zk-SNARKs in Tornado Cash Official
zk-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge) are the cryptographic foundation of Tornado Cash Official’s privacy features. This page explains their role and implementation.
What are zk-SNARKs?
zk-SNARKs are a type of zero-knowledge proof that allows one party to prove a statement (e.g., “I deposited funds in a pool”) without revealing additional information (e.g., which deposit). They are:
- Succinct: Proofs are small and quick to verify.
- Non-Interactive: No back-and-forth communication is needed.
- Zero-Knowledge: The prover reveals no information beyond the statement’s truth.
Role in Tornado Cash Official
In Tornado Cash Official, zk-SNARKs enable anonymous withdrawals from anonymity pools:
- Deposit: A user deposits funds into a pool, receiving a cryptographic note.
- Proof Generation: To withdraw, the user generates a zk-SNARK proof using the note, proving they deposited without revealing which deposit.
- Verification: The smart contract verifies the proof, allowing withdrawal to a new address.
Note: Securely store your cryptographic note, as it’s required to generate zk-SNARK proofs for withdrawals.
Technical Implementation
Tornado Cash Official uses zk-SNARKs via a trusted setup and cryptographic libraries:
- Circom: A language for defining zk-SNARK circuits.
- SnarkJS: A JavaScript library for generating and verifying proofs.
- Merkle Trees: Deposits are stored in a Merkle tree, allowing efficient proof of inclusion.
Security Considerations
While zk-SNARKs are secure, users should:
- Use official Tornado Cash Official interfaces to generate proofs.
- Be aware of the trusted setup’s risks, mitigated by multi-party computation.
- Review risks for broader protocol considerations.
Further Reading
Explore related topics:
- Smart Contracts for contract details.
- How does Tornado Cash work? for protocol overview.
- FAQ for common questions.