New open source ZK-proof reduces SQL query time
A new zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proof) technology, SQL proof, is introduced. It promises to reduce the traditional 30-minute wait time to sub-second speeds for Structured Query Language (SQL) queries.
The significant reduction in time results in significant efficiency gains for applications that need to process real-time data.
Space and Time (SxT) — a provable computation layer for artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain — disclosed its new open source ZK prover on GitHub on June 12.
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ZK-evidence discovery
Speaking to Cointelegraph, SxT co-founder and head of research Jay White explained the metrics used to measure subsecond performance.
We have provided parameters with various queries such as filters, GROUP BYs, sets and other standard SQL operations on large data tables containing more than 100,000 rows. The latest benchmarks show that SQL can verify 100,000 rows in one second, one million rows in 1.2 seconds, and 100 million rows in one minute.
The SQL validation was released in alpha to select SxT customers in August 2023 and is now publicly available on GitHub.
The publicly available encryption graph tool allows community members to run trustless queries on SxT, and developers can download the repository directly from GitHub.
“Our team has pioneered sub-second ZK verifications, allowing smart contracts and AI agents to query on-chain activity, as well as off-chain data and receive trustless SQL query results on-chain without having to wait during transactions for a 30-minute verification time.
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ZK-proofs go open-source
The new ZK-proof is part of SxT's broader strategy to improve the security and performance of decentralized applications (DApps) and encourage community collaboration.
White added, “Our team cares deeply about UX [user experience]It's part of why we've chosen to focus heavily on SQL. […] To make integrations as seamless as possible and easy for developers.
“We are currently working on integrating SQL authentication into the Chainlink network. [and] Working with the zkSync ecosystem on a solution that allows developers to run SQL queries with SQL authentication from their smart contracts.
Latency inefficiencies hinder the scalability and performance of DApps relying on real-time data validation.
According to a press release shared exclusively with Cointelegraph, SQL authentication “allows developers to connect analytics directly to smart contracts, opening up many powerful new use cases and business logic on blockchain technology.”
Related: Material Labs Drops ZK Trademark Apps After Industry Backlash
Solving elastic challenges
White explained how SQL authentication scales with data volume, complex queries, and future improvements to compensate for bottlenecks.
“SQL scales online validation. Cluster scale validations are on the roadmap soon, meaning faster validations even on large tables. Other recent improvements include SQL support, especially for multi-table queries (such as JOINs) and subqueries and They include a new commitment plan.
The integration of ZK-proofs could have significant implications in the crypto industry. White explained what use cases this development in ZK could have:
Our team strongly believes that AI agents will mainly trade in chains in the next few years. Authentic, unadulterated, authentic data through SQL authentication will fuel this on-chain revolution. Every application in the world uses a database, and […] We see a future where every database uses SQL authentication.
The push for ZK technology is moving faster than ever, as evidenced by the recent announcement of Starkware's $1 million research fund to promote ZK-scaling for Bitcoin.
The initiative aims to scale both Ethereum and Bitcoin simultaneously with ZK technology.
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