Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are Critical to Ethereum’s Future - Ep. 473
In this episode, Stanford cryptography professor Dan Boneh and a16z General Partner Ali Yahya elevate our knowledge of zero-knowledge proofs and their applications in the blockchain world. Listen as they dive into the intricacies of succinct proof systems, the difference between SNARKs and STARKs, the magic of recursive SNARKs, and why zero-knowledge systems are essential to the evolution of Ethereum.
March 28, 2023
1 hr 9 min
473
Full
484 of 1,186
Episode 473 · March 28, 2023
Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are Critical to Ethereum’s Future - Ep. 473
0:00 / 1:09:55
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Tom Emmer Episodes Around March 28, 2023
Episode 484 of 1,186 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are Critical to Ethereum’s Future - Ep. 473
Summary
In this episode, Stanford cryptography professor Dan Boneh and a16z General Partner Ali Yahya elevate our knowledge of zero-knowledge proofs and their applications in the blockchain world. Listen as they dive into the intricacies of succinct proof systems, the difference between SNARKs and STARKs, the magic of recursive SNARKs, and why zero-knowledge systems are essential to the evolution of Ethereum.
Show highlights:
how Ali became a general partner at a16z Crypto and why Dan started working on “the science of blockchains”
what a succinct proof system is
analogies for understanding zero-knowledge proofs
the difference between SNARKs and STARKs and whether centralization can be fully avoided
how zero-knowledge technology became so crucial for blockchains
the reasons to push computations off-chain and the applications of this technology
why zkEVMs are essential to help Ethereum scale
why privacy is important not only in financial transactions but also in other areas like social networks and gaming
the challenges that arise from trusted setups and whether it would be possible to create false proofs
how to mitigate the trusted setup problem with different proof systems
what is being built to make zero-knowledge proofs cheaper to create
whether a privacy-focused technology can be pursued while staying compliant with regulations
how zero-knowledge proofs can improve the security of blockchain bridges
Thank you to our sponsors!
Crypto.com
Halborn
Guests:
Ali Yahya, general partner at a16z crypto
Dan Boneh, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, Stanford University; and senior research advisor, a16z crypto
Using ZK Proofs to Fight Disinformation
Links
Unchained: zkEVM: The Computing Overhaul to Help Scale Ethereum
Previous coverage of Unchained on zero-knowledge:
Can You Trace Monero? 'It's Hard - But Not Impossible,' Says Nick Bax
a16z crypto:
Privacy-Protecting Regulatory Solutions Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs: Full Paper
zkDocs: Zero-knowledge Information Sharing
How the Coming Privacy Layer Will Fix the Broken Web
CoinDesk: Polygon Rolls Out Zero-Knowledge, Privacy-Enhanced Identification Product
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.