An opposition party in the nation of Georgia made waves recently when it promised to implement a blockchain-based national voting system. If implemented, the program would use zero-knowledge (ZK) technology—which allows blockchain networks to verify that information is true without revealing the information itself—to confirm voters’ identity and record their anonymous votes.
The party went down in a controversial defeat, but its pledge is indicative of a burgeoning wave of blockchain adoption on the part of governments and large institutions around the world. From El Salvador to the United States, national authorities are increasingly moving to incorporate blockchains into the basic functioning of society.
ZK technology could transform how we protect our sensitive information online. Imagine being able to prove your age at a bar without showing your ID, verify that you qualify for a loan without revealing your exact salary or vote in an election without leaving any record that ties your identity …