Houman Shadab and Wyatt Benno, Co-Founders at ICME Labs (NovaNet)

Connor and Sal are joined by guests Houman Shadab and Wyatt Benno from NovaNet. NovaNet is building an incentive and coordination network for zero knowledge proofs that run locally and leverage the latest advances in ZK technology. The group discusses the zk yin to blockchain’s yang, how ZK proofs compare to other trustless verification methods like TEEs and secure hardware elements, and most importantly, how ZK technology will play an important role in shaping the future of the DePIN industry.

00:00 - Discussion on Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and blockchain consensus, comparing on-chain vs. off-chain implementations.

04:16 - Exploration of the long history of ZKPs, their role in privacy, and verifiable computation.

07:48 - Appeal of ZKPs due to their verifiability, especially from a legal perspective.

10:56 - How blockchain technology ensures the verifiability of on-chain transactions.

16:23 - Introduction to an efficient folding scheme developed by a Microsoft researcher, known as Supernova.

19:18 - The concept of aggregating proofs for more efficient blockchain posting.

22:52 - Discussion on varying trust assumptions and the potential of soft enclaves.

25:44 - Incentivizing new proving schemes on NovaNet.

28:29 - Examination of multiple ZKP proving networks, each with its own limitations.

32:08 - Initial confusion about NFTs, which eventually turned into excitement.

34:27 - The potential applications of ZKPs in law and regulation.

37:42 - Anticipation of ongoing innovation in cryptocurrency and improvements in accessibility.

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.