The CTO Ripple David Schwartz revives discussions on zero knowledge of knowledge (ZK proofs), predicting their potential to revolutionize the confidentiality and the scalability of the blockchain. The conversation started on X when a user argued that private books are technically impossible and not supported by the Ledger XRP (XRPL). In response, another user has resurfaced on the 2019 Tweet of Schwartz considering a network of private registers based on XRP. Schwartz had described a model where 100 distinct groups could exploit private books at the end, punching towards the large public XRP book as needed.
Revisiting the subject, Schwartz stressed that ZK evidence now makes this vision more practical and secure, declaring: “You can get closer to the security and decentralization guarantees of a layer.” While recognizing that the use cases are still emerging, it remains optimistic about future applications.
ZK evidence is cryptographic tools that check information without revealing the underlying data, allowing blockchain transactions preserving confidentiality. Their integration could fill the gap between decentralized systems and private transaction networks – improving scalability without sacrificing transparency or security.
Schwartz’s remarks correspond to the feelings shared by the co-founder Ethereum Vitalik Buterin. In an April blog article, Buterin highlighted the growing threats of confidentiality from the analysis of the data supplied by the AI and the solutions based on ZK for the selective data disclosure. He cited advanced technologies like ZK-Snarks and fully homomorphic (FHE) encryption as promising tools to protect the identity of users while maintaining confidence and conformity.
Together, these ideas from the main blockchain developers suggest that ZK evidence could play a central role in future decentralized ecosystems, providing the confidentiality necessary for institutional and detail.
