January 12, 2025

Zero-knowledge proofs: The future of privacy?

1 hour 14 minutes

An Introduction to zero-knowledge proofs: their potential, applications, and challenges

In this episode of 'Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll' (BFRR), we explore zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a technological innovation helping to protect privacy in our increasingly digital world. Co-host Jonas Gross discusses with Johannes Sedlmeir, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Luxembourg, how ZKPs work, their relevance, applications, and potential. They address key terminology and clarify common misconceptions.

Johannes illustrates ZKPs through a simple cave analogy: Imagine being trapped in a cave with two exits and a door in the middle. As the prover, you want to demonstrate to a verifier that you can open the door by exiting on either side - without revealing how. The verifier requests you exit on different sides repeatedly. After multiple successful attempts, the verifier becomes convinced you possess the secret without ever seeing it. Johannes extends this explanation with practical examples for different audiences – e.g., adults and engineers.

ZKPs have applications across numerous privacy-critical domains, including payments and identity, e.g., identification, authorization, and authentication. Recent technological advances have made many use cases practical today, while others face ongoing challenges. Which applications show the most promise and could reach billion-dollar market potential?

The episode concludes with Jonas and Johannes discussing when ZKPs might become mainstream technology, operating quietly behind most digital processes. Tune in to hear their insights.

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By Alexander Bechtel, Michael Blaschke, Jonas Gross, Manuel Klein