to a new dapp, the wallet automatically generates a fresh address. This approach severs the onchain connection between a user’s activities on different dapps, such as decentralized exchanges (DEXs) or lending protocols, making it much more challenging for surveillance systems to compile a comprehensive financial profile of the user.
Kohaku’s ultimate goal extends beyond just per-dapp addresses. The initiative has seamlessly integrated with existing Ethereum privacy tools like Railgun and Privacy Pools, simplifying their technical intricacies so that everyday users can access shielded transactions through their regular wallets. This user-friendly approach is a significant step towards mainstream adoption of privacy-enhancing technologies within the Ethereum ecosystem.
The development of per-dapp addresses is just one aspect of Ethereum’s broader privacy roadmap for 2026, as outlined by Buterin earlier in the year. This roadmap includes initiatives such as account abstraction with FOCIL, Keyed Nonces (EIP-8250), and of course, Kohaku. Most of these upgrades are slated to be implemented during Ethereum’s forthcoming Hegotá hard fork, scheduled for the second half of 2026.
Kohaku’s recent technical progress, particularly the release of kohaku-eth/railgun v0.0.1-alpha.21, has made ERC-4337 relaying fully operational for Railgun privacy transactions. By utilizing Ethereum’s account abstraction standard, this advancement reduces the dependence on protocol-specific privacy infrastructure, which has historically hindered widespread adoption of privacy enhancements.
In conclusion, Buterin’s endorsement of the per-dapp address feature within the Kohaku wallet underscores the increasing focus on privacy within the Ethereum community. By addressing the inherent privacy risks associated with single global addresses, Ethereum is taking significant steps towards establishing a more secure and private blockchain ecosystem for its users.
