ZeroSync’s Light Client Using ZK Proofs for Bitcoin Network State Validation

Cryptography is a constantly evolving technology. Today, cryptography is popularly used in blockchain technology as a means of safeguarding against double-spending. Cryptography also ensures the security of the participants of the network and prevents external elements from influencing the users. Recently, ZeroSync, a Swiss non-profit organisation, reached a major milestone in the innovation of cryptography-based technology for the Bitcoin network.

What Are Zero-Knowledge Proofs?

ZK (Zero Knowledge) proofs are a way of proving the validity or truth of statements without revealing the statement itself. In cryptography, ZK proofs are used to validate the data contained in blockchains without revealing the data itself. The concept of ZKs can be traced back to 1985 when they were first described. Since then, the concept has been improved upon, culminating in its use in applied cryptography. In blockchain technology, ZK protocols eliminate the need to reveal information to prove the validity of claims. The two types of ZK proofs are ZK-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge and ZK-STARKs (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge). 

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ZK Proofs in the Bitcoin Network

Satoshi Nakamoto, the founder of the popular Bitcoin blockchain network, stated that it was possible to verify blockchain payments without running a full network node. This innovation, otherwise known as light clients or SPV (Simple Payment Verification) nodes, is useful for small devices that can’t download the entire blockchain. ZeroSync’s light client can verify Bitcoin consensus rules. It goes one step further by verifying blocks using cryptographic ZK proofs rather than merely trusting honest nodes. In the Bitcoin blockchain network, it is ZeroSync’s verifier that makes it possible to build a ZK proof-based light client. This is the first step in the project’s roadmap of permissionless innovation.

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ZK Proofs in ZeroSync’s Light Client

ZeroSync’s ZK proofs are based on the Cairo programming language. They let blockchain users validate their network state without having to download the entire blockchain. Presently, the Bitcoin blockchain is more than 515GB, and any validator will have to download the entire blockchain before carrying out any operations. With ZeroSync’s STARK-based solution lets anyone verify block headers, proof-of-work, and difficulty adjustments on the Bitcoin network.  

ZeroSync Verifier for Bitcoin’s header chain

ZeroSync’s verifier is an efficient development for light clients, enabling them to verify the inclusion of transactions on Bitcoin almost instantaneously. In turn, the client stores only a header chain proof rather than downloading all block headers. The innovation reduces the entry barrier to participation in the Bitcoin network. ZeroSync has designed and is currently implementing a Layer 2 protocol with impressive privacy and scalability properties. The technology will allow the network Bitcoin to process over 100 transactions per second, a significant improvement from its present capacity of about 3 to 7 transactions per second. 

Conclusion

ZeroSync’s groundbreaking innovation is primarily inspired by ZK-proof-based systems. While the innovation is already in use in other layer 1 blockchains like Ethereum, ZeroSync is the first to replicate it on Bitcoin. On Bitcoin, this paradigm shift on the technology front is promising, given the sheer popularity of the network. Bitcoin users, thus, can look forward to improved validation processes and scalability capacity.  

Frequently Asked Questions

How Did ZeroSync Begin Its Bitcoin Zk Innovation?

ZeroSync received a grant from Geometry Research in 2022. In 2023, it received another one from StarkWare. The non-profit organisation’s first project was to use StarkWare’s Cairo programming language outside of the Ethereum network. The innovation required a soft fork to power trustless Bitcoin bridging on its layer-2 network. Subsequently, the network can permissionlessly support useful features, including token transfers where the fees are paid in stablecoins, eliminating the need for BTC as a means of payment.

What Is ZeroSync’s Latest Innovation Capable Of?

ZeroSync’s test systems allow the Bitcoin network’s structure to be augmented with additional data, such as a UTXO set commitment. This is possible without changes to the consensus model or any other rules powering its inherent protocols. The innovation uses the STARK ZK-based technology, which is completely open source with a code library available on GitHub. ZeroSync aims to explore several applications on the Bitcoin network. It aims to do this by introducing innovations that foster increased scalability and privacy on the network, similar to what is happening in the Ethereum ecosystem. 

How Do ZK-STARKs Work?

ZK-STARK is an acronym for Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge. ZK-STARK is faster than ZK-SNARK at verifying and generating proofs when the size of the witness is larger. With STARK proofs, prover and verification duration only slightly increase as the witness grows. Rather than using a trusted setup, it uses publicly verifiable randomness to generate public parameters for verification and proof, and verification instead of a trusted setup.