> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ryle.sh/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Glossary

> Short, extractable definitions of the core terms for confidential digital assets: confidential asset, selective disclosure, confidential account, zero-knowledge proof, mint, redeem, and more.

Definitions of the core terms used across confidential digital assets and the Ryle platform. Each entry is a single, self-contained definition.

## Confidential digital asset

An onchain asset whose balances and transaction amounts are encrypted but remain cryptographically verifiable, letting value move on public chains without exposing sensitive financial activity. See [what are confidential digital assets](/docs/what-are-confidential-digital-assets).

## Custody

The safekeeping of assets, reserves, or signing keys. **Ryle is not a custodian** — it is a technology provider. Partners connect a custody or signing solution they already operate (institutional custodian, MPC vendor, or equivalent) for treasury, reserve, and issuer operations; Ryle binds each asset to that connection. End-user wallet keys are held by the embedded-wallet provider (e.g. Privy), not by Ryle. Ryle never holds or controls assets, reserves, or wallet keys. See [FAQ](/docs/reference/faq) and [compliance overview](/docs/compliance/overview).

## Custody connection

The configuration that links a confidential asset to a partner-operated custody or signing provider for treasury, reserve, and mint/redeem operations. Ryle orchestrates operations against this connection but does not hold the keys.

## Selective disclosure

The ability to reveal specific confidential activity to a chosen party — auditor, regulator, or counterparty — through a scoped, time-bounded, and logged view, without making the data public. See [selective disclosure](/docs/concepts/selective-disclosure).

## Confidential account

The identity that holds and transacts a confidential asset, with an encrypted balance and policy-based permissions. In Ryle, an account is a policy record per identity, not a public balance. See [confidential accounts](/docs/concepts/confidential-accounts).

## Zero-knowledge proof

A cryptographic proof that a statement is true — such as a transaction being valid — without revealing the underlying data. Confidential assets use them to keep amounts private while proving correctness.

## Confidential by default, visible by policy, auditable always

Ryle's operating principle: activity is private unless an explicit policy or disclosure grants visibility, and every privileged action is recorded in an immutable audit log.

## Mint

The operation that creates units of a confidential asset, typically against reserves, across the public/confidential boundary.

## Redeem

The operation that removes units of a confidential asset from circulation, reconciled against reserves.

## Policy

The configuration governing an asset or account — allowlists, role assignments, caps, KYC requirements, and pause flags — that determines who can do what.

## Audit log

An immutable, attributed record of every privileged operation (mint, redeem, role change, policy update, disclosure), exportable on demand.

## Reserves

The backing held against a confidential asset's supply; reconciliation proves supply matches reserves without exposing individual balances.

## Relayer

Ryle's service that sponsors and submits transactions, so end users and agents never need to hold the chain's native gas asset.

## White-label wallet

An optional customer-facing wallet partners ship under their own brand, with per-user embedded EVM wallets provisioned automatically.

## EVM-compatible chain

A blockchain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (for example Ethereum, Polygon, Base, Arc, Plasma, Tempo) where confidential assets settle. See [supported networks](/docs/reference/supported-networks).

## Related

* [Supported networks](/docs/reference/supported-networks)
* [What are confidential digital assets?](/docs/what-are-confidential-digital-assets)
* [How confidential assets work](/docs/concepts/how-confidential-assets-work)
* [FAQ](/docs/reference/faq)