Microsoft Magnetar Research Improves Blockchain Proof Efficiency

Microsoft Research's Magnetar system accelerates proofs of program execution using standard hash-based cryptography. Announced on October 15, Magnetar addresses the high costs of generating zero-knowledge proofs, which verify computations without trusting the executing machine. The system supports code compiled from Rust, Go, and C, achieving speeds 10 to 39 times faster than some existing proving systems. Verification takes about 12 milliseconds based on Microsoft's tests. Magnetar's design, based on standard hash functions, aims to minimize reliance on cryptography that may be vulnerable to future quantum attacks. Lower proving costs could facilitate verifiable offchain computation and complex application logic in blockchain environments. However, benchmark results do not guarantee similar improvements in production rollups or all smart-contract workloads, as integration, hardware conditions, and proof sizes are critical factors. Additionally, the technology could enable institutions and AI agents to produce verifiable evidence of software compliance with specified instructions while protecting private data. The research indicates a potential future where cryptographic proofs are linked to more routine computing tasks, contingent on successful implementation beyond laboratory settings.

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