Tracy Livengood, co-founder of Pluto, discusses web proofs, bringing private web data to on-chain apps with ZK. He shares insights on transitioning to the decentralized web, using TLSNotary stack, and developing future tool sets for the project.
Pluto aims to enable web proofs in blockchain, expanding design space and enhancing blockchain functionality.
Pluto evaluates proof systems like Starks and Plonk for performance optimization and device compatibility.
Pluto leverages tools like Halo 2 initially, with plans to shift to Stark-based systems for better performance.
Deep dives
Pluto's Focus on Web Proofs for Blockchain Applications
Pluto, a tool being developed by Tracy, focuses on enabling the use of web proofs in blockchain applications. This innovation tackles the challenge of integrating arbitrary internet data into blockchain systems, providing developers with a versatile tool set. By offering a solution that goes beyond cost reduction to expanding the design space of blockchain applications, Pluto aims to enhance the functionality and creativity within the blockchain ecosystem.
Choices in Proof Systems Considered by Pluto
Pluto is currently exploring various proof systems to best suit its goals. Options such as Starks, Gro16, Plonk, and Circon are being evaluated based on factors like performance, proof size, and privacy preservation. The decision-making process also considers the memory budget for different devices, aiming to optimize the proof system to meet the specific needs and constraints of the application environment.
Pluto's Architected Approach in Tool Development
Pluto's development strategy involves leveraging existing cryptographic tools like Halo 2 and Planck II initially to establish a solid foundation for its operations. As the platform advances, there is a consideration for potential shifts towards custom Stark-based systems for client-side proof generation to enhance performance. This structured approach allows Pluto to adapt to evolving requirements and optimize its tool set for practical application usage.
Addressing the Evolution of Prover Networks
Pluto is currently navigating the landscape of Prover networks and decentralized proving mechanisms. While acknowledging the potential benefits of Prover marketplaces in the future, Pluto aims to balance the current focus on efficient proof generation with the advancements in the wider ecosystem infrastructure. Maintaining flexibility and optionality for deploying proofs while aligning with emerging industry standards remains a key consideration.
Envisioning Web-based Gray Markets with Pluto's Technology
Pluto's technology opens pathways to innovatively bridge web-based gray markets, creating decentralized marketplaces for digital assets from various platforms. By facilitating seamless transactions and interconnectivity between diverse databases and assets, Pluto's approach fosters the creation of a new protocol for digital asset trading. This vision aligns with the potential for establishing novel market structures that transcend traditional boundaries, sparking new opportunities for digital asset exchanges and interactions.
In this week’s episode Anna chats with Tracy Livengood, co-founder of Pluto; an applied cryptography org building developer tools which add verifiable data from web data to an on-chain application, using ZK.
They discuss Tracy’s move from being an engineer in Web2, what prompted his move into the decentralized web and how he eventually found his way into the ZK space. He shares the concept of ‘Web Proofs’, and how Pluto can use some of the TLSNotary stack to bring private web data into on-chain applications as well as a future tool set he hopes to develop with the project.
Gevulot is the first decentralized proving layer. With Gevulot, users can generate and verify proofs using any proof system, for any use case.
Gevulot is offering priority access to ZK Podcast listeners, register on gevulot.com and write “Zk Podcast” in the note field of the registration form!
