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System Overview

The ZKN Ecøsystem​

The ZKN Ecosystem may be visualized as a stack of interelated layers.

Blockchain Interoperability​

Mina Protocol is used as a settlement layer for aggregated transactions and ZKProofs within the ZKNetwork. Ethereum hosts the $ZKN ERC20 token. ZKN's application layer supports growing cross-chain interoperability with L1 smart contracts.

NØDEs​

Comprised of both remote servers and hardware devices, nodes receive rewards for working together to form Mix Networks and power the decentralized distributed nature of the system. Nodes serve as both providers and consumers of mix networks. Remote servers offer the network performant bandwidth and uptime. Local physical hardware provides advanced features and increased security to end-users and edge devices. Physical hardware may be deployed in Zero Trust environments as part of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) and IoT products.

Hardware Nødes​

  • in addition to server Nodes, hardware provides additional benefit to the network and humans using it
  • secures the space between humans and network with hardware-based cryptography, key storage, encryption, and more
  • enhances system decentralization and utility
  • suitable for Zero-Trust deployments

Øperating System​

The zerOS, a hardened Linux-based OS, powers hardware nodes, optimizing edge device security and performance.

Mix Networks​

As a Layer 0, decentralized Mix Networks form a metadata-private foundational base for applications and blockchains to use. A modular framework orchestrates a multitude of mix networks and their life cycles of revisions with various parameters, tiers, and applicable threat models for different application contexts.

ZK Application Chain​

ZK-powered decentralized applications (ZK-dApps) within interoperable application-specific blockchains (zkAppChains) provide decentralized privacy at scale as a blockchain layer 2 solution. These applications operate within ZKN's substrate of metadata and transactional privacy to power ZKN decentralized protocols as well as provide end-user applications. ZKN's network incentive mechanisms are facilitated within this layer. Decentralized privacy applications may build within.

ZK-dApps operating within ZKN's Application Chain to power the ZKN system include, but are not limited to:

ZK-Native Token ~ $ZKN-ZK​

  • token with metadata and transactional privacy with advanced opportunities for regulatory compliance by means of privacy-preserving selective disclosure
  • establishes a perimeter of privacy and security for token transactions
  • selective ZKProof of balance, proof of exchange, without revealing address

Token Bridge​

  • bridges the $ZKN ERC20 Token on Ethereum to/from $ZKN-ZK
  • provides a gateway in and out of the secured and private aspect of the Zero Knowledge Network

Token zkDEX​

  • facilitates transparent (auto) and manual private exchange of $ZKN-ZK into various sub-tokens
  • provides high resolution of incentivized utility for specific components and/or apps while supporting viable tokenomics of the mother $ZKN token

D A Ø​

  • "The Zero DAO" for Zero Knowledge Network protocol governance
  • facilitates decentralized ZK-authorization of verifiable secured supply chain distribution including hardware node manufactures, firmwares, OS, and all software components including mix network modules and applications
  • decentralized orchestration of any system elements requiring or enhanced by human input for optimal guided evolution of the system within defined operating parameters

Architectural Overview​

The following diagram illustrates the connectivity of $ZKN ERC20 Token to its counterpart, the $ZKN-ZK ZK-Native Token, within the ZKN Privacy Layer and zkAppChain powering decentralized mix-net access, operations, and rewards.

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