Security challenges for developers arise with the advent of ZK-proofs.

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) have gained traction in the fields of cryptography and blockchain due to their potential to enhance transaction privacy and scalability. ZK technology enables two parties to verify the truth of a claim without disclosing any details, hence the term “zero knowledge.” However, there are risks associated with ZK-proofs. In 2023, a cybersecurity firm identified a soundness bug in the implementation of zkSync Era mainnet, which could have resulted in a loss of $1.9 billion. To better understand the security risks, Cointelegraph interviewed Tim Becker, a researcher at ChainLight. According to Becker, one major challenge with ZK technology is its novelty. The rapid development of ZK-proofs has led to decentralized development, speeding up the process but also creating complications. The lack of communitywide developer-friendly tools for ZK increases the likelihood of vulnerabilities. While issues with ZK-proofs have been discovered, actual examples of exploits remain low, leading to potential complacency. However, Becker emphasizes that relying on temporary security layers compromises long-term goals such as decentralization. One issue Becker highlights is the execution delays in ZK-proof transactions, which can hinder speed and scalability benefits. Eventually, these limitations will need to be addressed to ensure the maturity of ZK-proofs without compromising protocols. Despite the challenges, Becker sees a bright future for ZK technology once the wrinkles are ironed out. However, predicting a timeline for stabilization is difficult due to the evolving nature of the technology. Aleph Zero, a layer-1 solution for decentralized apps, incorporates ZK-proof technology and acknowledges the challenges it presents. Matthew Niemerg, co-founder and president of Aleph Zero, mentions the need to identify vulnerabilities in areas like circuit design and cryptographic implementations. Even minor errors can compromise key properties, leading to flaws in token counterfeiting, smart contract attacks, and broken anonymity. Niemerg points out that a notable case of ZK-proof vulnerability occurred in Zcash, where a counterfeiting vulnerability was present for two years before being patched. The fear in the blockchain industry is the existence of undiscovered vulnerabilities. As knowledge of ZK-proof technology improves, more issues will likely be discovered, and the question remains as to who will discover them first – the developers or the hackers.