# Tutela: An Open-Source Tool for Assessing User-Privacy on Ethereum and Tornado Cash

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.06811 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.06811/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 19 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Jan 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Adam: A Method for Stochastic Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.6980/) (2014)
- [Efficient Estimation of Word Representations in Vector Space](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1301.3781/) (2013)
- [Distributed Representations of Words and Phrases and their Compositionality](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1310.4546/) (2013)
- [Billion-scale similarity search with GPUs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1702.08734/) (2017)
- [node2vec: Scalable Feature Learning for Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1607.00653/) (2016)
- [Fast Sequence-Based Embedding with Diffusion Graphs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.07463/) (2020)
- [Blockchain is Watching You: Profiling and Deanonymizing Ethereum Users](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14051/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Leveraging Machine Learning for Multichain DeFi Fraud Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.07972/) (2023)
- [Machine Learning for Blockchain Data Analysis: Progress and Opportunities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.18251/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

A common misconception among blockchain users is that pseudonymity guarantees privacy. The reality is almost the opposite. Every transaction one makes is recorded on a public ledger and reveals information about one's identity. Mixers, such as Tornado Cash, were developed to preserve privacy through "mixing" transactions with those of others in an anonymity pool, making it harder to link deposits and withdrawals from the pool. Unfortunately, it is still possible to reveal information about those in the anonymity pool if users are not careful. We introduce Tutela, an application built on expert heuristics to report the true anonymity of an Ethereum address. In particular, Tutela has three functionalities: first, it clusters together Ethereum addresses based on interaction history such that for an Ethereum address, we can identify other addresses likely owned by the same entity; second, it shows Ethereum users their potentially compromised transactions; third, Tutela computes the true size of the anonymity pool of each Tornado Cash mixer by excluding potentially compromised transactions. A public implementation of Tutela can be found at https://github.com/TutelaLabs/tutela-app. To use Tutela, visit https://www.tutela.xyz.