Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Genesis

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) were conceptualized in the 1980s by Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, and Charles Rackoff. Their seminal work The Knowledge Complexity of Interactive-Proof Systems introduced a cryptographic method where one party could prove the truth of a statement to another party without revealing any information beyond the statement's validity.

When the technique was first proposed, even the cryptography community declared it to be impractical, even though it was regarded as a theoretical advance. Recent years have witnessed several advancements, particularly the work of numerous web3 projects like ZCash and Aztec, which have improved the performance of zero-knowledge proof systems in a manner similar to Moore's Law.

What is a Zero-Knowledge Proof?

A zero-knowledge proof system is a cryptographic protocol that allows one party, known as the prover, to demonstrate the validity of a statement to another party, known as the verifier, without revealing any additional information beyond the fact that the statement is true. This concept ensures that the prover can convince the verifier of the truth of a claim without disclosing any sensitive or private information related to the claim itself. In essence, zero-knowledge proofs enable secure and confidential interactions between parties while preserving data privacy.