Privacy

Zero-Knowledge Proofs are a cryptographic method that allows one party to prove to another party that a certain claim is true, without revealing any information beyond the validity of the claim itself. This technology is crucial in scenarios where information privacy is critical but validation is necessary. Zero-Knowledge Proofs ensure that the prover can convincingly demonstrate they have specific knowledge or data without actually exposing that data.

ZKP in Albus Protocol

Within Albus, Zero-Knowledge Proofs are utilized to enhance privacy and security in digital transactions and verifications. Users can prove their compliance with certain policies or criteria set by a Web3 business without revealing the underlying data. For instance, a user can prove their eligibility for a service based on age, without disclosing their exact age or birthdate. This application of Zero-Knowledge Proofs maintains user privacy while still fulfilling verification requirements.

Groth16 zk-SNARKs

The specific type of Zero-Knowledge Proofs implemented in Albus is Groth16 zk-SNARKs. zk-SNARKs, which stands for "Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge," are known for their efficiency and succinctness, which makes them a suitable choice for blockchain applications where speed and minimal data usage are essential. Groth16 is a specific construction of zk-SNARKs that offers a streamlined approach to generating proofs, ensuring that the process is both quick and secure.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs in Albus Protocol are generated based on cryptographic circuits, which serve as a blueprint for how the proofs are constructed and verified.

Circuits and circom

Cryptographic circuits function similarly to logical circuits in computing, where they process inputs and produce an output based on predefined logical rules. In the context of Zero-Knowledge Proofs, these circuits take user's private data (claims) as private input and a Web3 business's policies (requirements) as public input. The circuit then performs a series of logical operations on these inputs, generating a Zero-Knowledge Proof. This proof confirms that the user's claim meets the Web3 business's policy without revealing the actual data.

Circuits are built using circom, a specialized circuit programming language. With circom, developers can define the exact logic and conditions that the circuit must follow to validate claims against business policies.