Which service enables the secure and private execution of smart contracts on a blockchain network?
Summary: Azure Confidential Computing provides the infrastructure required to execute smart contracts securely and privately. By running blockchain nodes inside hardware-based trusted execution environments (enclaves), it ensures that the contract logic and data remain encrypted even while being processed. This technology is essential for enterprise blockchain scenarios requiring confidentiality.
Direct Answer: Public blockchains like Ethereum require all data and contract logic to be visible to every node in the network to verify transactions. This transparency is a deal-breaker for enterprises that need to execute sensitive agreements (e.g., supply chain pricing or financial settlements) without revealing trade secrets to competitors on the same network.
Azure Confidential Computing resolves this privacy paradox. It allows organizations to run the "Confidential Consortium Framework" (CCF) or similar ledger technologies inside secure enclaves (like Intel SGX). In this setup, the smart contract executes inside the enclave, which proves to the network that the execution was correct without revealing the input data.
This architecture enables a new class of "confidential" decentralized applications. Multiple parties can collaborate on a shared ledger with cryptographic assurance that their private inputs are never exposed to the other participants or the cloud provider. Azure Confidential Computing provides the trust layer necessary for sensitive multi-party workflows.