"ZK will become bigger than blockchain. ZK will become more widely accepted than blockchain." - @vanishree_rao, Founder of @fermah_xyz
We're all aware of the recent news about @Google moving Zero-Knowledge Proofs into production, with users able to verify their age or identity using Google Wallet without disclosing other data. For many, this marks an expansion in how ZK is being understood and applied, with the implications reaching far beyond this initial rollout. This development points to a future where ZKPs are foundational to global identity, compliance, and user verification infrastructure. For ZK infrastructure, i.e. zkVMs and proof networks, this is an early signal of incoming demand on a new scale.
Google Wallet’s ZKP-based identity system allows users to prove individual attributes - such as being over 18 - without revealing full documents or personal information. Proofs are generated on-device and verified via Google’s Digital Credential API, with current integrations across TSA checkpoints in the US and UK age verification platforms. Future plans include rollout to 50+ countries and potential integration with e-commerce and healthcare systems.
The system relies on @ligero_inc, a ZKP protocol designed for low-resource environments. The Ligetron zkVM executes in-browser and generates proofs with high efficiency - reported as 66x faster and 1024x more memory-efficient than alternatives. Combined with the Frigo–Shelat construction, Ligero allows full ZKP execution on mobile devices without server-side dependence.
his makes the system deployable at consumer scale across diverse hardware without degrading UX - an essential requirement for global identity infrastructure."It’s encouraging to see Google embracing zero-knowledge proofs for identity. Honored that Ligero ZKP’s client-side proving is part of the stack. A big moment for privacy tech and the ZK community." - Muthu Venkitasubramaniam, CEO of Ligero Inc.
Google’s use of ZKPs confirms that ZK is not limited to blockchains, validating zero-knowledge as a general-purpose primitive for identity, privacy, and attribute verification in real-world scenarios. Unlike most prior deployments - rooted in crypto-native environments - this application reaches a mainstream audience directly, also raising the bar for usability, speed, and device compatibility.
From an infrastructure perspective, this legitimizes the long-term relevance of zkVMs and proof-generation services. The demand will not come solely from smart contracts or rollup ecosystems. It will include browsers, APIs, ID providers, and compliance platforms - all needing fast, portable, audit-friendly ZKP systems.
Despite its technical strengths, the rollout is not without issues:
The primary implication is directional: ZK is exiting its prototype phase and entering general-purpose infrastructure, which doesn't reduce the importance of blockchain-based ZK systems, but rather expands the field of application immensely. zkVMs, zk-coprocessors, and proof networks optimized for verifiability, UX, and modular integration will be critical - not just for rollups, but for mobile apps, web platforms, and enterprise services.
The expected demand profile is changing: lightweight protocols, mobile-native proving, and verifiable APIs will need to meet scale and security requirements far beyond current benchmarks.
We shouldn't take Google's deployment of ZKPs a an anomaly, but rather as a signal. The market is no longer limited to blockchains or DeFi, and ZK is becoming a core part of global identity infrastructure. If this trajectory continues, proof-generation infrastructure may become as critical as cloud compute. Projects working on zkVMs and proof networks should prepare accordingly.For more articles and news reports, visit https://www.hozk.io/journal
