Zero Knowledge Free

Definition ∞ Zero Knowledge Free refers to systems or transactions that do not employ zero-knowledge proofs, meaning they do not conceal any information about the transaction beyond what is typically hidden by standard cryptographic hashing. In such systems, while transaction participants’ identities might be pseudonymous, the transaction amounts, sender, and receiver addresses are generally visible on the public ledger. This contrasts with privacy-preserving technologies that use zero-knowledge proofs to hide specific transaction details. It represents a default level of transparency for many public blockchains.
Context ∞ The concept of “zero knowledge free” often arises in discussions comparing the transparency levels of different blockchain protocols, particularly in news related to privacy features or regulatory compliance. Debates frequently weigh the benefits of full transparency for auditability against the desire for enhanced privacy. Future considerations involve the optional integration of zero-knowledge technologies into currently “zero knowledge free” systems, allowing users to choose their desired level of privacy while maintaining the public verifiability of transactions.