Ripple CTO Teases Game-Changing Move with ZK Proofs

David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), has provided insights into what is possible with zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. According to Schwartz, cryptographic advancements can trigger significant shifts in the blockchain space.

Users Revisit Ripple CTO’s Vision for Private Ledger Integration

In what could be considered a journey back in time, the Ripple CTO proposed a system in 2019 in which private ledgers utilize XRP for low-cost transactions.

The reference to Schwartz’s 2019 post occurred after a user on X asserted that it was practically impossible to integrate private ledgers into XRPL functionality. Another user on the social media platform responded to Schwartz’s post.

According to Schwartz, private ledgers can be bridged to the public XRP Ledger as required to address scalability issues. This could also tackle concerns that border on cost for institutional users.

The idea is to significantly reduce transaction fees while retaining the ability of the private ledger to interact with the public ledger. This will make for broader liquidity in the space.

ZK Proofs Could Bridge Public and Private Blockchain Worlds

Interestingly, Schwartz joined the revived conversation and clarified how ZK proofs could make this a reality. He noted that ZK proof could make the vision more practical and secure.

According to him, it is possible to mirror the security and decentralization that is obtainable of Layer-1 chains. While acknowledging that the use case is yet to be realized, Schwartz expressed optimism that it might happen someday with ZK proofs.

For perspective, ZK proof protocols allow a user to authenticate the actuality of a statement without disclosing more details than necessary. That is, they preserve the anonymity that blockchain transactions provide.

Schwartz suggests that, in the future, ZK proofs might close the gap between public chains and private transaction systems.

Buenos Aires Highlight ZK Proof Potential

In the broader society, Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, launched QuarkID in the last quarter of 2024. The project, a digital identity service that utilizes ZK proof, enhances the privacy and security of the city’s 3.6 million residents.  

The development enables residents to verify essential documents without revealing other personal details. QuarkID allows users to upload as many as 60 papers without the government or any third party accessing them.