zen14: ZE.CASH

Zero-knowledge proof is a method or process, in which one person (proves) can prove something to another person (verifier) that the given statement is true without disclosing additional information about the statement despite the fact that it is absolutely true. .
Let's take an example.
I managed to find a simple example to understand everything better. Imagine an experiment, where we have color blind people who can not distinguish colors.

This is where Zero-knowledge evidence comes into play.
You're doing an experiment:
The color-blind man takes both balls and hides them behind his back. Then he shows you one ball, returns it, and shows the same or second ball once again.
Every time you have to say whether he has swapped the ball or not. From now on, whenever he shows the ball, there is a 50% chance that he is swapping the ball.

By looking at their colors, you can definitely tell whether he swapped it or not. On the other hand, if they are the same color and therefore indistinguishable, there is no way you can guess correctly with a probability higher than 50%.
If you repeat this evidence several times, people who are color blind must be sure that the ball is actually a different color, you will not be able to guess it many times.
This is a perfect example of zero-knowledge proof. You never reveal what colors and balls are, but color blind people believe that the ball is actually a different color.
A more technical example might be random assignment, counterfeiters can convince verifiers not only that the number exists, but that they actually know the number for the hash - again, without revealing any information about the number. .
So why is everyone talking about this? Where can it really be applied in Crypto space?
ZCash

ryptocurrency with a market capitalization of more than $ 840 million is fully supported by the Zero-Knowledge proof. Zcash is the first open and unlicensed cryptocurrency that can fully protect transaction privacy using zero-knowledge cryptography.

Zcash is supported by zero-knowledge constructs called zk-SNARK.
Zcash uses zk-SNARKs to prove that conditions for a valid transaction have been met without revealing any important information about the address or value involved. Transaction shippers construct evidence to show that, with a high probability:
the number of input values to the output value for each transfer is shielded.
the sender proves that they have a personal spending key from the input record, giving them the authority to spend.
The private spending key of the cryptographic input entry is related to the signature across all transactions, such that the transaction can not be modified by a party who does not know this private key.

recently Ethereum Metropolis (Byzantium) upgrade adds zk-SNARKs - a cryptographic tool developed by the ZCash team. The builder block of the verification algorithm is added to Ethereum in the form of a compiled smart contract.
Using zk-SNARKS in Ethereum You can apply Token transfers from one address to another without disclosing the number of transactions. Consensys explains how it works here.
In DevCon3 there is presented The Open Vote Network, a system that allows anonymous voting on the Ethereum platform using Zero-Knowledge proofs.
It's too early
This is still early and not many applications on Ethereum are developed but using Zero knowledge proof, but this shows great potential for privacy on Ethereum Blockchain.
Side notes
I had the opportunity to study cryptography for half a year. Although the course was interesting, it was not very satisfactory because I could not find a real-world use case at the time. And just over a year ago, I began to understand the true value of cryptography throughout the CryptoCurrency economy, because everything is purely based on that and mathematics.
This knowledge allows me to understand the true value behind cryptocurrency like Zcash and more. I would strongly encourage you to dig deeper into cryptography and its mechanics, because this knowledge gives you a big advantage no matter your purpose.
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