Into the Bytecode #43 – Uma Roy on Succinct, STARKs, and zkVM architecture
Oct 23, 2024
Uma Roy, Cofounder and CEO of Succinct, shares insights on the cutting-edge SP1 zero-knowledge virtual machine. She explains how SP1 simplifies zero-knowledge proofs by allowing developers to use standard Rust. The chat dives into the transition from optimistic to zk rollups, highlighting their advantages like enhanced scalability and efficiency. Uma also discusses the importance of security in virtual machine architectures and the co-development of software and hardware for advancing zero-knowledge systems, emphasizing innovation and community involvement.
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Origin Story
- Uma Roy's interest in ZK was sparked by a conversation with the founder of Xerox Park.
- She was fascinated by the ability to prove statements without revealing all inputs.
SP1 Architecture
- SP1 allows proving arbitrary Rust program execution by verifying each RISC-V instruction's state transition.
- This contrasts with older ZK methods that required rewriting functions as complex, low-level circuits.
STARKs, FRI, and Hash-Based Cryptography
- SP1 uses Plonky 3's multi-table Fry protocol, a STARK-based system employing hash-based cryptography.
- Each instruction has constraints ensuring valid state transitions, and lookups optimize proof generation.