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ZK-Friendly Hashing

Definition

ZK-friendly hashing refers to cryptographic hash functions designed for efficient computation within zero-knowledge proof systems. These hash functions are specifically constructed to minimize the computational overhead when used inside arithmetic circuits, which are the underlying structure for zero-knowledge proofs. Traditional hash functions like SHA-256, while cryptographically secure, are inefficient in these circuits due to their complex bitwise operations. ZK-friendly hashes, such as Poseidon or MiMC, utilize field arithmetic, making them far more performant for generating and verifying proofs.