In the realm of blockchain technology, oracles serve as essential intermediaries, facilitating the integration of real-world data into smart contracts. However, this integration comes with inherent complexities, including challenges related to data reliability and trust. Today, verifying the accuracy and authenticity of information provided by oracles remains a significant concern, compounded by the high costs associated with on-chain data querying and storage.
Enter zkOracles, a novel approach that offers a trustless solution to these challenges. By utilizing zero knowledge proofs, zkOracles enable off-chain data to be verified on-chain without revealing the underlying information. This technology represents a significant advancement, providing users with a provable and verifiable method to ensure the integrity of data without relying on trusted entities.
From retrieving financial data crucial for DeFi applications to ensuring verifiable randomness for blockchain games, zkOracles open doors to a myriad of possibilities.
Earlier this year, Mina Foundation published a Request for Proposals (RFP) to introduce zkOracle features to o1js, allowing users to bring their real-world data on-chain in a verifiable way and enhancing the developer toolset for building zero knowledge applications (zkApps). Three expert teams have been selected to develop zkOracle solutions for the Mina ecosystem, each tackling the RFP in different ways.
zkPass
zkPass is a private data protocol that enables privacy-preserving verification. zkPass integrates decentralized MPC nodes into a 3-party handshake process, improving the standard TLS protocol. It allows users to log in securely and generate ZKPs locally without API access or data source authorization. To expand zkPass’s utility within the Mina ecosystem, the team proposed three innovative integration methods between Mina’s o1js and zkPass’s transgate-js-sdk. These methods aim to support a broad spectrum of applications, from decentralized identity verification to advanced oracle services, and cover various data types including identity, financial records, healthcare information, social interactions, work experience, education and skill certifications, and more. Read full proposal
Milestone 1: Research and Design
Milestone 2: MVP Development
Milestone 3: Production Release and Documentation
ZKON
ZKON introduces a trustless decentralized prover network as a new form of zkOracles that merges multiparty computation (MPC) with decentralized zero knowledge proofs (Collaborative ZK). This approach allows multiple entities to collaboratively conduct computations and validate data integrity without the dependence on a centralized authority. Utilizing decentralized ZK, the network guarantees the correctness and privacy of data, thus enabling smart contracts to securely verify and use data from diverse sources. This strategy dramatically enhances the reliability and efficiency of data integration within the Mina ecosystem, empowering developers to unlock the vast potential of the private data economy. Read full proposal
Milestone 1: Migration Design
Milestone 2: MVP Development
Milestone 3: Production Release and Documentation
Reclaim Protocol
Reclaim Protocol offers a streamlined and secure method for generating proofs of provenance (PoP) directly on the client side. This computational process is efficient and ensures privacy for users, allowing them to create PoPs without the need for third-party intervention. Additionally, users have the ability to generate zero knowledge proofs for specific features of their data, safeguarding sensitive information from exposure. Notably, the protocol does not require users to install any additional applications or browser extensions. Read full proposal
Milestone 1: Project Kickoff
Milestone 2: Reclaim o1js Integration
Milestone 3: Integration and Testing
Milestone 4: Security Audit
Milestone 5: Comprehensive Documentation and Education
Milestone 6: Launch two Mina zkApps in production that integrate Reclaim
Core Grants
Core is a grant program to fund public goods and address current infrastructure needs on Mina Protocol through an RFP (Request for Proposals) process. Core grants are allocated on a rolling basis and are specific in scope. They focus on supporting high-priority development areas, including, among other things, token standards, zkOracles, Data Availability layers, new development features, and more.
About Mina Protocol
Mina is the world’s lightest blockchain, powered by participants. Rather than apply brute computing force, Mina uses advanced cryptography and recursive zk-SNARKs to design an entire blockchain that is about 22kb, the size of a couple of tweets. It is the first layer-1 to enable efficient implementation and easy programmability of zero knowledge smart contracts (zkApps). With its unique privacy features and ability to connect to any website, Mina is building a private gateway between the real world and crypto—and the secure, democratic future we all deserve.
