Advancements in zero-knowledge proofs are poised to transform #Web3. From privacy-preserving oracle solutions to zkEVM layer 2s, zero-knowledge proofs can make blockchains, faster, more secure, and more accessible. Keep reading for a primer on how they work.

Imagine a cave with a single entrance but two pathways (paths A and B) that connect at a common door locked by a passphrase. Alice wants to prove to Bob she knows the passcode to the door but without revealing the code to Bob. To do this, Bob stands outside of the cave and Alice walks inside the cave, taking one of the two paths (without Bob knowing which path was taken). Bob then asks Alice to take one of the two paths back to the entrance of the cave (chosen at random). If Alice originally chose to take path A to the door, but then Bob asks her to take path B back, the only way to complete the puzzle is for Alice to have knowledge of the passcode for the locked door. This process can be repeated multiple times to prove Alice has knowledge of the door’s passcode and did not happen to choose the right path to take initially with a high degree of probability. After this process is complete, Bob has a high degree of confidence that Alice knows the door’s passcode without her having revealed it to him.

This general analogy can be extrapolated to a wide range of Web3 use cases. This process is used in zkEVMs to prove transaction validity, emerging oracle protocols like DECO to privately verify Web2 identity credentials, and on-chain games to create private "fog of war."

Projects at the forefront of zero-knowledge technology will be at SmartCon 2023. Join them by registering now: chn.lk/3zbOEAc