Zero Knowledge Proof

What is Zero Knowledge Proof?

Zero knowledge proof is a key component for authentication as well as identification. Zero knowledge proofs (ZKPs) enable crypto transactions to be anonymous. They allow a user to demonstrate the reality of a situation without exposing any details about it. In the crypto realm, this would allow a person to prove ownership of Bitcoin without revealing their signature or even public address.

How Did the Concept of Zero Knowledge Proof Come Into Being

The subject of zero-knowledge proof was initially described in an MIT study released in 1985 by Shafi Goldwasser and Silvio Micali. They established that it was feasible to prove some features of a number without revealing the number or any more information about it. 

This study also established the theoretically significant observation that interactions amongst a prover and a verifier could lower the amount of information required to prove a particular theorem. Zero-knowledge proofs are commonly employed in applications where privacy and security are critical. 

Authentication systems, for instance, can use ZK proofs to validate credentials or even identities without disclosing them. As an illustration, it could be used to authenticate that a person has a password to a computer system without revealing the password. ZKP's applicability is not limited to cryptocurrencies or decentralized identification systems. They can, in fact, participate in the dissemination of sensitive material without disclosing sources.