Stage 3 - Zero-Knowledge Proof Generation

After agents reach consensus on atomic claim verification, the protocol generates zero-knowledge proofs that cryptographically demonstrate claim validity without revealing underlying data. This stage is where Swarm Network’s privacy-preserving capabilities are mathematically enforced through advanced cryptography.

Zero-knowledge proof generation begins with aggregating verification results from multiple agents. The protocol combines individual agent verifications into a unified verification result, weighted by agent reputation and confidence scores. This aggregation produces a verified claim result that reflects the consensus view of the agent network.

The protocol then generates a zero-knowledge proof for this verified result. The specific proof system used depends on the claim type and privacy requirements. Swarm Network implements multiple proof systems including zk-SNARKs for compact proofs with fast verification, zk-STARKs for transparent proofs without trusted setup, and Bulletproofs for efficient range proofs and numerical claims. The protocol automatically selects the most appropriate proof system based on claim characteristics.

The generated proof has several critical properties. Completeness ensures that valid claims always produce proofs that verify correctly. Soundness ensures that invalid claims cannot produce valid proofs, even with unlimited computational resources. Zero-knowledge ensures that proofs reveal nothing beyond the claim’s validity, maintaining privacy over underlying data. Succinctness ensures that proofs are compact and fast to verify, enabling efficient on-chain verification.

Consider the income verification example. The zero-knowledge proof demonstrates that “User X’s income exceeds $50,000” without revealing the exact income amount. The proof is mathematically verifiable—anyone can check that it is valid—but it provides no information about whether the income is $50,001 or $500,000. This selective disclosure is the essence of zero-knowledge proofs.