Jiaheng Zhang
February 15, 2023 at 11:00 AM on Zoom / Soda Hall
Efficient Zero-Knowledge Proof: Theory and Practice
Abstract: In this talk, we discuss a cryptographic tool named zero-knowledge proof from both theory and application perspectives. In theory, we present Libra, the first zero-knowledge protocol with optimal prover time, fast verifier time, and succinct proof size. Libra also has excellent concrete efficiency in practice. In application, we present the first solution for building trustless and permissionless cross-chain bridges in blockchains using zero-knowledge proof. In addition, we discuss how to apply zero-knowledge to machine learning and make the protocol practical to guarantee the integrity of machine learning models by the example of the decision tree model. These applied ZKP protocols have rigorous security guarantees along with practical efficiency.
Bio: Jiaheng is a final-year Ph.D. student in Computer Science at UC Berkeley, where he is advised by Prof. Dawn Song. His research interests lie in security, privacy and applied cryptography, especially zero-knowledge proof and applications on blockchains and machine learning. Before coming to Berkeley, he received his Bachelor's degree in ACM Honors Class of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. During his undergraduate, he was also a research intern at Cornell, advised by Prof. Elaine Shi. He has interned at Meta crypto research, NTT research, Qizhi research institute and Alibaba. He received the Facebook Fellowship in Security and Privacy in 2021.