CTO Brandon Kase and Head of Product Steve Pack from O(1)Labs discuss developments in the Mina Protocol, insights into the zkApps building environment, and the technical aspects of o1js. They also explore potential applications of zero-knowledge proofs and the industry shift toward a builder-centric approach.
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Quick takeaways
O1JS is a TypeScript library for building ZK apps that generate zero knowledge proofs in the browser, offering a smooth developer experience and enabling private execution client-side.
ZK apps have potential in various industries, such as advertising and drug development, by leveraging the privacy and verifiability of zero knowledge proofs to enable targeted advertising without compromising privacy and proving the effectiveness of molecular structures without disclosing proprietary information.
Deep dives
Building ZK Apps with O1JS
O1JS is a TypeScript library and embedded DSL for writing zero knowledge enabled smart contracts based on SNARKs. Developers can use O1JS to build ZK apps that generate zero knowledge proofs in the browser, allowing for private execution client-side. The library provides a smooth developer experience by leveraging TypeScript and familiar web development tools. O1JS is currently in production and can be used to build applications and off-chain interactions. The Mina protocol, which powers ZK apps, has gone through extensive testing, including an incentivized testnet. The mainnet release of ZK apps is anticipated in the next few months.
Use Cases for ZK Apps
ZK apps offer unique use cases that leverage the privacy and verifiability of zero knowledge proofs. For example, Snickerdoodle is an advertising platform that allows users to consent to sharing specific attributes without revealing personal information. By providing zero knowledge proofs of these attributes, users can receive targeted advertisements without compromising their privacy. Another use case is Biosnark, a drug development project. The team uses zero knowledge proofs to prove the effectiveness of a molecular structure without disclosing proprietary information. These examples demonstrate the potential of ZK apps in various industries and highlight the power of combining privacy and verifiability.
Getting Involved with ZK Apps
Developers interested in building ZK apps can start by exploring O1JS, the TypeScript library for zero knowledge enabled smart contracts. They can install O1JS and begin building applications that generate zero knowledge proofs in the browser. The O1 Labs Discord community is active and supportive, providing a space to ask questions and interact with fellow developers. Additionally, programs like ZK Ignite and Mina Navigators offer funding and support for developers working on ZK apps. Hackathons focused on ZK are also a great way to engage with the community and refine development skills for ZK app building.
In this week's episode Anna Rose chats with Brandon Kase, CTO, and Steve Pack, Head of Product at O(1)Labs, focusing on the Mina Protocol. The discussion covers their journeys leading to their work on the project, developments in the Mina Protocol since the last appearance on ZK Podcast, and insights into the zkApps building environment. They delve into the technical aspects of o1js and the underlying philosophy that drives its design. The episode wraps with a forward-looking perspective on the potential applications of zero-knowledge proofs as the industry shifts from a research-centric to a builder-centric approach.
NEAR Foundation and Polygon Labs just announced they are teaming up to build zkWASM, a zero-knowledge prover for WASM blockchains. This collaboration will create a more secure, interoperable Web3 ecosystem for an open web.
NEAR’s deep WASM runtime expertise combined with Polygon Labs’ authority in ZK scaling technology, the zkWASM prover will be market leader when it launches in 2024.
Stay up to date with the zkWASM announcement at near.org