UC Berkeley

This dissertation presents a series of novel zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) protocols—Libra, deVirgo, Orion, and Pianist—each achieving significant improvements in proof generation speed. Zero-knowledge proofs are critical cryptographic tools, enabling secure and privacy-preserving transactions without revealing sensitive information. However, their practical adoption is hindered by the inefficiency of existing proof generation methods.

Our research proposes four distinct protocols, each making substantial contributions to the efficiency of ZKP generation. We begin with the Libra protocol, which introduces a more efficient proof construction method compared to state-of-the-art ZKPs at that time. Next, we present the deVirgo protocol, which builds upon Libra's design and further optimizes proof generation by leveraging the power of parallelization.

The third protocol, Orion, takes a different approach, resulting in significant improvements in proof generation speed. We detail the innovative design and methodology of Orion, highlighting its unique features and performance gains.

Finally, we introduce the Piano protocol, which employs parallel computation strategies to achieve remarkable improvements in proof generation speed and it is compatible with existing popular protocol Plonk. Piano builds upon the foundation established by Plonk, while incorporating novel techniques to enhance performance.

The dissertation includes a comprehensive comparative analysis of the four proposed protocols, evaluating their scalability, security, and practicality. In conclusion, our research contributes to the field of cryptography by providing a series of innovative ZKP protocols that significantly enhance proof generation speed, paving the way for more widespread adoption of privacy-preserving technologies.