FAQ

Can I bridge without verifying my identity?

No. Every deposit (public or private) requires either Proof of Clean Hands or Human Passport attestation, plus sanctions screening. Public and private modes differ in what arrives on Aztec, not in identity requirements.

What is a “Clean” token?

Clean tokens (cUSDC, cDAI, etc.) entered Aztec’s private layer through a compliance-gated bridge. The “Clean” designation means the holder was identity-screened before bridging, giving applications regulatory defensibility.

How long does PoCH verification take?

About 5 minutes. Requires government-issued ID and camera for liveness check.

Does my PoCH expire?

Yes, after one year. Renewal starts at month 11.

What if my Passport score is below 20?

Passport-based bridging requires a score of 20+. Add more stamps at app.passport.xyz . For unlimited bridging without a score check, complete Proof of Clean Hands verification.

Is my personal data stored?

No PII stored at rest by the bridge, human.tech, or Aztec. Identity data transits KYC and sanctions screening providers during verification, then is discarded. On-chain identity verification uses zero-knowledge proofs; no personal data appears on blockchain.

What wallets are supported?

MetaMask and any WalletConnect-compatible wallet. Silk (WaaP-powered) also supported.

Is Shield on mainnet?

Yes, live on Aztec Mainnet Alpha (v4.3.0) since 2026-05-29 with real ZK proofs. Public launch aligned with Aztec v5. Currently in Alpha: ~6s block times at 1 TPS, ongoing audits + bug bounty.

What do I need to get started?

Ethereum mainnet ETH for L1 gas and a token to bridge (currently USDC). The bridge converts a portion of your deposit to FeeJuice for L2 gas automatically.