Why didn't  @aztecnetwork just use the EVM because EVM wasn't built for privacy let me explain what they built and why 

Most Layer 2s copy paste the EVM and scale it but @aztecnetwork said nah… we want programmable privacy
and the EVM can't handle that so they built their own VM from scratch "the Aztec VM"

The EVM is fully public by design every, function call, parameter storage update …is visible on chain
if you are building private DeFi, voting or identity that is a dealbreaker.

@aztecnetwork solution?
build a new architecture with=
private state,public state
private execution environment 'PXE'
a custom zk friendly VM.

Public State vs Private State
public state = like ethereum anyone can read it
private state = encrypted only the user & prover can see it
@aztecnetwork lets you work with both in the same app