
COTI (COTI)
SUMMARY
COTI V2 operates as a privacy-preserving Layer 2 on Ethereum with permissible core utilities like gas and native staking. However, the protocol's Treasury includes an opt-in interest-bearing lending feature, and the exact proportion of protocol revenue derived from this non-compliant source is unknown, resulting in a Doubtful verdict.
Verdict by Activity
How you can hold and use COTI
Buy & Hold
While the core Layer 2 network is permissible, the protocol operates an interest-bearing lending feature within its Treasury, and the exact share of revenue derived from this activity is unknown.
Native Network Staking
OptionalUsers run nodes or delegate to secure the L2 network and earn a share of transaction fees and emissions, which is a permissible payment for validation services.
COTI Treasury (Standard)
OptionalDepositors mint tCOTI to earn a share of ecosystem fees and liquidation bounties, which are permissible revenue sources.
Treasury Lending
OptionalThe Treasury allows depositors to lend COTI to other users to earn interest rates, which constitutes Riba.
Shariah Component Breakdown
Shariah Analysis
Infrastructure — where it runs
PassedCOTI V2 operates as a Layer 2 on Ethereum, which is a neutral, general-purpose network.
Application — what it does
CautionThe core business is a privacy-preserving Layer 2 network, but the protocol also operates an interest-bearing lending product within its Treasury.
Asset — what you own
PassedThe primary utility is paying for gas and native PoS network-security staking, which are permissible; the interest-bearing lending feature is an opt-in secondary mechanism.
Property Status (Māl)
PassedThe token is a native protocol position with confirmed lawful utility (gas, staking), ascertainable supply, and established adoption.
Revenue Purity
CautionThe protocol generates permissible revenue from gas and standard treasury fees, but also earns interest from Treasury lending; the exact share of this non-compliant revenue is unknown.
Legitimacy & Security
social presence
CautionNot covered by research.
project audits
PassedAudit and security information was found for the project.
whitepaper
PassedOfficial whitepapers and tokenomics documentation are available and confirm the V2 architecture and Treasury mechanics.
Team & Ecosystem
team background
CautionNot covered by research.
Detailed Shariah Report
Overview
COTI V2 is a privacy-preserving Layer 2 network built on Ethereum that enables confidential smart contracts and transactions. The native COTI token is used to pay for transaction gas fees, stake in decentralized nodes to secure the network, and participate in the protocol's Treasury for governance and rewards.
Why This Verdict
The Shariah compliance of a crypto asset is evaluated across three layers: the underlying infrastructure, the application itself, and the asset's qualification as recognized property. COTI passes the infrastructure layer as it operates on Ethereum, a neutral, general-purpose network. It also qualifies as recognized digital property (Mal) because it is a native protocol position with a confirmed lawful utility, an ascertainable supply, and established adoption. However, the application layer presents significant compliance issues, resulting in a Doubtful verdict for simply buying and holding the token. While the core Layer 2 network generates permissible revenue from gas fees, the protocol also operates an interest-bearing lending feature within its Treasury. Because the exact proportion of protocol revenue derived from this non-compliant lending activity is unknown, holding the token is classified as Doubtful. Beyond holding, the protocol offers several opt-in mechanisms with distinct rulings. Native network staking and standard COTI Treasury deposits (minting tCOTI) are Halal, as they compensate users for securing the network or provide a share of permissible ecosystem and liquidation fees. Conversely, the Treasury Lending feature is strictly Haram, as it allows users to lend COTI to earn interest, which constitutes Riba.
Permissible Aspects
- The core utility of the COTI token for paying network transaction (gas) fees.
- Native network staking, where users run nodes or delegate tokens to secure the Layer 2 network in exchange for a share of transaction fees and emissions.
- Standard deposits into the COTI Treasury to mint tCOTI, which earns a share of permissible ecosystem fees and liquidation bounties.
- The underlying infrastructure, as the protocol operates on Ethereum, a neutral and general-purpose blockchain.
Points of Caution
- !The protocol operates an opt-in Treasury Lending feature where depositors lend COTI to earn interest, which is a direct violation of Shariah principles against Riba.
- !The exact breakdown of protocol revenue between permissible sources (gas and standard treasury fees) and non-compliant sources (lending interest) is not publicly detailed, making it impossible to verify if the Haram revenue falls below acceptable thresholds.
- !The composition and banking arrangements of the project's off-chain treasury are not publicly disclosed, meaning there is potential exposure to conventional interest-bearing accounts.
Purification Note
Because the exact share of the protocol's revenue derived from the Haram Treasury lending feature is unknown, a precise purification calculation for holding the token cannot be determined. If an investor chooses to hold the token despite the Doubtful verdict, they must exercise extreme caution and independently estimate a purification rate for any ecosystem rewards received. Investors must strictly avoid opting into the Treasury Lending feature, as any interest earned from it is Riba and must be entirely donated to charity without expectation of spiritual reward.
BOTTOM LINE
COTI V2 offers a legitimate privacy-preserving Layer 2 network with permissible core utilities like gas payments and network staking. However, the protocol's Treasury includes an interest-bearing lending feature, and the exact amount of revenue the protocol derives from this Riba-based activity is unknown. Consequently, holding the token is considered Doubtful, and investors should consult a qualified Shariah scholar before proceeding.
How this verdict was reached
This is not an opinion issued by ShariaQuant. It is the output of a documented screening methodology applied to researched facts about COTI (COTI), and every row above states the specific evidence that drove it — so the reasoning can be examined rather than taken on trust.
The framework screens three layers — the infrastructure an asset runs on, the application it serves, and the asset itself — and separately tests whether the token qualifies as recognised property (māl): that it presently exists, has an ascertainable supply, can be held and transferred, and carries a genuine lawful use. A failure at any single layer fails the asset.
Revenue-purity thresholds follow the AAOIFI screening standard: non-compliant income below 5% of revenue is tolerated and purified, while 5% or above fails the screen.
AAOIFI has not reviewed, approved or endorsed this report or ShariaQuant, and no scholar named in our methodology has reviewed this individual verdict. This is analysis, not a fatwa — final religious authority rests with a qualified scholar.
Fundamental Analysis Report
While COTI has a long history in the crypto space, its complete architectural pivot to an Ethereum Layer 2 using Garbled Circuits only reached mainnet in early 2025. The underlying cryptography is highly innovative and solves critical privacy issues without relying on vulnerable hardware, but the network is still in the early stages of proving its adoption, economic sustainability, and ability to attract major DeFi protocols in its new L2 form.
1. EXECUTIVE BOARD
2. THE DEEP DIVE
Fundamental Strengths
- Superior Cryptography: COTI V2 utilizes Garbled Circuits, a purely cryptographic privacy solution that is significantly faster than Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) and avoids the hardware vulnerabilities (single points of failure) associated with Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).
- EVM Compatibility: By operating as an Ethereum Layer 2, COTI ensures that existing Ethereum developers can easily deploy confidential dApps using familiar Solidity tools without learning new programming languages.
- Strong Token Utility: The decentralized node and sequencer ecosystem, combined with the COTI Treasury, creates deep utility for the COTI token, aligning network security with token holder incentives.
Critical Vulnerabilities
- Migration Risks: The pivot from a standalone DAG Layer 1 (COTI V1) to an Ethereum Layer 2 (COTI V2) requires a massive migration of liquidity and users, risking community fragmentation.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: Privacy-focused networks face intense regulatory scrutiny globally, which could hinder the adoption of COTI's "privacy-on-demand" features by risk-averse institutions despite its compliance-friendly design.
Competitor Comparison
vs. Secret Network (SCRT): Secret relies on hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) like Intel SGX, which have suffered from known exploits. COTI uses software-based Garbled Circuits, eliminating hardware dependencies. vs. Oasis Network (ROSE): Oasis also uses TEEs for its confidential EVM (Sapphire). COTI claims its Garbled Circuits approach offers lower latency and eliminates the single point of failure inherent in hardware enclaves.
About COTI
COTI V2 operates as a privacy-preserving Layer 2 on Ethereum with permissible core utilities like gas and native staking. However, the protocol's Treasury includes an opt-in interest-bearing lending feature, and the exact proportion of protocol revenue derived from this non-compliant source is unknown, resulting in a Doubtful verdict.

