Ethereum considers Poseidon hash to boost zero-knowledge proof efficiency

4 months ago

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is advocating for deeper probe into the Poseidon hash relation arsenic the web explores ways to amended zero-knowledge (ZK) impervious efficiency.

In a Feb. 26 post connected X, Buterin encouraged cryptographers to enactment successful a information investigation programme for Poseidon portion quoting a connection that extended the backing exertion deadline to March 15.

He stated:

“We are earnestly considering migrating Ethereum to the Poseidon hash to optimize zk-prover friendliness, truthful having much accusation astir its information properties is highly precocious value.”

What is Poseidon?

Poseidon is simply a cryptographic hash relation designed specifically for zero-knowledge applications.

Unlike accepted hash functions specified arsenic SHA-256, Poseidon is optimized for zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, a cryptographic method that allows transactions to beryllium verified without revealing delicate details.

ZK proofs are becoming progressively important successful Ethereum’s scaling efforts, peculiarly for rollups that process transactions off-chain earlier finalizing them connected the main blockchain. Poseidon’s ratio could trim computational costs, making these solutions faster and much accessible.

According to Poseidon Cryptanalysis:

“Poseidon hash relation has been utilized successful galore Ethereum applications that woody with verifiable computation. It is among the apical performers astatine caller STARK benchmarks by StarkNet, which makes it a promising campaigner for the usage astatine Ethereum L1 for assorted protocols that employment ZK proofs.”

Community reactions

While immoderate successful the crypto abstraction presumption Poseidon’s imaginable adoption arsenic a affirmative measurement for Ethereum’s efficiency, others person raised concerns.

Ye Zhang, a co-founder of the Ethereum Layer 2 task Scroll, questioned whether Poseidon’s advantages outweigh its trade-offs.

Zhang pointed retired that Poseidon’s assorted configurations could bounds SNARK choices, making it little flexible. He besides noted that Poseidon is importantly slower than alternatives similar Blake and Keccak, which could make bottlenecks unless Layer 2 solutions set for compatibility.

Zhang added that Scroll initially utilized Poseidon but would revert to the Merkle Patricia Tree (MPT) with Keccak successful a aboriginal upgrade owed to show considerations.

The station Ethereum considers Poseidon hash to boost zero-knowledge impervious efficiency appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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