Vitalik Backs Poseidon Hash for Ethereum Privacy: Report

• Vitalik urges researchers to explore Poseidon to improve Ethereum’s ZK systems.
• Poseidon’s design improves ZK proofs, offering faster, efficient cryptographic computations.
• Analyst raise concerns about Poseidon’s speed and flexibility for Ethereum integration.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin urged researchers to explore the Poseidon hash function. This function can be directly applied in zero-knowledge (ZK) proof systems to enhance Ethereum’s transaction verification. Recently, an Ethereum Foundation researcher announced that the deadline for the Poseidon cryptographic analysis program has been extended to March 15.

Poseidon is a unique hash function that uses algebraic operations over finite fields rather than traditional bitwise operations. It operates in finite fields, which makes it much more efficient for performing ZK proofs. This design differentiates Poseidon from other hashing algorithms and provides a faster computational value during the cryptographic proof.

Ethereum is interested in Poseidon, particularly for enhancing network scalability while prioritizing privacy. Ethereum aims to enhance the efficiency of ZK systems, such as SNARKs and STARKs, by integrating Poseidon. These methods, which have advanced in their sophistication, can indeed make the transactions even faster and more private.

Challenges With Poseidon

However, adopting Poseidon comes with challenges. Cryptographer Ye Zhang has raised concerns about this. Poseidon operates within prime fields, which may limit flexibility and compatibility with existing systems. Additionally, Poseidon is slower than widely used algorithms like Blake or Keccak, potentially causing bottlenecks.

Related: Ethereum’s ‘Endgame’: Scaling, Rollups, and Base Layer Plans

According to Vitalik, the changes should not be made hastily, as they require ample research. He wants the Ethereum community to be fully aware of Poseidon’s advantages and drawbacks. However, Ethereum will evaluate Poseidon further before making any adoption decisions.

Ethereum has consistently emphasized privacy and scalability as key priorities. It is actively implementing measures to enhance security and usability, with Poseidon being a potential contributor to these improvements. In the coming weeks, researchers will continue evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of Poseidon.

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