Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) have been making waves in the technology sector, with experts predicting continued growth and adoption of the technology in 2025. The advancements in proving performance and developer tools are expected to make ZKPs more practical for enhancing privacy and scalability in various applications.
In recent years, ZKPs have gained significant traction, with 2024 being a pivotal year for the technology. From an increase in ZKP-related developer projects to growing regulatory interest, ZKPs have solidified their position as a critical technology with the potential to revolutionize finance and other sectors.
Looking ahead to 2025, experts believe that significant improvements in ZKP proving performance will play a crucial role in driving the technology’s adoption. Nanak Nihal, co-founder of Holonym, anticipates that making ZKPs more practical for privacy and scalability will be a key focus. Additionally, easier-to-use ZK developer tooling is expected to attract more developers to incorporate the technology into their projects.
Den Manu, CMO at Funtico, shares Nihal’s optimism about the future of ZKPs. He foresees ZKPs becoming a cornerstone technology for applications requiring privacy and scalability. Manu predicts widespread integration of ZK-protocols across platforms, particularly in multi-layer blockchains (Layer 2s), where ZK-rollups can help minimize network load and increase transaction throughput.
Omar Azhar, VP, Head of Business Development at Matter Labs, expects a significant improvement in the core technology of ZKPs, with potential for a 10-100x enhancement in the cost of generating ZK proofs for transactions. This improvement would make ZKPs more cost-effective and accessible for a wider range of applications. Azhar also highlights the evolution of ZKsync and the potential for using different programming languages to build applications, which could expand the design space for various application types.
While some experts, like Sander Görtjes, CEO of Hello Labs, believe that ZKPs will remain a nascent concept in terms of secure execution, others see the technology’s potential beyond finance. Görtjes emphasizes the importance of educating the public about the advantages of ZKPs, especially in sectors like healthcare where confidential transactions could benefit from the technology. However, progress on the identity side of things is seen as a crucial step before widespread adoption in healthcare institutions.
Overall, the future looks promising for zero-knowledge proofs, with experts predicting significant advancements in proving performance, developer tools, and the integration of ZK protocols across various sectors in 2025. As the technology continues to evolve, it is poised to revolutionize finance and other industries, offering enhanced privacy and scalability for a wide range of applications.