The emergence of zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs in decentralized identity solutions has ignited discussions within the cryptocurrency sector, with some critics claiming that implementing ZK technology is prohibitively expensive and intricate.
Leo Fan, the co-founder of ZK hardware firm Cysic, counters that, despite historical costs associated with ZK proofs, they remain more economical than traditional identity systems operated by centralized entities. In a conversation with Cointelegraph, Fan elaborated on how improvements in hardware and enhanced proof generation techniques have significantly decreased both the expenses and the time required to finalize ZK proofs. He pointed out that these proofs are already less burdensome financially compared to conventional identification systems, which often involve extensive bureaucracies and can demand billions of dollars to maintain. Fan remarked:
The generation time for ZK proofs has now been reduced to approximately 10 seconds, establishing ZK as a practical approach to decentralized identification. He described it as a “public good” that optimizes privacy while still fulfilling the necessary screening functions for identity verification scenarios.
Countries Embracing ZK-Enhanced Identity Solutions
Fan also commended the recent deployment of ZK-based digital identity solutions for 3.6 million residents in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On October 21, government officials announced the integration of QuarkID into the existing miBA digital identification system, granting individuals greater control over their biometric information.
In August, Worldcoin introduced its World ID orbs in Vienna, Austria. These devices gather biometric data by scanning users’ irises and converting these unique identifiers into cryptographic proofs that establish personal identity.
Later that month, the Malaysian government entered into a partnership with Worldcoin to incorporate the company’s iris-scanning orbs into its official identification framework. This collaboration also involved Tools for Humanity and MyEG, a company dedicated to enhancing the connection between government services and citizens.