Zama: Building the Future of Privacy-Preserving AI and Blockchain

What inspired the founding of Zama, and what key problem were you aiming to solve? 

Jeremy Bradley: Zama was founded with the belief that privacy should be the default in the digital world, not the exception. The key problem we saw was that while data is increasingly valuable for AI and blockchain applications, it is almost always exposed in use. We wanted to change that by making privacy-preserving computation practical and accessible—so that organizations and individuals could unlock the full potential of their data without compromising confidentiality or trust. 

Zama is now a leader in homomorphic encryption. Could you briefly explain what that means, and why it’s so revolutionary for blockchain and AI? 

FHE is a breakthrough technology that allows computations to be performed directly on encrypted data, without ever decrypting it. This means you can run AI models or process blockchain transactions without ever exposing sensitive information. It’s revolutionary because it eliminates the trade-off between utility and privacy. For AI, it enables training and inference on private datasets. For blockchain, it allows truly private smart contracts—where the code runs transparently but the underlying data remains confidential.  

You recently closed a $57 million Series B and became the first FHE unicorn. What were some key milestones on that journey? 

Reaching unicorn status was the result of several key milestones:  

• Technology breakthroughs: making FHE not only possible, but practical—orders of magnitude faster than academic prototypes. 
• Building one of the world’s most widely adopted FHE libraries, which helped establish Zama as the reference point for developers. 
• Real-world applications: partnering with industry leaders in AI and blockchain to show that FHE isn’t just a research project but ready for production. 
• Ecosystem growth: cultivating a global community of researchers, developers, and partners who share our vision for privacy-first computing.

What motivated your decision to expand to Switzerland, and specifically to Zug? 

Switzerland—and Zug in particular—has become a global hub for blockchain innovation and privacy-enhancing technologies. The Crypto Valley ecosystem offers both regulatory clarity and a deep talent pool. For us, Zug was a natural choice: it aligns with our mission, provides proximity to leading blockchain companies, and gives us the right environment to scale globally. 

How has the Swiss ecosystem—both regulatory and innovation-wise—supported your work in privacy-enhancing technologies?

Switzerland provides a unique combination of regulatory pragmatism and forward-looking innovation policies. Regulators here understand blockchain and cryptography, and they work closely with the industry to create frameworks that foster responsible innovation. On the innovation side, the density of companies and researchers in Zug has allowed us to build collaborations faster, test new applications, and tap into a community that is already fluent in the language of privacy and security. 

What role will the new Swiss entity play within Zama’s global operations?  

We imagine the Swiss entity will be a cornerstone for our ecosystem development. It will focus on: 

• Supporting blockchain partners who are building privacy-preserving applications with FHE. 
• Regulatory engagement with Swiss and EU bodies, ensuring privacy-enhancing technologies are well-represented. 
• Research collaborations with local universities and innovation hubs. 

In short, Switzerland will be our bridge between cutting-edge technology and real-world adoption in both Europe and beyond.  

What are the most exciting use cases for Zama’s technology that we might see in the next 12–24 months? 

Zama Confidential Blockchain Protocol enables confidential smart contracts on top of any L1 or L2 using FHE and is moving to mainnet in Q4—we’ll see the first production deployments of confidential smart contracts powered by FHE, unlocking decentralized finance, gaming, and identity applications that preserve confidentiality. 

What advice would you give to other deeptech startups considering Switzerland for expansion? 

Switzerland offers an exceptional environment for deeptech, but success depends on three things: 

• Engage with regulators early—they are approachable and collaborative, but it pays to build those relationships from the start. 
• Leverage the ecosystem—Zug’s Crypto Valley and the broader Swiss innovation network provide unmatched access to partners and investors. 
• Think globally, not locally—Switzerland is small, but its reputation and influence make it a powerful base for international expansion. 

 

Bio 

Jeremy Bradley, COO at Zama 

Jeremy oversees day-to-day operations at Zama. He is a cross-functional and highly tactical leader who has worked with a number of organisations to shape strategy, drive communications and partnerships, and lead policy and process. Jeremy's educational and professional background is multidisciplinary. Apart from working across the non-profit, education, and corporate sectors, Jeremy is the author of two novels (2019 Wishing Shelf Book Award Finalist and 2021 Wishing Shelf Book Award Winner). In 2020, he was named Writer of the Year by the IAOTP, and in 2022 he was named to Business Elite's 40 Under 40.