Technology that was once limited to academic papers is now mentioned in U.S. government reports and is aiding the global banking settlement system. Zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) are a cryptographic method that verifies authenticity without revealing data and is becoming the gold standard for blockchain security.
In the latest Clear Crypto podcast, StarkWare co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson discussed with hosts Nathan Jeffay and Gareth Jenkinson why this once niche mathematical approach is the "ultimate expansion of the financial world."
Transparent verification
As ZK-proofs gradually become the core of mainstream blockchain applications from cryptographic research, confidence is high. In July, a White House report on cryptocurrency pointed out that they can achieve compliance checks while ensuring user privacy. JPMorgan's new private blockchain Nexus is already using this technology for tokenized cash settlements and interbank information exchange.
Ben-Sasson explained this appeal in simple terms:
"If the right thing is not done, you cannot encrypt to persuade others that you have done it."
In a blockchain environment, this means that with the overhead of checking a single transaction, the authenticity of all transactions throughout the day can be verified, reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and not compromising trust. "Blockchain doesn't need to validate every single one of a million transactions... it can verify the integrity of transactions throughout the day," he said.
Accelerating adoption
StarkWare decided not to apply for patents for its implementation, promoting the speed of adoption. Ben-Sasson stated:
"Mathematics should not be closed... mathematics should be shared with the whole world."
This open approach allows other projects, including StarkWare's competitors, to build on this technology, spreading much faster than a closed model.
With the convergence of policy recognition, institutional integration, and open-source availability, ZK-proofs are no longer a theoretical upgrade for blockchain but are becoming an industry standard. According to Ben-Sasson's vision, it will be the foundation of how individuals own and prove value in the digital economy.