Recently, Matter Labs (ZKsync development company), a zero-knowledge proof (ZK) application company, caused a backlash from other ZK technology application companies, such as Starkware, and researchers, due to their application for trademark registration of their token name “ZK”. They believe that Matter Labs is appropriating public resources and disregarding the collective wisdom.
On June 3rd, Matter Labs finally announced that, after receiving a lot of feedback, they have decided to withdraw all trademark applications related to the name “ZK”.
In their tweet, Matter Labs also made an “ambiguous” statement: the discussion results showed that it is difficult to find a group that is perceived as fair and neutral by almost everyone. Although certain solutions may be suitable for Ethereum, they may not be applicable on a global scale. In simple terms, it is almost impossible to find a universally recognized neutral group on a global scale, and even if certain methods are effective in specific contexts (such as Ethereum), they may not be applicable globally.
What is ZK (Zero Knowledge)?
Zero Knowledge (ZK) is a cryptographic technique that allows one party (the prover) to prove the authenticity of certain information to another party (the verifier) without revealing the information itself. This technology has wide applications in privacy and security, especially in digital identity verification, blockchain, and privacy protection protocols.
Zero knowledge proofs have three main characteristics:
1. Completeness: If the prover possesses certain information, they can convince the verifier of its authenticity.
2. Soundness: If the prover does not possess certain information, they cannot convince the verifier of its authenticity.
3. Zero-Knowledgeness: During the proof process, the verifier does not gain any additional knowledge about the information, except for the fact that the information is true.
For example, suppose you know the solution to a maze (i.e., the path from the entrance to the exit) and you want to prove to your friend that you know the solution without revealing the specific path. You can use a zero-knowledge proof method to achieve this, making your friend believe that you indeed know the solution, but they cannot learn any details of the solution from it.
Zero knowledge proofs are particularly useful in blockchain technology, such as in privacy-protecting cryptocurrencies like Zcash, where they are used to prove the legitimacy of transactions while preserving transaction privacy.
Matter Labs
StarkWare
ZK
zkSync