When mentioning 'zero-knowledge proof', does your first reaction tend to be 'I don’t understand', 'too complex', or 'it has nothing to do with me'? It indeed used to be this way—this technology that allows data to be 'hidden yet usable' was only accessible to cryptography experts; ordinary people had to first tackle several hefty mathematics books to even get close. But now, Succinct Labs has completely changed this: the SP1 tool they created makes zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) as simple as taking a photo with a mobile phone, no need to understand cryptography or learn complex algorithms, allowing ordinary people to easily use it to protect privacy, while developers can build privacy applications as easily as assembling building blocks. This isn't just a small step forward; it's a key step in bringing 'high-tech' down to everyday life.
One, previous ZKP: Want to use it? First pass the 'three challenges'.
Before Succinct, using zero-knowledge proof to protect privacy felt like facing 'hellish challenges'; not only ordinary people, but even many programmers were deterred.
First challenge: Mathematics challenge.
The core of zero-knowledge proof is complex mathematical logic, like 'elliptic curves' and 'polynomial commitments', which can be quite dizzying just to hear. To generate a simple privacy proof, one must first understand these mathematical principles; otherwise, the resulting code will either be full of vulnerabilities or simply won't run. A programmer lamented: 'I spent 3 months learning math just to barely write a usable ZKP program, and I lost a handful of hair.'
Second challenge: Tools challenge.
Even if you pass the math challenge, you still have to deal with a bunch of 'inhumane' tools. Traditional ZKP development tools lack a unified standard; the proof generated by one tool may not be recognized by another. During debugging, error messages are all mathematical formulas, making it hard to pinpoint the mistakes. A team found that developing a ZKP application takes up to 60% of the time just to adapt to tools.
Third challenge: Scenario challenge.
After finally creating a proof, I found it could only be used on a specific blockchain; switching scenarios means rewriting it. When trying to protect complex data (like medical records or transaction histories), the proof generation is as slow as a snail, and ordinary people simply lack the patience to wait. This is why ZKP used to be said to be 'good in theory, but impractical.'
2. SP1's 'dimension-reducing attack': turning ZKP into a 'point-and-shoot camera'.
Succinct's SP1 tool essentially adds a 'fool mode' to ZKP—whether you understand math or programming, you can easily get started. Its core isn’t about inventing new mathematics, but rather hiding all the complex technology behind the scenes and leaving just a 'fool interface'.
Write privacy proofs as easily as writing ordinary code.
The most remarkable thing about SP1 is that it supports Rust language—commonly used by programmers, so there's no need to learn new syntax. Want to hide the transfer amount? Just write a line 'hide(amount)', and SP1 will automatically convert it into zero-knowledge proof logic, taking care of all the mathematical operations behind the scenes. A developer said: 'Previously, writing a privacy transfer proof took 200 lines of code; now with SP1, 20 lines are enough, and I don’t have to worry about the math details.'
Assembling complex applications like building blocks.
SP1 has created a 'component library' filled with ready-made 'privacy modules': for example, 'hide ID number', 'verify bank card balance', 'encrypt chat records'. Developers don’t have to reinvent the wheel; they can directly combine them. Want to create a 'privacy version of a delivery app'? Just piece together 'hide address', 'verify phone number', and 'encrypt payment amount', and you can finish it in a few days, ten times faster than traditional development.
Usable anywhere, doesn't limit scenarios.
Previous ZKP was like a 'delicate potted plant', only able to thrive on specific blockchains; SP1 is like 'wild grass', able to grow anywhere—on Ethereum, Solana, ordinary servers, and even on your phone. The generated proof can also be used across scenarios, like a 'health data privacy proof' generated on your phone that can be directly verified by a hospital system without regeneration.
3. How can ordinary people use it? These scenarios are already in use.
Don't think this doesn't concern you; many ordinary people are already enjoying the sweet benefits of 'simple privacy protection' with SP1. Check out these scenarios to see if you’re familiar:
During transfers, the amount and address are no longer 'exposed'.
Previously, when using cryptocurrency for transfers, both the address and amount were public; knowledgeable people could easily find out how much money you had and who you transferred it to. Now, using a wallet based on SP1, you only need to click 'privacy mode', and the transfer information is hidden—others can only see 'a transfer occurred' without knowing the specific amount and address, but the money still arrives. A user commented: 'Now when I transfer money to my family, I no longer worry about people watching my wallet balance.'
During a medical consultation, the medical record only shows the doctor 'what needs to be seen'.
After going to the hospital for a follow-up, if the doctor wants to check previous medical records and you don't want him to see unrelated privacy (like previous psychological diagnoses), the 'medical record proof' generated by SP1 can accomplish this: the doctor can only see necessary information like 'hypertension history' and 'allergic medication', while other privacy is automatically hidden, and the proof can be generated in a second, not delaying the consultation.
When shopping online, the phone number and address are not 'hoarded' by the platform.
Now, when shopping online, platforms can always access your phone number and address, leading to spam messages? The 'privacy delivery' feature based on SP1 can resolve this: you provide the platform with 'address validity proof', allowing them to confirm that the address you provided can receive goods without seeing the specific house number; the same goes for your phone number, where the platform can contact you but cannot store the number. A user tested it and said: 'After half a month, spam messages decreased by 90%.'
Four, developers: From 'struggling through challenges' to 'easy innovation'.
For developers, the emergence of SP1 is nothing short of 'liberation'. Previously, developing a ZKP application required assembling a 'cryptography expert + senior programmer' luxury team; now, an ordinary programmer can handle it, and the speed of innovation is visibly faster.
No need to 'struggle' with math anymore.
A lead from a DeFi team said: 'Previously, when we wanted to add a privacy lending feature, we hired 3 PhDs in cryptography, spent half a year getting it done, and it still had bugs; now with SP1, a recently graduated programmer finished it in 3 weeks, and testing showed zero vulnerabilities.'
Innovative ideas can quickly be implemented.
Previously, developers thought 'this technology is too difficult, forget it'; now they think 'this scenario can use privacy protection, let’s give it a try!'. Someone used SP1 to create a 'privacy social APP'—it can prove 'you are friends', but without disclosing who the friends are; someone else made a 'privacy attendance system'—it can prove 'you clocked in today', but the company can't see exactly when you arrived. These innovations that were once unimaginable are now a reality.
Five, the future will be even simpler: no need for 'fool mode', privacy protection will be fully automatic.
The goal of SP1 is not just to make ZKP 'simpler', but to make you 'not even notice its existence'. In the future, privacy protection may become as natural as a phone automatically connecting to the internet:
Open the app, and privacy is automatically activated.
Using a ride-hailing app, the app automatically generates a 'valid but non-specific location' proof, allowing the driver to pick you up without knowing exactly where you live; using a financial app, the system automatically hides your assets, only informing you 'earnings received', with even the platform unable to see how much money you have.
The device handles the proof itself, so you don't have to worry.
Your smartwatch detects an abnormal heart rate and automatically generates a 'needs medical attention' privacy proof, which only contains the information 'heart rate exceeds standard' when sent to the hospital, without revealing your full health data. A home camera captures a stranger and automatically generates a proof of 'abnormality' when sent to the property management, without disclosing your home's specific layout.
Conclusion: Complex technology should serve simple living.
The original intention of zero-knowledge proof was to enable ordinary people to have 'convenience and security' in the digital world, but previous technologies took a wrong turn—complicating simple matters to achieve functionality. Succinct's SP1 did one thing right: it hid the complex technology behind the scenes and left users and developers with a 'simple interface'.
Looking back now, so-called 'black technology' should ultimately become 'everyday products'. Just like the early internet, which transitioned from expert labs to households; zero-knowledge proof is also on this path, and Succinct is the key driver moving it from the 'high-end showcase' to 'everyday homes'.
Perhaps it won't be long before we no longer discuss 'how to protect privacy'—because it will become as natural as drinking water and breathing, and the starting point for all this might just be the moment SP1 simplified zero-knowledge proof.
