Zero Knowledge & Quantum w/ Eli Ben-Sasson

Jan 22, 2026

Eli Ben-Sasson, a renowned cryptographer and co-founder of Starkware and Zcash, discusses the intricacies of blockchain scaling and the revolutionary potential of zero-knowledge proofs. He delves into Starkware's innovative products and their applicability in gaming and DeFi. Meanwhile, trader Beimnet Abebe shares insights on the macroeconomic forces driving Bitcoin's recent price movements. Eli also raises alarms about the looming threats of quantum computing to blockchain security, emphasizing the need for urgent action within the Bitcoin community.

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INSIGHT

Starkware Powers Cross‑Chain Financial Infrastructure

Starkware builds high-scale ZK-based infrastructure used by major decentralized exchanges and apps.
StarkNet connects Bitcoin, Ethereum and other chains to provide low-fee, expressive programmable money.

INSIGHT

ZK Proofs Deliver Integrity And Scale

Zero-knowledge proofs provide integrity through math so you can trust off-chain computation without seeing it.
That math enables a single proof to vouch for millions of transactions, delivering scale and privacy.

INSIGHT

Privacy And Scale Are Separate ZK Superpowers

ZK systems offer two independent benefits: privacy and scalability, each usable separately.
Zcash prioritized privacy while Starkware focused on compressing transactions for scale.

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Alex Thorn talks with Starkware CEO & Co-Founder and Zcash Co-Founder Eli Ben-Sasson about blockchain scaling, zero-knowledge proofs, DeFi, and the potential for quantum computing to threaten blockchain security. Alex also talks with Beimnet Abebe (Galaxy Trading) about Greenland, debt markets, and bitcoin price action.

Participants, along with Galaxy, hold a financial interest in Bitcoin (BTC) and Zcash (ZEC). Galaxy regularly engages in buying and selling Bitcoin and Zcash, including hedging transactions, for its own proprietary accounts and on behalf of its counterparties. Galaxy also provides services to vehicles that invest in Bitcoin and Zcash. If the value of such assets increases, those vehicles may benefit, and Galaxy’s service fees may increase accordingly. The valuation in this communication is based on technical, fundamental, and market analysis and not on any formal valuation method. For more information, please refer to Galaxy’s public filings and statements. Cryptocurrencies, including BTC and ZEC, are inherently volatile and risky and ultimate market movements may not align with this statement.

For additional risks related to digital assets, please refer to the risk factors contained in filings Galaxy Digital Inc. makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, filed with the SEC on November 10, 2025, available at www.sec.gov. (http://www.sec.gov/)

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, January 21, 2025.