> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://shard-5.gitbook.io/shard-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://shard-5.gitbook.io/shard-docs/core-product/privacy-layer.md).

# Privacy layer

Your trade reaches Polymarket. Nothing else does.

Every standard request to Polymarket carries your IP address, device fingerprint, and country. The CLOB, the relayer, and the data API all receive this by default. Your wallet is pseudonymous — your connection is not.

Shard's Privacy Layer intercepts all traffic before it reaches Polymarket and routes it through two dedicated layers.

<figure><img src="https://1388576061-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCPGi2b69kCPdb4Ixjpr9%2Fuploads%2FP1Qm4zQvZEyl0Uo2i2wc%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=7016892c-d908-4ae2-8b45-845bc0054d5e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

### Architecture

| Layer                | Role                                                                       |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Shard Edge Layer     | Handles all public reads — fully anonymous, no wallet exposure             |
| Shard Privacy Router | Routes authenticated reads and signed writes through the Header Anonymiser |
| Header Anonymiser    | Strips IP, headers, and device fingerprint from every request              |

***

### Three Components

#### ① Public Mirror

*Edge Layer — Public reads · No wallet*

Prices, books, and public market data are served from Shard's edge cache. Your IP never touches Polymarket when browsing.

#### ② Identity Cloak

*Privacy Router — Authenticated reads*

Positions, balance, and history are loaded through Shard's IP. Polymarket sees a request — not you. Your wallet is visible to the protocol, you are not.

#### ③ Stealth Relay

*Privacy Router — Signed writes · Neutral region*

Every signed order passes through the Header Anonymiser before reaching Polymarket. IP stripped. Headers stripped. Device stripped. Operates from a neutral region — your country and network never leave you.

***

### Traffic Routing

| Action                 | Route          | What Polymarket receives |
| ---------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------ |
| Browsing markets       | Public Mirror  | Nothing — fully cached   |
| Reading portfolio data | Identity Cloak | Shard's IP only          |
| Placing orders         | Stealth Relay  | Clean signed order only  |

**Read traffic** : public data from the Mirror, wallet-scoped data via the Identity Cloak. No IP-tied identity ever reaches Polymarket.

**Signed writes** : trades egress through the Stealth Relay after the Header Anonymiser drops your IP, headers, and device. Country and network never leave you.

***

{% hint style="info" %}
Shard's Privacy Layer is active by default for all users no configuration required.
{% endhint %}