Zero Knowledge

Mert Mumtaz, Co-founder and CEO of Helius, shares his insights on the Solana ecosystem and his journey through the recent crypto market downturn. He discusses the rise of zero-knowledge (ZK) projects, contrasting Solana’s landscape with Ethereum’s. Mert dives into the technically challenging yet supportive developer community, explores the implications of meme coins, and reflects on the evolution of crypto speculation. The conversation also uncovers advancements in cryptographic technologies that enhance privacy and efficiency within Solana.

Read transcript This week Anna catches up with Nico, Guillermo and Alex from Bain Capital Crypto to discuss two of their recent works; ZODA: Zero-Overhead Data Availability by the trio and The Accidental Computer by Alex & Guille. The group starts with a discussion about how papers like FRIDA and Foundations of Data Availability Sampling inspired ZODA and then cover the innovations presented in ZODA itself. They wrap up with a discussion about The Accidental Computer, and in doing so tease out some of the fundamental concepts in current ZK research.   Related links: ZK Podcast: Disclosures ZODA: Zero-Overhead Data Availability by Alex Evans, Guillermo Angeris and Nico Mohnblatt FRIDA: Data Availability Sampling from FRI by Mathias Hall-Andersen, Mark Simkin and Benedikt Wagner Foundations of Data Availability Sampling by Mathias Hall-Andersen, Mark Simkin and Benedikt Wagner The Accidental Computer: Polynomial Commitments from Data Availability by Alex Evans and Guillermo Angeris Guille's Tweet “anon, what if I told you that you can prove the correctness of the largest celestia block in <200ms on a single core of an mba” Bain Capital Crypto Blog   ---------------   Applications for zkSummit13 are now open, spots are limited for this edition so apply soon (www.zksummit.com) if you want to join. The deadline for Speaker applications is March 15th!   ---------------   IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE DO: Find all our links here! @ZeroKnowledge | Linktree Subscribe to our podcast newsletter Follow us on X @zeroknowledgefm Join us on Telegram Catch us on YouTube ZK Podcast website Read transcript

This week, Anna and Nico chat with Andrew Lu and Vivek Bhupatiraju from Cursive.  They map out the timeline of their in-person activations and experiments using programmable cryptography, which they have been running since late 2023. By quickly developing small applications and products to test with real users, they have gathered tangible data about these innovations at various live conferences worldwide, including our own flagship events, zkSummit11 and zkSummit12. They share the challenges and insights gained from these experimental products. Additionally, they share the concepts that inspired their innovations, such as digital pheromones and narrowcasting. Related links: Zupass ZK for web2 interop with zkLogin & ZK Email  Cursive ETH Denver Building cryptographic apps for human connection - Vivek Bhupatiraju & Andrew Lu Phantom Zone GitHub Frontiers by Paradigm  --------------- Applications for zkSummit13 are now open, spots are limited for this edition so >> apply soon << if you want to join. --------------- IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE DO: Find all our links here! @ZeroKnowledge | Linktree Subscribe to our podcast newsletter Follow us on X @zeroknowledgefm Join us on Telegram Catch us on YouTube ZK Podcast website Read transcript

We’re back with a new look and a new jingle! In this episode, ZK Podcast returns, and host Anna Rose shares a story from her past that strangely connects to the present day and the name "Zero Knowledge." Listen in as we kick off the show once again. Applications for zkSummit13 are now open, apply for your spot here. Check out the latest jobs in ZK at the ZK Podcast jobs board. Zero Knowledge Systems on Wikipedia IF YOU LIKE WHAT WE DO: Find all our links here! @ZeroKnowledge | Linktree Subscribe to our podcast newsletter Follow us on X @zeroknowledgefm Join us on Telegram Catch us on YouTube ZK Podcast website Read transcript

A quick update from the Zero Knowledge Podcast: The show is set to resume at the beginning of February, with exciting episodes and topics we can't wait to share with you!In the meantime, the team is hiring for two roles—a Community Marketing Manager to amplify the podcast's reach authentically and a Strategic Growth Lead to strengthen the business side of operations. If you are a potential candidate, please do apply over on the ZK Jobs Board!As 2025 approaches, the podcast aims to further explore zero-knowledge technology's potential to shape the future and invites the community to join in the journey.

The hosts reflect on the exciting advancements in zero-knowledge technology from 2024, including innovations in hash-based SNARKs and lattice cryptography. They delve into the complexities of ZKTLS and highlight the challenges developers face with Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machines. Quantum computing complications and their real-world applications are examined, along with the competitive dynamics in the blockchain space. The conversation wraps up with insights into cryptocurrency's mainstream integration and the future of ZK technology in 2025.

In this engaging discussion, Dan Boneh, a top-tier professor at Stanford specializing in zero-knowledge cryptography, dives into his latest research. He explores cutting-edge advancements in lattice-based SNARKs and their role in post-quantum security. The use of zero-knowledge proofs in machine learning to uphold fairness and combat disinformation is particularly fascinating. Additionally, the C2PA standard's impact on image authenticity and content provenance highlights the evolving relationship between cryptography and digital integrity.

Nico Mohnblatt, a notable expert in zero-knowledge cryptography, joins to reflect on 2024's ZK events. He shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the ZK Jargon Decoder and highlights key discussions from the zkSummit events. The duo explores the collaborative spirit of past gatherings and innovations in cryptographic proofs. They also delve into the educational impact of ZK Whiteboard Sessions and the importance of diverse speaker proposals in the crypto community. Insights into future developments in privacy technologies round out their conversation.

Mikerah Quintyne-Collins, a technical founder known for her work on privacy-preserving technologies, shares her journey in the crypto space. She discusses her early experiences at ChainSafe and the founding of HashCloak. The conversation dives into the challenges and advancements in Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and critiques the narratives surrounding privacy technologies. Mikerah also highlights the importance of memes in her tweet game and advocates for a collaborative approach among various cryptographic solutions in the evolving world of decentralized finance.

Just sharing 2 updates: 1) the ZK Whiteboard sessions are BACK with a second season! These videos will be released every 2 weeks for the next 3 months on ZK Hack channels - See Season 1 videos here: https://zkhack.dev/whiteboard/ See Season 2 Module 1 here: https://zkhack.dev/whiteboard/s2m1/2) The Zero Knowledge Podcast (aka this show!) will take a pause on the weekly cadence of the show starting Oct 16th until the end of 2024. Expect last 2 episodes on Oct 9 and Oct 16 There may be some additional episodes released this year (but no plans yet) Keep an eye on our website and twitter for updates about the show (and soon an updated website!)