Use encrypted types

The TFHE library provides encrypted integer types and a type system that is checked both at compile time and at run time.

Encrypted integers behave as much as possible as Solidity's integer types. Currently, however, behaviour such as "revert on overflow" is not supported as this would leak some information about the encrypted value. Therefore, arithmetic on e(u)int types is unchecked, i.e. there is wrap-around on overflow.

Encrypted integers with overflow checking are coming soon to the TFHE library. They will allow reversal in case of an overflow, but will leak some information about the operands.

In terms of implementation in the fhEVM, encrypted integers take the form of FHE ciphertexts. The TFHE library abstracts away that and, instead, exposes ciphertext handles to smart contract developers. The e(u)int types are wrappers over these handles.

The following encrypted data types are defined:

type	supported
ebool	yes
euint4	yes
euint8	yes
euint16	yes
euint32	yes
euint64	yes
eaddress	yes
eint8	no, coming soon
eint16	no, coming soon
eint32	no, coming soon
eint64	no, coming soon

Higher-precision integers are supported in the TFHE-rs library and can be added as needed to fhEVM.

Verification

When users send serialized ciphertexts as bytes to the blockchain, they first need to be converted to the respective encrypted integer type. Conversion verifies if the ciphertext is well-formed and includes proof verification. These steps prevent usage of arbitrary inputs. For example, following functions are provided for ebool, euint8, euint16 and euint32:

• TFHE.asEbool(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an ebool

• TFHE.asEuint4(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an euint4

• TFHE.asEuint8(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an euint8

• TFHE.asEuint16(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an euint16

• TFHE.asEuint32(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an euint32

• TFHE.asEuint64(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an euint64

• TFHE.asEaddress(bytes ciphertext) verifies the provided ciphertext and returns an eaddress

• ... more functions for the respective encrypted integer types

Example

function mint(bytes calldata encryptedAmount) public onlyContractOwner {
  euint64 amount = TFHE.asEuint64(encryptedAmount);
  balances[contractOwner] = balances[contractOwner] + amount;
  totalSupply = totalSupply + amount;
}

Contract state variables with encrypted types

If you require a state variable that utilizes these encrypted types, you cannot assign the value with immutable or constant keyword. If you're using these types, the compiler attempts to ascertain the value of TFHE.asEuintXX(yy) during compilation, which is not feasible because asEuintXX() invokes a precompiled contract. To address this challenge, you must not declare your encrypted state variables as immutable or constant. Still, you can use the following methods to set your variables:

euint32 private totalSupply = TFHE.asEuint(0);

euint32 private totalSupply;
constructor() {
  totalSupply = TFHE.asEuint32(0);
}