zero-knowledge

Binance stated that the latest proof of reserves zero-knowledge proof has been generated, and users can verify their account balances to obtain at least 1:1 asset backing.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned at Devcon 8 that AI poses new threats to security and privacy, while also helping to discover vulnerabilities. He questioned the security of hardware wallets and cautioned against making cryptocurrency investments based on social media posts filled with bots and manipulated content.Vitalik called for the adoption of decentralized, verifiable technologies and zero-knowledge proofs to protect personal data, and suggested that businesses avoid collecting unnecessary information.

Anthropic has open-sourced FlashProve, bringing the commonly used zkSNARK (zero-knowledge proof) technology from the cryptocurrency field into AI model inference.This technology was originally designed to prove the validity of blockchain transactions without disclosing transaction details. Anthropic aims to use it to solve another problem: when users pay a high price for an AI model's API, how can they know if the service provider has secretly switched to a cheaper model?FlashProve allows service providers to first generate encrypted fingerprints for the model weights and then provide mathematical proof for the inference results. Users do not need to obtain the model weights or rerun the model; they can check whether the specified output comes from the previously committed set of weights. Claude was also involved in the development and optimization of this system.Anthropic has already completed experiments on Meta's 400 billion parameter model Llama 4 Maverick. For every 1024 tokens of context processed, the generated proof is about 19 MB, and verification on a regular CPU takes about 17 seconds.However, currently, each proof can only verify one output token and cannot validate an entire response. The GPU computation time required to generate the proof is also about 70 to 95 times that of regular inference. Whether it can be used to identify API service providers that secretly switch models in the future will depend on when the cost of proof generation can be reduced.

Hester Peirce, a commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), stated at the SIFMA Digital Assets Conference that regulators should reconsider traditional financial monitoring methods, shifting from "collecting more data" to utilizing new technologies for more precise verification.Peirce mentioned that technologies like zero-knowledge proofs can verify whether users meet requirements such as age, citizenship, accredited investor status, or sanctions lists without disclosing underlying personal information like names, income, or addresses.Hester Peirce suggested that the federal government and regulatory agencies adopt attribute-based verification when technically feasible and allow registered entities to rely more on third-party identity verification to reduce the redundant collection and storage of sensitive information.Peirce also stated that public blockchains have permanent, public, and auditable transaction records, and combined with blockchain forensic tools, they are expected to enhance the ability to track illegal activities while reducing unnecessary data collection.

According to The Block, Consensys CEO Joseph Lubin stated that Ethereum is expected to evolve into a protocol fully based on zero-knowledge proofs (ZK Proof) within the next 3 to 5 years, which will not only optimize the main chain but also enhance Ethereum's compatibility with Layer 2.Joseph Lubin mentioned that he supports the "Rollup-centric roadmap," believing that by strengthening Layer 1, introducing the "Lean Ethereum" initiative, and promoting ZK proofs, the foundational layer of Ethereum can be significantly upgraded. Lean Ethereum aims to achieve over 10,000 transactions per second while maintaining a high level of decentralization on the mainnet, and supports privacy and quantum-resistant solutions.Regarding Layer 2, Joseph Lubin pointed out that ZK technology has already achieved real-time proofs in some L2 networks and plans to extend this capability to Layer 1, ultimately transitioning to a fully ZK foundational protocol supported by multiple provers. For example, projects like the Linea chain developed by Consensys and Gnosis are utilizing zero-knowledge proofs to achieve cross-network synchronized transactions, potentially eliminating the need for bridging and unifying fragmented liquidity.Joseph Lubin emphasized that the initial "differentiation phase" of the Rollup roadmap aims to provide experimental space for Layer 2 technologies. Although it may temporarily disperse liquidity, it lays the groundwork for Ethereum's future limitless scalability and technological iteration. He believes that some L2 technologies will become systemically important components, and this exploratory process is necessary.Additionally, Joseph Lubin responded to rumors regarding recent personnel changes at the Ethereum Foundation (EF) and the "second foundation," stating that there will not be a second foundation. The EF will continue to focus on core protocol development, usability and scalability, as well as institutional collaboration, while supporting at least three independent teams to spin off from the EF, focusing on protocol, user experience, and institutional expansion efforts.

The Ethereum Layer 2 network Starknet developed by StarkWare officially launched strkBTC, a new type of asset based on Bitcoin, designed to achieve privacy balances and anonymous transfers through zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technology, while maintaining composability with DeFi applications.After the launch of strkBTC, it supports "re-anonymization," allowing assets to be bridged back to a new, unassociated Bitcoin address, and provides compliance auditing and asset screening functions.

According to Cointelegraph, Aptos recently launched the privacy token Confidential APT on its mainnet, which is pegged to APT at a 1:1 ratio. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to hide token balances and transfer amounts while maintaining wallet address visibility and transaction verifiability.Sherry Xiao, founding engineer of Aptos Labs, stated that the token aims to address the long-standing contradiction between blockchain privacy and compliance transparency, and can solve issues related to the public exposure of sensitive information such as on-chain salaries, treasury operations, and trading strategies. On the compliance front, the activation of the audit key must be approved through on-chain governance voting. The launch of Confidential APT stemmed from a governance proposal that was nearly unanimously passed. Xiao expects individual user adoption to be faster than that of enterprises, and if the mainnet operates stably for six months with good transaction volume, it will help shorten the sales cycle for enterprises.

SOL Strategies Inc. has signed a final agreement to acquire the assets of Solana native zero-knowledge technology company Darklake Labs for $1.2 million, with the transaction price consisting of $200,000 in cash and $1 million in equivalent common stock of the company.Darklake's core product Zyga is a dynamic zero-knowledge proof system native to Solana, which can achieve privacy protection at the transaction execution level and eliminate front-running and sandwich attacks. After the closing, Darklake's core team will join SOL Strategies, including CEO Vitor Py Braga (formerly of Meta and IBM), COO Amber Hales (formerly of Coinbase, with nearly a decade of compliance experience), and zero-knowledge research lead Tiago Alves.

The decentralized zero-knowledge proof verification layer Aligned updates the ALIGN token economics, with a total supply of 10 billion tokens and an initial circulation of approximately 16%.Of this, 23.5% will be allocated to the team (40% cliff unlock after 12 months, with the remaining portion unlocking linearly over 18 months), 19.71% will be allocated to investors, 18% will be allocated for the ecosystem (3.23% unlock at TGE, 6 months cliff unlock, with the remaining portion unlocking linearly over 24 months), 16.61% will be used for future reserves (40.24% unlock at TGE, 6 months cliff unlock, with the remaining portion unlocking linearly over 24 months), 11.4% will be allocated to the foundation (37.83% unlock at TGE, with the remaining portion unlocking linearly over 30 months), 8.74% will be used for airdrops (44.36% unlock at TGE), and 2.04% will be used for community sales (32.72% unlock at TGE).

According to The Block, a16z Crypto criticized the colloquial use of the term "ZK" in certain developer environments in a blog post about its Jolt zkVM. The article pointed out that most zkVMs do not actually possess zero-knowledge properties unless expensive "wrapping" programs are applied. The author also mentioned that "zk" often becomes synonymous with "conciseness," meaning "short proofs that verify quickly," rather than true zero-knowledge privacy.As the community's focus on privacy grows, the misuse of this terminology is becoming a real issue. a16z's open-source Jolt zkVM launched a major upgrade on Tuesday, natively supporting zero-knowledge proofs. Jolt employs the NovaBlindFold folding scheme to create blinded proofs to prevent information leakage, making it suitable for privacy applications, with the zero-knowledge proofs generated after the upgrade only increasing by about 3 KB compared to the original non-ZK proofs.

StarkWare posted on the X platform that the zero-knowledge privacy protocol Nightfall developed by Ernst & Young has been deployed on Starknet.

According to CoinDesk, Hsiao-Wei Wang, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, stated in an interview with CoinDesk that Ethereum is steadily moving towards making zero-knowledge cryptography a core component of the network in the future. Hsiao-Wei Wang described zero-knowledge as part of Ethereum's mid-term roadmap and noted that several breakthroughs have been achieved in the past year or two.While the current upgrade focus remains on improving Layer 2 network execution and Blob space, zero-knowledge as a protocol-level feature has become increasingly feasible. Ethereum researchers have released a native zkEVM plan that allows the network to use zero-knowledge proofs to validate transactions by default. This technology can significantly reduce the workload required to secure Ethereum, achieving scalability without sacrificing decentralization or reliability. Hsiao-Wei Wang emphasized that even as the network continues to evolve, resilience, security, censorship resistance, and neutrality remain core to Ethereum.

According to Decrypt, the anonymous phone service provider Phreeli has launched in the United States, allowing users to register using only their postal code, without the need for personal information or payment data.Zcash co-founder Zooko Wilcox serves as an advisor, recommending the use of zero-knowledge access passes. Phreeli implements a zero-knowledge proof encryption system called Double-Blind Armadillo, which can verify billing without storing payment information. Users can pay with credit cards or Zcash, Monero.Phreeli founder Nicholas Merrill stated that the company aims to address the issue of excessive data collection by mainstream carriers. Phreeli was founded in 2019 and has raised $5 million in funding over the past year, utilizing T-Mobile's infrastructure.

According to market news, the zero-knowledge identity and human proof protocol Self announced the completion of a $9 million seed round financing, with investors including Greenfield Capital, a SoftBank subsidiary fund, and several well-known angel investors in the industry.Self also launched a points-based reward program aimed at promoting the widespread adoption of on-chain identity verification.

ChainCatcher message, according to the Web3 asset data platform RootData X tracking data, in the past 7 days, the multi-module ecosystem of zero-knowledge applications Manta Network has been the project with the most unfollows from top figures on X (Twitter). The new influential figures on X who unfollowed this project include cryptocurrency trader The Crypto Dog (@TheCryptoDog), Mr. Block (@mrblocktw), and cryptocurrency trader Ash Crypto (@Ashcryptoreal).

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the blockchain protocol Concordium has launched a mobile age verification application based on zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs), supporting both iOS and Android systems. Users can create a cryptographic digital identity for a fee of $0.01 and prove attributes such as age (e.g., nationality, date of birth) to third-party services, without disclosing actual information to the service provider.The launch of the application coincides with the UK's new regulations requiring age verification for access to adult content, which will be enforced starting August 1, raising privacy protection concerns. The UK communications regulator (Ofcom) guidelines allow for the use of reusable digital identity wallet solutions that comply with data protection standards, and Concordium has stated that it is in discussions with Ofcom regarding compliance.Google Wallet integrated zero-knowledge proof technology for age verification in April, indicating that this technology is gradually penetrating non-cryptographic scenarios.

ChainCatcher news, reported by The Block, that the Paradigm-backed startup Succinct has launched the next-generation zero-knowledge virtual machine SP1 Hypercube.The company stated that SP1 Hypercube can generate zero-knowledge proofs for Ethereum blocks in 12 seconds.