Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Are the Ultimate Anti-Phishing Tool

Users sign opaque transaction calldata, the root cause of all phishing. A signature is a blank check for any action the dApp requests, enabling wallet-draining approvals.

• $1B+ lost annually to signature-based exploits.
• ERC-20 approve() is the most common attack vector.
• Users have zero insight into what their signature authorizes.

Prove transaction validity before signing. A ZK proof cryptographically attests that a requested action matches user intent, blocking malicious payloads.

• Intent is proven, not assumed. The proof validates the transaction's end-state.
• No private key exposure. The proof reveals nothing about the user's assets or identity.
• Composable with existing wallets. Works as a secure pre-signing layer for MetaMask, Rabby.

Pioneering ZK proofs for granular data sharing. Users prove group membership (e.g., "ENS holder") without revealing their specific identity, killing social phishing.

• ZK Badges replace OAuth logins, eliminating API key phishing.
• Data vaults let users prove credentials (e.g., KYC) to any app without exposing the underlying data.
• ~500k+ ZK proofs generated, securing Gitcoin Passport, Farcaster.

Provides the high-performance ZK infrastructure needed for real-time attestations. Their SP1 zkVM and Telepathy light client enable fast, cheap proofs of arbitrary logic.

• ~1 second proof generation for complex state transitions.
• ~$0.01 cost per proof at scale, making per-transaction attestation viable.
• Powers Uniswap's Permit2 integrations and intent-based protocols like UniswapX.

Today's RPC endpoints (Alchemy, Infura) are trusted middlemen. They can censor, front-run, or serve poisoned transaction simulations, leading to phishing.

• Single point of failure for wallet connectivity.
• RPC provider sees all user activity and can manipulate data.
• Simulation APIs are not cryptographically verifiable.

ZK proofs verify blockchain state directly, eliminating trusted RPCs. RISC Zero's zkVM allows any code (e.g., simulation logic) to be proven correct.

• Trustless simulation. Prove a transaction's outcome is safe before signing.
• Portable state proofs. Use a Succinct proof on Ethereum to verify Polygon state, securing cross-chain intents.
• Foundation for verifiable RPCs and layerzero's omni-chain security.

Traditional wallets require exposing your private key's signature for every transaction, a perfect phishing target.\n- Key Exposure: Every signature reveals a cryptographic fingerprint.\n- Irreversible: A stolen signature on a malicious tx is final.\n- Human Factor: Relies 100% on user correctly parsing UI, which is the attack surface.

ZKPs let you prove you own a key and authorize a valid transaction without revealing the signature or the transaction details to the frontend.\n- Zero Trust Frontend: The dApp UI or phishing site never sees sensitive data.\n- Proof, Not Data: You submit a proof of a correct execution, not the inputs.\n- Context Integrity: Proofs can cryptographically enforce policy (e.g., 'this swap is at >= market price').

Combine ZK with intent-based architectures (like UniswapX, CowSwap) for maximum safety. User signs a high-level 'intent' (e.g., 'sell X for at least Y'), and a solver fulfills it off-chain.\n- No Calldata Phishing: User never signs a specific, malicious contract call.\n- ZK Settlement Proof: Solver's fulfillment is verified by a ZK proof, ensuring adherence to intent.\n- Parallel: Similar security model being explored by zkEmail for communication.

Deploy today using ERC-4337 Account Abstraction with ZK-powered modules. Use a ZK proof as a validation rule for transactions.\n- Session Keys: Generate a ZK-proof-backed session key with limited scope (e.g., 'swap on Uniswap only').\n- Policy Proofs: Prove a transaction adheres to pre-signed security policies before submission.\n- Privacy Layer: Integrate zkSNARKs from circuits (like those from zkSync, Scroll) for private credential checks.