A technology once confined to academic papers is now being called out in US government reports and powering the settlement systems of global banks. Zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) are cryptographic methods to verify data without revealing it, and they are quietly becoming the gold standard for blockchain security.

On the latest Clear Crypto Podcast, StarkWare co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson sits down with hosts Nathan Jeffay and Gareth Jenkinson to explain why this once-niche math is “100%… the endgame for scaling the financial world.”

Transparent verification

That confidence comes as zero-knowledge proofs move from cryptographic curiosity to a linchpin of mainstream blockchain adoption.

In July, the White House’s crypto report singled them out as a way to “protect user privacy while enabling compliance checks.” JPMorgan’s new private blockchain, Nexus, is already using the technology for tokenized cash settlements and interbank messaging.

Ben-Sasson explains the appeal in clear terms:

“It is cryptographically impossible to convince someone that you did the right thing if you didn’t actually do the right thing.” 

In blockchain environments, this means an entire day’s worth of transactions can be verified with the effort of checking just one, reducing costs and increasing speed without compromising trust. “The blockchain doesn’t need to check each and every of the 1 million transactions… it verifies the full integrity of a day’s worth of transactions,” he says.

Related: Build on Bitcoin adds ZK-proofs in upgrade toward decentralization

“To verifiably check the validity of an entire blockchain… in seconds or less is unbelievably valuable,” Jenkinson notes, pointing to potential far beyond crypto-native systems, such as applications in financial auditing, public record-keeping and even secure identity checks at borders.

Adoption accelerated

The adoption curve is also being accelerated by StarkWare’s decision not to patent its implementation. Ben-Sasson said:

“Math should not be put behind walls… Math should be used by us, by our friends, by our competitors, by the whole world.”

This open approach has allowed other projects, including Starkware’s competitors, to build on the technology, spreading it faster than a closed model would allow.

With policy recognition, institutional integration, and open-source availability converging, ZK-proofs are no longer a theoretical upgrade for blockchain. They’re becoming an industry standard and, if Ben-Sasson’s vision holds, a foundation for how individuals will own and prove value in the digital economy.

To hear the complete conversation on The Clear Crypto Podcast, listen to the full episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s full lineup of other shows! 

Magazine: Bitcoin vs. the quantum computer threat: Timeline and solutions (2025–2035)