Ethereum scaling protocols are most actively contributing to the development of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technologies.
The ZKValidator team shared the results of their research on the node infrastructure of the ZKP projects segment in their “State of ZK Q2” report. According to their data, scaling the Ethereum blockchain network remains the primary use case for zero-knowledge proof technologies, particularly ZK-Rollups.
Other most common uses of ZKP include privacy-enhancing technologies and decentralized identification methods in Web3 projects. The least popular ZKP application area is machine learning technologies.
Among the key events in the segment of ZKP projects, the authors highlight the announcement of the Polygon 2.0 system, which will use zero-knowledge proof to transfer assets between different Layer 2 protocols within a single ecosystem. Another important event for the sphere is the release of a toolkit for creating modular, independent Layer 2 and Layer 3 solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem from the zkSync Era project team.
Besides, the report’s authors draw attention to the growing level of investment in projects based on ZKP technology. Vitalik Buterin’s support for the Kakarot zkEVM project is also mentioned. Zero-knowledge proof is also used in the Worldcoin project, whose user base recently exceeded 2 million. It’s worth noting that in Q1 2023, one of the areas that saw the most active development in the Ethereum ecosystem was protocols based on zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies.
