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zk-SNARKs

Panther also utilizes zk-SNARKs, which stands for “Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge.” Thanks to zk-SNARKs, and just like with ZKPs, a prover can prove their possession of information without revealing it. However, the added benefit of zk-SNARKs is that they allow this to happen without both parties interacting. This helps further users’ privacy and anonymity.
zkSNARKs are:
  • Succinct: The size of the proof is small compared to the size of the statement being proved.
  • Non-interactive: zkSNARKs do not require rounds of interaction between the prover and verifier except for a negligibly small probability.
  • Argument: A weaker notion of a mathematical proof where we assume the prover has bounded computational resources.
  • Knowledge: The prover cannot construct a proof without knowing a particular witness for the statement. This would be the equivalent of knowing “what to look for” or “what to decode”.
Specifically, Panther uses a pairing-based SNARK called Groth16.