A16z Crypto updates Jolt zkVM, challenges loose use of ‘ZK’ label

A16z Crypto, the web3 division of Andreessen Horowitz, announced an update to its open-source Jolt zkVM to natively support true zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, addressing concerns over the term's misuse in the industry. The firm argues that many systems labeled 'zkVM' only offer succinctness (short, fast verification) unless an expensive 'wrapping' procedure is applied, which often sacrifices transparency or introduces trusted setups. True zero-knowledge, which focuses on privacy, is becoming crucial as privacy concerns grow in the crypto space. Jolt's upgrade involved using the NovaBlindFold folding scheme to create blinded proofs, making the system suitable for privacy applications while only slightly increasing proof size.

(Source：The Block)