Feasibility of Implementing Zero-Knowledge Proofs for Snapshots

[lufa23]

Overview

Snapshots play a crucial role in accelerating the synchronization process for nodes in blockchain networks. However, they often come with significant file sizes and long download times.

It would be interesting to explore the feasibility of enhancing Cosmos SDK snapshots with zero-knowledge proofs.

A ZK proof-enabled snapshot could allow nodes to verify the validity of the past blockchain state without downloading the entire data history. This could significantly improve efficiency and reduce bandwidth requirements when syncing a node from scratch.
Also, it would help with verifying the data integrity of the data provided.

Challenges

There has been a considerable amount of innovation in zk tech in recent years. Plonk (or similar arithmetizations) have shown promising results in the generalization and optimization of proofs.

However, it is unclear how much of that technology can be reused within Cosmos SDK-based blockchains.

Unlike EVM-based chains, where ZK proofs can be designed to operate at the VM level, Cosmos SDK's state transitions are more complex, making ZK proof design and integration more challenging. Furthermore, the Cosmos SDK is written in GoLang, introducing inefficiencies (as compared to Rust).

It is unclear how the consensus would need to be changed to allow for the inclusion of ZK snapshots.

Also, it is unclear how feasible is it to create a ZK circuit that accurately reflects the snapshot generation process.

Questions

• Is there a need from node operators to enhance the experience of syncing from snapshots due to their size and download time?

• Which available zk tech breakthrough (such as Plonk or similar arithmetizations), can be effectively reused within Cosmos SDK-based blockchains for snapshot enhancements?

• How can we address the complexity of Cosmos SDK's state transitions when designing and integrating ZK proofs?

• Considering the Cosmos SDK is written in GoLang, which may introduce inefficiencies compared to Rust, what strategies can be employed to optimize ZK proof integration?

• What changes to the consensus mechanism would be necessary to accommodate the inclusion of ZK snapshots?

• How can we approach the challenge of designing a ZK circuit that accurately reflects the snapshot generation process within Cosmos SDK?

Your insights, ideas, and considerations for addressing the challenges involved are more than welcomed!

References:
ZK module discussion
ZK rollup in Cosmos SDK
Mina Protocol
Plonk