Definition ∞ Extractable NIZK, or Extractable Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge proofs, are a type of cryptographic proof where, if a prover can generate a valid proof for a false statement, an extractor algorithm can then recover the secret witness that the prover supposedly knew. This property ensures that valid proofs can only be generated by those who genuinely possess the secret information. Such proofs are crucial for security in various cryptographic protocols.
Context ∞ Extractable NIZKs are a foundational element in advanced cryptographic constructions, particularly those used in privacy-preserving blockchain protocols and verifiable computation. News often references these proofs when discussing the security guarantees and trust assumptions of zero-knowledge rollups and other scaling solutions. Their presence is a technical assurance that a system’s integrity cannot be compromised by dishonest provers.