announcement · zk

Listen to us on the latest episode of zeroknowledge.fm

ZK/SEC August 30, 2023 1 min

zkpodcast

Our cofounder David Wong was this week's guest on the zk podcast. Listen to him talk about crypto and zksecurity here.

This week, Anna and Guillermo chat with David Wong, author of the Real-World Cryptography book, and a cofounder zksecurity.xyz – an auditing firm focused on Zero Knowledge technology.

They chat about what first got him interested in cryptography, his early work as a security consultant, his work on the Facebook crypto project and the Mina project, zksecurity.xyz, auditing techniques and their efficacy in a ZK context, what common bugs are found in ZK code, and much more.

Keep reading

Latest

Variants of KZG: Part V, Multilinear Commitments with Mercury

In this final post of the series, we extend univariate KZG commitments to multilinear polynomials through Mercury. Building on Gemini, we fold half of the variables at once, use polynomial division to bind this large fold to the original commitment and reduce the remaining multilinear evaluations to a batched inner product check. We then walk through the end-to-end opening protocol. We conclude by examining its proof size, prover cost and verifier cost.

Varun Thakore · August 17, 2026

Variants of KZG: Part IV, Multilinear Commitments with Gemini

In this blog post, we extend univariate KZG commitments to multilinear polynomials through Gemini. We introduce recursive partial evaluations, derive the split-and-fold identity and express each fold as a univariate identity that can be checked using KZG openings. We then walk through the end-to-end opening protocol. We conclude by examining its proof size, prover cost, and verifier cost.

Varun Thakore · August 12, 2026

Optimizing Cryptography with AI

Many of us are using AI to generate code. Vibe coding cryptography is especially sensitive - you have to uphold strict mathematical correctness. This can lead to wrong security guarantees and soundness bugs. We will discuss what are some patterns to do it well.

Kobi Gurkan · August 11, 2026

Recommended

The State of Security Tools for ZKPs

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) have come a long way from theory to real-world applications like blockchains and private transactions. We’ve been busy auditing various ZKP implementations and developing tools to improve circuit safety and security. In this blog post, we’ll explore how vulnerabilities can crop up in SNARK systems and the current state of tools designed to spot these issues. From circuit bugs to the often-overlooked frontend and backend layers, we cover how various analysis techniques and formal verification approaches are evolving to ensure robust ZKP systems. Dive in to discover the potential and current challenges in ZKP security!

ZK/SEC · June 02, 2024

ZK programmability adds a whole new layer to worry about

Zero-knowledge (ZK) programs are revolutionizing how developers can build secure systems by proving execution without exposing data, making them incredibly useful for privacy and security. However, they come with their own set of challenges. In this blog, we delve into these security implications and offer practical strategies to help developers navigate the risks. From understanding private inputs to the intricacies of proof systems and trusted setups, we unpack the complexities and provide insights on how to address potential pitfalls, ensuring you're well-prepared to harness the power of ZK programs effectively.

David Wong · May 31, 2023

On ZK Security, ZK Summit, and a Decade of Progress

On May 7th, we'll be in Rome sponsoring zkSummit14. A look back at a decade of progress in zero-knowledge, the current state of ZK security based on 100+ audits, and why events like zkSummit have become infrastructure for the field.

ZK/SEC · May 06, 2026

More to explore

Introducing clean, a formal verification DSL for ZK circuits in Lean4

We're diving into our new project called **clean**, aimed at creating an embedded DSL and formal verification framework for Zero Knowledge (ZK) circuits using Lean4. Imagine being able to not only define ZK circuits but also formally prove their correctness. Sounds like a game-changer, right? We'll walk you through our process of building a robust library of reusable, verified circuit gadgets, focusing on the importance of soundness and completeness. Plus, you'll get a peek at some cool examples like 8-bit addition and how we're tackling ZKVM design with techniques borrowed from Fibonacci sequences. It's exciting stuff, and if you're curious about how we're paving the way for bug-free ZK circuits, this is a read you won't want to miss!

Giorgio Dell'Immagine · March 27, 2025

Breaking Down Bulletproofs: No Pairings, No Trusted Setup

Learn how Bulletproofs enables efficient zero-knowledge proofs without trusted setups by computing inner products in a verifiable way. This post breaks down the core folding technique that reduces large vectors to single elements through recursive compression, making proofs both compact and fast to verify. Used in Monero, Mina's Kimchi, and Zcash's Halo 2, Bulletproofs is a practical alternative to pairing-based schemes.

David Wong · October 23, 2025

Public report of Aleo's synthesizer

We were tasked with auditing Aleo's synthesizer for their blockchain, diving deep into its code and uncovering some important findings along the way. The synthesizer is crucial for deploying and executing user programs, utilizing zero-knowledge proofs to maintain privacy and efficiency. Readers will get a glimpse into how Aleo uses their Leo programming language, the intricate process of synthesizing proof circuits, and how function execution and program deployment flows occur on their platform. This post offers insights into Aleo’s unique approach to tackling challenges similar to those faced by Ethereum but with an innovative twist that includes privacy features and reduced costs.

ZK/SEC · January 02, 2024