Announcing the zkPass Pre-alpha Testnet

zkPass
zkPass
Published in
4 min readJul 15, 2023
zkPass pre-alpha testnet is live on Ethereum Goerli.

Introduction

zkPass is a privacy-preserving protocol for private data verification that utilizes Multi-party Computation(MPC), Zero-knowledge Proof(ZKP), and three-party Transport Layer Security (3P-TLS). Currently, the vast majority of private data on the Internet is inaccessible to the public, preventing developers from creating decentralized applications (DApps) that can leverage users’ private data and connect to Web3. Data such as banking records, government information, internet giant databases, legal authorities, and fintech platforms are all confined within their respective ecosystems. However, it is essential that users have control and ownership over their own data.

Our ambitious goal is to enable users to selectively export and verify their private real-world data, without compromising personal information or requiring the upload of any private documents. This privacy-preserving approach allows for seamless integration with a diverse range of applications, making the data accessible through any HTTPS website or centralized web database. The MPC-TLS protocol, a redesign of the TLS protocol, guarantees the authenticity and confidentiality of all private data exchanged between users and web servers. Additionally, our Interactivate Zero-knowledge (IZK) technology offers the option to prove statements about private data in a secure and confidential manner, while keeping the data itself completely secret.

Click on the Technical Overview for more technical details.

To embark on this exciting journey, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Pre-Alpha Testnet for the zkPass Protocol today, on July 15th, 2023, at 12am PST. The Pre-Alpha Testnet includes Ethereum’s Goerli Testnet, opBNB Testnet, and Scroll Testnet coming soon.If you are interested in becoming an early tester, please fill out the form provided here to request access. We will invite as many testers as possible as we progress further.

About zkPass Pre-alpha Testnet

Running projects that combine zero-knowledge proofs, multi-party computation, and the TLS protocol can present challenges due to the complexity of these technologies. The requirements for specialized knowledge, resources, and collaboration with experts in the field can pose significant difficulties. However, we firmly believe that the benefits of these technologies, including enhanced privacy, security, and data ownership, make the effort worthwhile. While these emerging technologies may not be polished for mainstream adoption overnight, we are committed to opening ourselves up as early as possible and providing our community with the opportunity to get involved.

In this release, you’re able to test the following features:

  • Install the zkPass Transgate.
  • Log in to a wide range of websites in your PC browser.
  • Access your private data by yourself, generate zero-knowledge proofs locally, and mint a series of zkSBT tokens. This includes, but is not limited to, your legal identity, financial information, educational records, and real-world asset (RWA) private data.

Head over to our gitbook and follow the pre-alpha testnet tutorial!

What is Transgate?

TransGate is a foundational product — google extension that incorporates three key technologies: MPC network, Interactive Zero-knowledge proof system, and 3P-TLS protocol.The TransGate enables the seamless transfer of private data from the web2 realm to web3.

Please kindly note that DON’T install any Transgate extensions obtained from third-party channels. This measure ensures that all installed extensions have undergone proper vetting and are up to our standards. Stick to official download link and protect your personal accounts securely .

What Private Data is Available in First Release ?

We initiated the testing phase by opening a limited number of trusted data sources. Thanks to the zkPass Protocol’s innovative approach of refactoring the standard TLS into a three-party TLS Protocol, users are no longer required to grant access permissions for data validation. Instead, users can access their information securely, just like logging into their own account in a browser, and generate zero-knowledge proofs directly on their own device. Throughout this process, neither the MPC nodes involved in the computation nor the Verifier or the zkPass Protocol have access to or store any of your personal data.

trusted data sources

We are excited to announce that our zkTemplate toolkit will soon be available, allowing the community to customize specific zero-knowledge data generation from selected data sources without compromising privacy.

Kindly note that this Pre-alpha Testnet may exhibit unpredictable behavior and potential instability. Exercise caution when performing verifications and ensure utmost account protection.

What’s Next for zkPass?

The Pre-alpha Testnet will last for a few months, during which we will continue to test and optimize the stability of the MPC network, the speed of zk proof generation in the local browser, and expand the range of web data sources. We have the following features planned:

  • Collaborate with community contributors to determine which websites to access data from.
  • Customize zkTemplates for specific private data verification requirements.
  • Launch the testnet running program for the MPC network.

Our approach to the zkPass pre-alpha test involves a gradual release of features to our users, developers, and the wider community. We do this to ensure that any bugs or errors are identified and addressed as early and as frequently as possible. Through this iterative process, we can continually refine and improve our product to create a robust and scalable solution that can withstand the test of time. By adopting this approach, we prioritize the needs of our users and strive to deliver an exceptional experience that not only meets but exceeds their expectations.

In the meantime, if you discover any bugs or errors, please feel free to report them to us via the zkPass Discord in the #testnet-bug-feedback channel or the #dev-support channel.

zkPass Official Links:

Website | Twitter | Discord | Medium | Github

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