Blockchain
A blockchain is only a ledger.
My financial institution additionally maintains a ledger of account balances and transactions.
Nevertheless, not like the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains, my view of that financial institution ledger is restricted solely to data that pertains to me. Checking my financial institution accounts reveals me solely my balances, not how a lot cash my neighbor has at this financial institution, or my boss has in his financial savings account, or any random stranger’s steadiness. With the non-crypto monetary system as we speak, there’s an implicitly implied stage of privateness.
However that is totally different from how as we speak’s public blockchains work.
As modern as blockchain’s idea of “programmable cash” is, it’s also arguably probably the most invasive expertise we’ve ever created from a user-privacy standpoint.
We’re positively nonetheless early
These are nonetheless early days in blockchain, which regularly invitations comparisons to the early eras of the web.
The early internet was unusable for transacting in any respect as a result of there was no end-to-end encryption defending shopper fee data because it transited between HTTP servers. This left it susceptible to “man-in-the-middle” assaults wherein a snooping hacker might simply steal everybody’s bank card particulars.
Netscape, the primary internet browser, performed a vital position in fixing that downside by creating the Safe Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, which encrypts site visitors between events over the net.
Right this moment, nearly each web site makes use of these encryption protocols by default, as do many widespread messaging companies.
Crypto has come a great distance from the cypherpunk days of Bitcoin, and an excellent longer approach from the times when sending transactions through the early internet left you susceptible to bank card fraud.
However are we content material with the primarily speculative use circumstances that dominate Web3 as we speak? Or will we imagine that Web3 can truly reshape not solely finance, however the best way we work together on-line?
If we settle for the premise that blockchain is a privacy-invasive expertise at its core, then it’s clear that to grow to be truly helpful, blockchain wants an equal to the SSL innovation that introduced Web2 out of its primarily unusable, lack-of-privacy period.
Zero-knowledge cryptography, and the protocols integrating it, is the most effective probability this trade has to have a scalable, safe, and compliant infrastructure.
By functionally encrypting the blockchain ledgers and permitting customers to show info about their knowledge utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, we will shield delicate consumer knowledge whereas on the identical time making certain regulatory compliance.
Zero-knowledge proofs open up a wholly new design area and exponentially enhance the accessible market of blockchain-related merchandise. By integrating this expertise, next-generation blockchains can afford customers the privateness they’re accustomed to, and infrequently legally entitled to, whereas enhancing regulatory compliance.
These are the “use circumstances” that blockchain skeptics have lengthy been demanding.
Alex Pruden is the Chief Govt Officer at Aleo, the place he leads outreach, operations, and technique amongst different departments. Previous to becoming a member of Aleo, Alex was an investing associate on the Andreessen Horowitz crew the place he specialised in cryptocurrencies, decentralized protocols, and blockchain expertise. Alex additionally served 9 years within the U.S. Military as an Infantry and Particular Forces Officer and developed an curiosity in blockchain and cryptocurrency resulting from his work with Syrian refugees in 2015-2016. He earned a Bachelor’s diploma from the US Army Academy at West Level and an MBA from Stanford College.
