A Survey on the Applications of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (2408.00243v1)

Abstract: Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) represent a revolutionary advance in computational integrity and privacy technology, enabling the secure and private exchange of information without revealing underlying private data. ZKPs have unique advantages in terms of universality and minimal security assumptions when compared to other privacy-sensitive computational methods for distributed systems, such as homomorphic encryption and secure multiparty computation. Their application spans multiple domains, from enhancing privacy in blockchain to facilitating confidential verification of computational tasks. This survey starts with a high-level overview of the technical workings of ZKPs with a focus on an increasingly relevant subset of ZKPs called zk-SNARKS. While there have been prior surveys on the algorithmic and theoretical aspects of ZKPs, our work is distinguished by providing a broader view of practical aspects and describing many recently-developed use cases of ZKPs across various domains. These application domains span blockchain privacy, scaling, storage, and interoperability, as well as non-blockchain applications like voting, authentication, timelocks, and machine learning. Aimed at both practitioners and researchers, the survey also covers foundational components and infrastructure such as zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVM), domain-specific languages (DSLs), supporting libraries, frameworks, and protocols. We conclude with a discussion on future directions, positioning ZKPs as pivotal in the advancement of cryptographic practices and digital privacy across many applications.

• The paper presents a systematic review of zero-knowledge proofs, emphasizing key advancements like zk-SNARKs and non-interactive protocols.
• It compares ZKPs with other cryptographic methods, demonstrating superior privacy protection and efficiency across diverse applications.
• The survey explores real-world implementations from blockchain to voting systems, outlining future research directions in digital privacy.

Applications of Zero-Knowledge Proofs: A Comprehensive Survey Analysis

The paper "A Survey on the Applications of Zero-Knowledge Proofs" provides an extensive review of the diverse applications of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), emphasizing the practical implications of these cryptographic techniques across various industries. Authored by researchers from the University of Southern California, this paper systematically covers both the theoretical underpinnings and practical deployment of ZKPs, casting light on their potential to enhance privacy and security in modern digital systems.

At its core, the paper introduces ZKPs as a method that allows one party (the prover) to convince another (the verifier) of a statement's truth without revealing any supporting information. The historical context traces the foundational principles established in the 1980s, highlighting advancements such as zk-SNARKs, which bring modifications like non-interactivity and succinctness to ZKPs. The authors argue that these enhancements contribute significantly to the practicality of blockchain privacy, authentication, scalability, and other domains.

Numerical Results and Claims

The paper's comparative analysis, illustrated in Table 1, explores the advantages of ZKPs over other cryptographic methods like fully homomorphic encryption and secure multiparty computation. By offering high universality and minimizing security assumptions, ZKPs stand out as versatile across various protocols, reinforcing their utility in proving statement truths without information leakage.

Practical and Theoretical Implications

The survey not only explores the use of ZKPs in well-studied areas such as blockchain privacy but also ventures into their implications in non-blockchain applications. The authors categorize these applications into domains such as voting, machine learning, and more, showing the breadth of ZKPs' applicability. The discussion on supporting components such as zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVM) and domain-specific languages (DSLs) underscores the infrastructure's role in ZKP development.

The theoretical implications extend to digital privacy and cryptographic practices, as ZKPs facilitate a balance between verification and privacy. Practically, they enable systems where private data can be verified authentically without exposure, crucial in sectors handling sensitive data.

Future Directions

The paper concludes with prospective future directions for ZKPs, suggesting their relevance in advancing cryptographic practices and digital privacy. This reinforces the anticipation of ZKPs being pivotal in addressing complex privacy-security dilemmas as digital infrastructures evolve.

Overall, the survey by Lavin et al. articulates a comprehensive evaluation of ZKP applications, effectively bridging theoretical advancements with practical implementations and prompting further exploration in this vital area of cryptography.