Definition ∞ ZK Protocols, or Zero-Knowledge Protocols, are cryptographic methods that allow one party to prove to another that a statement is true, without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself. These protocols are fundamental for enhancing privacy and scalability in blockchain systems. They enable verifiable computation while preserving data confidentiality.
Context ∞ Crypto news extensively covers advancements and applications of ZK Protocols, particularly in areas like zero-knowledge rollups for scaling Ethereum and privacy-preserving decentralized applications. The development of more efficient and practical ZK proofs is a significant area of research. Debates often concern the computational overhead and implementation complexity of these advanced cryptographic techniques.