Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced the GKR protocol, a cryptographic proof system designed to dramatically accelerate proof generation for zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (ZK-EVM) and zero-knowledge machine learning (zk-ML) applications.
The GKR (Goldreich–Kahan–Rothblum) protocol verifies large computations with minimal on-chain overhead by committing only to inputs and outputs, avoiding costly intermediate commitments. Buterin highlighted that GKR processes proofs in logarithmic time, making it significantly more efficient than traditional ZK-SNARK or STARK systems.
This iterative proof-gathering method is optimized for repetitive workloads like hashing and neural network inference, common in blockchain and AI. GKR's streamlined approach focuses on end-to-end validation, cutting overhead and enabling faster proof creation.
Buterin emphasized that GKR aligns with Ethereum's 'Lean Ethereum' vision for a simplified, quantum-resistant network and supports progress toward faster finality, proof-of-stake, and zero-knowledge-based scalability. While GKR itself does not provide privacy, it can be wrapped in ZK-SNARK or ZK-STARK systems for confidentiality.
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