The research team led by Prof. Allen Au Man-ho (left) and Dr Lu Xingye (right) from the Department of Computing won an award in the ZPRIZE competition with their work on zero-knowledge cryptography.Zoom In

In the world of blockchain and Web3, privacy and scalability are the two major challenges that need to be addressed. A team of PolyU scholars, led by Professor Allen Au Man-ho, and Research Assistant Professor Dr Lu Xingye of the Department of Computing, embarked on a quest for cryptographic mastery. For the second year in a row, the team has won the ZPRIZE competition for their groundbreaking research in zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a field that holds significant potential  for enhancing privacy and scalability in blockchain and Web3 applications.

 

Groundbreaking work in ZKPs paves way for enhanced privacy in blockchain

The annual ZPRIZE competition, launched by the blockchain industry since 2022, promotes the advancement of ZKPs by making winning submissions available to the public. ZKPs are a form of cryptography that allows a "prover" to validate a computation without leaking any information.

 

This year, the PolyU team clinched the top spot in the “High Throughput Signature Verification” open division category of the competition, bagging a cash prize of US$250,000. Their challenge was to verify the highest number of Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) signatures in a given time using ZKPs. ECDSA signatures are crucial for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of digital messages and blockchain transactions on networks. The team's innovative approach could revolutionise user experience and open up numerous real-world applications.

 

A pioneer in blockchain education and research 

PolyU's triumph in the ZPRIZE competition is a testament to its commitment to blockchain education and research. The University offers Hong Kong's first Master of Science in Blockchain Technology programme, as well as doctoral and bachelor's degree programmes in financial technology and artificial intelligence. It also houses the Research Centre for Blockchain Technology, the first of its kind in Hong Kong to study full-stack blockchain technology. According to CoinDesk's "Best Universities for Blockchain 2022" rankings, PolyU has been ranked the No. 1 university for blockchain in the world.