A brief lecture on zk-STARKs and zk-SNARK

Introduction

The struggle of maintaining anonymity and freedom in finance have remains man’s major target. These have brought about the advance idea of decentralized blockchain programming. A cryptographic technology that is behind the operation of cryptocurrency. Since man’s lifestyle is typically Oliver Twist, the demand for a far more anonymous financial operation other than the initial have cause the introduction of zk-STARKs and zk-SNACKs proof, a protocol that private coins operates.

Zk-SNARKs

This acronym means Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-interactive Argument of Knowledge. The Zk (Zero knowledge) is a cryptographic method of anonymously verifying transactions done by a single person and sending proof of verification to others without exposure of intricate details known as witness.

Zero knowledge proof originated in 1985 and became popular when it was adopted in cryptocurrency blockchain. Zero-knowledge proof drives the operation of the anonymity between the two teams that are involved, which are known as the prover and verifier.

Succinct in the SNARK acronym refers to fast verification process. Validation can be done within a timeframe of millisecond. The Non-interactive signifies the operation without the data prover interacting with a verifier. Augment Of Knowledge refers to the security of the saver to users with small computing power. A spammer can cheat by generating counterfeit proof using strong computing power nodes like quantum computer but every action done on the blockchain (either disagreement or prove) is carried out by a user that have user that have knowledge of the process

The combination of this operation lead to it consideration in been an alternative to seekers of privacy in cryptocurrency and yet, experience a nice scalability.

Zcash coin use the zk-SNARK for its operation and it has spark suspicion that the developer can use it weakness against higher computation attacks to generate coins anonymously. Three years ago, developers by name Suterusu teamed up to create another advance version of it known as zk-CONSNARK by eliminating a trust operation and replacing with trust-less

zk-STARKs

This acronym means zero-knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of knowledge. This protocol was created to act as an improvement on zk-SNARKs protocol, which have a great complexity in its operation. Aside from been less complex, zk-STARK protocol is less expensive and fast. The idea of zk-STARK was summoned by Yinon Horesh, Eli Sasson and co. in 2018. There is no much difference in operation between zk-STARK and zk-SNARK. The ultimate difference is the transparency, which eliminates the trusted setup. A user of zk-STARK is confident that quantum computer's user can not break security.

Tabulation of key difference between zk-STARK and zk-SNARK

Feature	zk-STARK	zk-SNARK
Full name	zero Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge	zero knowledge Succinct Non-interactive Argument of Knowledge
Definition	A privacy and scalability enhancing protocol that operates utilize a lean method of cryptographic mechanism	A privacy base protocol that operate it cryptographic function using mathematically defined method of elliptic curves
Defense against computing power	Offer a strong tie defense mechanism against high computing power generated by computers such as quantum computer	Prone to manipulation using quantum computer because of encryption of private-public key
Scalability	It has a scalability challenge. Approximate 100ms per block confirmation	It is very fast. Approximately 10ms per block confirmation

Closing thought

The existence of both zk-STARK and zk-SNARK is to enhance security in finance and anonymity. zk-SNARK consumes less gas charges and lesser chair storage compared to zk-STARKHowever, data analysts have recommend their use in government related service like electronic voting etc.

Related references

https://101blockchains.com/zksnarks-vs-zkstarks/
https://academy.bit2me.com/en/que-son-las-zk-stark/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/z/zksnark.asp