Succinct Non-Interactive Argument

Definition ∞ A Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (SNARK) is a cryptographic proof system where a prover can convince a verifier that a statement is true with a very short proof. The verification process is extremely fast, and the interaction between prover and verifier is minimal or non-existent. SNARKs are highly efficient and provide strong privacy guarantees. They represent a significant advancement in cryptographic proof technology.
Context ∞ SNARKs are a frequent topic in crypto news, particularly concerning privacy solutions and scalability for blockchains, such as Zcash and Ethereum’s ZK-rollups. Key discussions revolve around their mathematical complexity, security assumptions, and practical implementation challenges. A critical future development is the broader application of SNARKs to enable confidential transactions, private smart contract execution, and enhanced network throughput across various decentralized platforms.