What is ZK Proof
Understand the cryptographic technology that powers Deepblue's privacy.
Introduction
Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) are cryptographic methods that allow one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself.
Simple Explanation
The Cave Analogy
Imagine a circular cave with:
One entrance
Two paths (A and B) inside
A locked door connecting the paths
You know the secret password to unlock the door
Proving Without Revealing:
Your friend waits outside
You enter and take random path (A or B)
Friend enters and shouts which path to exit from
You use the door (if needed) and exit from requested path
Repeat many times
After many rounds, your friend is convinced you know the password, but they never learned the password itself!
How ZK Proofs Work
Three Properties
1. Completeness
If the statement is true, an honest verifier will be convinced
Valid proofs always pass verification
2. Soundness
If the statement is false, no cheating prover can convince the verifier
Invalid proofs are rejected
3. Zero-Knowledge
The verifier learns nothing except that the statement is true
No information is revealed about the secret
ZK-SNARKs
What are SNARKs?
SNARK = Succinct Non-interactive ARgument of Knowledge
Succinct:
Proofs are tiny (just a few hundred bytes)
Fast to verify (milliseconds)
Efficient even for complex statements
Non-interactive:
No back-and-forth communication needed
Single proof message
Can be verified anytime by anyone
Argument of Knowledge:
Prover actually knows the secret
Not just guessing
Cryptographically guaranteed
Why SNARKs for Privacy?
Benefits: ✅ Tiny proof size (~200 bytes) ✅ Fast verification (~5 milliseconds) ✅ No interaction required ✅ Perfect for blockchain ✅ Strong security guarantees
Use Cases:
Private transactions
Anonymous credentials
Confidential smart contracts
Hidden voting
Privacy-preserving computation
ZK Proofs in Deepblue
Transaction Privacy
When you send a private transaction:
Without ZK Proofs:
With ZK Proofs:
What Gets Proven?
Deepblue ZK proofs verify:
✅ You have sufficient balance ✅ Transaction is valid ✅ No double-spending ✅ Correct cryptographic signatures ✅ Proper transaction format
WITHOUT revealing: ❌ Your wallet address ❌ Recipient address ❌ Transaction amount ❌ Your balance ❌ Transaction history
Technical Deep Dive
Proof Generation
Step 1: Setup Phase
Generate proving key
Generate verification key
One-time setup (done by protocol)
Step 2: Witness Computation
Gather all secret inputs
Transaction details
Wallet signatures
Balance proofs
Step 3: Proof Generation
Apply ZK-SNARK algorithm
Create cryptographic proof
Takes 2-3 seconds
Done locally on your device
Step 4: Verification
Anyone can verify the proof
Uses public verification key
Takes ~5 milliseconds
No secrets revealed
Cryptographic Primitives
Elliptic Curve Cryptography:
BN254 curve (optimal pairing)
128-bit security level
Efficient operations
Hash Functions:
Poseidon hash (ZK-friendly)
SHA-256 (Solana standard)
Collision resistant
Commitment Schemes:
Pedersen commitments
Hiding and binding
Perfect for amounts
Real-World Example
Private Payment Scenario
Alice wants to pay Bob 5 SOL privately:
Traditional Transaction:
With Deepblue ZK Privacy:
Verification Process
Network Verifies:
Proof is mathematically valid
Transaction follows protocol rules
No double-spending
Sufficient balance exists
Network Does NOT See:
Who sent it (Alice)
Who received it (Bob)
How much (5 SOL)
When exactly
Any other details
Security Guarantees
Computational Security
Attack Resistance:
🛡️ 128-bit security - Unbreakable with current technology
🛡️ Quantum resistant* - Preparing for future threats
🛡️ No trusted setup - Transparent and trustless
Cannot Be Broken By: ❌ Brute force attacks ❌ Quantum computers (with proper upgrades) ❌ Statistical analysis ❌ Pattern matching ❌ Timing attacks
Privacy Guarantees
Information Theoretic:
No information leakage
Perfect hiding of secrets
No side channels
Forward Secrecy:
Past transactions stay private
Even if keys are compromised later
Historical privacy protected
Comparison with Other Privacy Methods
vs Mixing/Tumbling
Mixing Services:
❌ Rely on centralized mixer
❌ Trust required
❌ Can be traced with analysis
❌ Often regulated/banned
ZK Proofs:
✅ Cryptographically guaranteed
✅ No trust needed
✅ Cannot be traced
✅ Compliant with regulations*
vs Ring Signatures
Ring Signatures:
❌ Large signature size
❌ Slower verification
❌ Limited scalability
✅ Good anonymity set
ZK Proofs:
✅ Tiny proof size
✅ Fast verification
✅ Highly scalable
✅ Perfect anonymity
vs Confidential Transactions
Confidential Transactions:
✅ Hide amounts
❌ Addresses still visible
❌ Larger transaction size
❌ Network analysis possible
ZK Proofs:
✅ Hide everything
✅ Complete privacy
✅ Small proof size
✅ No network analysis
Limitations & Trade-offs
Current Limitations
Proof Generation Time:
Takes 2-3 seconds
Requires computation
May drain mobile battery
Complexity:
Advanced cryptography
Harder to audit
Requires specialized knowledge
Trusted Setup (for some SNARKs):
Initial ceremony needed
Requires transparency
New systems avoid this
Deepblue's Approach
Optimizations: ✅ Fast proof generation (< 3 seconds) ✅ Optional proof (can skip for speed) ✅ Mobile-optimized algorithms ✅ No trusted setup required ✅ Transparent and auditable
Future of ZK Privacy
Upcoming Improvements
Recursive Proofs:
Prove validity of other proofs
Compress entire transaction history
Constant proof size
Universal ZK:
One setup for all applications
No per-application ceremonies
More flexible
Quantum Security:
Post-quantum ZK-SNARKs
Protection against quantum computers
Future-proof privacy
Industry Adoption
Growing Use Cases:
DeFi privacy
Private DAOs
Confidential computing
Anonymous credentials
Private messaging
Learn More
Technical Resources
ZK-SNARK Deep Dive
Cryptographic Security
Transaction Flow
Practical Guides
Private Transactions
Hidden Amounts
Anonymous Addresses
Questions? Check our FAQ or Contact Support
Last updated