Vitalik Buterin and Anoma Founders Discuss ZK Potentials in Web3 Social Protocols

Vitalik Buterin and Anoma founders delve into Zero-Knowledge Proofs' potential in Web3 social protocols at ETHCC[7] in Brussels.

At ETHCC in Brussels, a panel titled “Exploring ZK Potentials on Social Protocols” featured Vitalik Buterin, Chris Goes, Shumo Chu, and Elias Tazartes, discussing ZKPs and their role in decentralized social networks.

The panel at ETHCC covered various aspects of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), including their potential to enhance privacy, scalability, and trust in decentralized social networks.

During the ETHCC in Brussels on July 9th, Mask Network, Lens Protocol, and SendingMe joined forces to host Web3 Social Day, a side event featuring a panel titled “Exploring ZK Potentials on Social Protocols.” The event included prominent figures like Vitalik Buterin (co-founder of Ethereum), Chris Goes (Founder of Anoma), Shumo Chu (Founder of Nebra Labs), and Elias Tazartes (Co-Founder of Kakarot), moderated by Joshua Davila, the Blockchain Socialist.

Here's a summary of the key insights shared by the panelists:

On Zero-Knowledge Proofs

The panelists delved into the technicalities of ZKPs, exploring their capabilities and limitations. Shumo Chu, who has worked closely with ZK pioneer Silvio Micali, described ZK as “an encryption on computation,” highlighting its dual benefits of privacy and efficiency.

Chu further explained that ZK allows for selective disclosure of information, adding privacy to computational inputs and outputs. This capability is particularly valuable for decentralized social networks, where privacy and selective information sharing are crucial aspects.

Scalability and Efficiency

Elias Tazartes emphasized the transaction efficiency of ZK, highlighting its importance for networks handling large transaction volumes. He mentioned Lens Protocol's new chain that utilizes a ZK stack for compression, enhancing both scalability and integrity.

Chris Goes discussed “information flow control,” explaining that ZKPs offer granular choices in information disclosure, contrasting with the negative connotations of “privacy” as hiding information. He highlighted that ZKPs enable better theoretical frameworks for reasoning about data disclosure in digital systems.

ZK Against Deepfakes and Enhancing Trust

Shumo Chu introduced the concept of ZK cryptography as a defense mechanism against deepfakes. He cited a ZK microphone, developed during a hackathon, that attaches a digital signature to verify authenticity. Chu also discussed the need for improved developer tools and proof aggregation infrastructure to enhance Ethereum's ZK processing power and reduce gas fees.

Elias Tazartes reminisced about the evolution of ZK terminology, noting that terms like “validity roll-ups” did not stick as well as ZK Proofs. Chris Goes remarked that ZK had become a meme term used for funding applied cryptography, suggesting a need for more precise language in the future.

Perspectives from Vitalik Buterin

Vitalik Buterin made a grand entrance despite stormy weather and shared his thoughts on “information flow control.” He suggested that the term aims to make ZK technology sound less intimidating while being more precise. Buterin emphasized that decentralized social networks should enable unique front-end experiences and specialized content filtering, citing examples like Farcaster and Firefly.

Challenges and Future Directions

The panelists acknowledged challenges in user experience and the need for better education on the benefits of data ownership. Vitalik Buterin stressed the importance of letting users preview data disclosures before committing actions and whitelisting trusted applications. Chris Goes added that UI improvements are crucial for clearly showing data disclosure and restricting application access.

The discussion concluded with a focus on making ZK proofs user-friendly and emphasizing the importance of privacy by default. Panelists agreed that better stories are needed to highlight why privacy matters to the average web user.

This thought-provoking panel offered a glimpse into the potential of Zero-Knowledge Proofs to revolutionize social media. While ZKPs offer exciting possibilities for privacy, selective disclosure, and network efficiency, the panelists also recognized challenges in user experience and the need for better education around the value of data ownership.

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