In this talk, Silv, the co-founder of Brick, discusses the transformative potential of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) beyond their current applications in blockchain. He begins by referencing Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Shakespeare’s The Tempest to frame the discussion around whether we are heading towards a dystopian or exciting new future with these technologies.
Silv explains the core benefits of blockchain, such as trustlessness and decentralization, but challenges the conventional view by highlighting that ZK proofs can offer trust without decentralization. He questions the necessity of running everything onchain and proposes using ZK proofs in more centralized systems, arguing that they could still offer significant advantages like reduced costs and increased efficiency.
Silv provides examples, such as using ZK proofs in gaming to validate actions off-chain, and emphasizes that while blockchain is valuable for global consensus and censorship resistance, it’s not always necessary. He suggests that ZK proofs could be a powerful tool even outside the blockchain context, offering trust in centralized environments without requiring full decentralization.
Ultimately, Silv encourages the audience to explore the broader possibilities of ZK proofs, even if it means letting go of the strict adherence to blockchain principles. He concludes with a call to action, inspired by Nike’s slogan: “Just prove it,” urging developers to innovate with ZK proofs and expand their use cases.
