Peer
A decentralized fiat-crypto exchange using ZK proofs to verify off-chain payments
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This content is generated by RD AI and is for reference only
Peer (formerly ZKP2P) is a decentralized peer-to-peer fiat-to-crypto exchange protocol. It leverages zero-knowledge proofs (ZK) to verify off-chain payments made through Web2 payment platforms like Venmo, enabling secure on-chain asset release without trusting a third-party custodian. Sellers deposit USDC and set their price and payment methods; buyers complete fiat payments via Venmo, and the protocol verifies the payment by generating a ZK proof of the DKIM signature in the payment confirmation email. Upon verification, the smart contract automatically releases USDC. The protocol supports any payment platform and on-chain asset, aiming for KYC-free, low-fee, and composable fiat-crypto exchange.
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About Peer
Peer is a peer-to-peer marketplace that connects fiat payment apps (Venmo, Revolut, Wise, Cash App, PayPal) with onchain crypto. Buyers pay sellers directly via these apps, and the ZKP2P protocol cryptographically verifies the payment (using zkTLS, TEEs, or zkEmail) before releasing USDC from escrow. No bank rails, no custodian, no waiting for business days.
Core narrative: trustless (no intermediary settles disputes), private (payment data stays offchain), fast (orders settle in minutes), and cheap (no middleman spread). The protocol is non-custodial by design — smart contracts hold escrowed tokens and release them according to public rules.
Market pain points: centralized onramps are unavailable in much of the world and charge up to 5%; KYC flows are slow and repetitive; bank transfers take days; none of it is composable — you can't route "fiat in" straight into an onchain position.
Negative developments in the past two years: the governance multisig can update the attestation signing key — if compromised, it could forge proofs and drain escrowed funds. Current TVL is ~$156K (DeFiLlama), so maximum theft is bounded, but the risk scales with growth. The protocol is KYC-free, which may attract regulatory scrutiny (unlicensed money transmission, PayPal ToS violations). No reliable information on developments from 2026-03-12 to 2026-09-12 was found in the provided sources.
Co-founders and current core executives:
Brian Weickmann: Co-founder. Former natural gas options trading analyst at DRW and smart contract engineer at Set Labs, where he led a team deploying contracts securing over $750M. Co-founded ZKP2P in January 2024; now serves as advisor.
Richard Liang (@drahcir): Co-founder. Former PwC consultant and founding team member at Set Labs, leading growth. Co-founded ZKP2P in January 2024; currently building at P2P Labs.
0xSachinK: Co-founder. Former Set Labs colleague based in India. Contributes to ZKP2P development and GitHub org maintenance; co-founded ZKP2P in January 2024.
Recently, Ben (@unhappyben), Head of Growth at Peer (formerly ZKP2P), left the company in June 2026. He joined in June 2025 and led the rebranding from ZKP2P to Peer, as well as the third product iteration. His departure may impact the growth strategy, but Peer remains committed to providing privacy-focused P2P fiat on/off-ramp services using zero-knowledge proofs and ZK-TLS.