Zero-Knowledge STARKs

Definition ∞ Zero-knowledge STARKs (Scalable Transparent ARguments of Knowledge) are a cryptographic proof system that allows one party to prove the correctness of a computation to another party without revealing any information about the computation itself, beyond its validity. They offer transparency and scalability, making them suitable for proving complex computations on blockchains. This technology is pivotal for enhancing privacy and scalability in distributed systems.
Context ∞ The current focus on Zero-Knowledge STARKs within the cryptocurrency sector is driven by their application in scaling solutions, particularly for layer-2 rollups, and their potential for privacy-preserving transactions. A significant debate centers on their computational overhead compared to other zero-knowledge proof systems and the ongoing optimization efforts to reduce proof generation times. Future developments to watch include the widespread adoption of STARKs in various blockchain protocols for transaction compression and the development of more efficient proof verification techniques.