Proof of Prompt Updates: A Zero-Knowledge Verification Framework Based on TLS Encryption
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, particularly the widespread application of large language models (LLMs), prompts have become increasingly crucial as the guiding information for AI-generated responses. These prompts are categorized into User Prompts and System Prompts:
User Prompts are queries provided by users.
System Prompts are predefined by developers to establish the model’s behavioral guidelines, tone, and contextual output.
The "Black Box Problem" of Prompts
However, in traditional LLM architectures, prompts—especially system prompts—are typically hidden within a "black box." Users have no visibility into whether the system prompts remain consistent across interactions or whether they have been altered during the process. This black-box nature leads to two major concerns:
Consistency Issue: If system prompts are modified during interactions, the model’s output may deviate from the expected behavior. Developers cannot guarantee that each invocation adheres to the intended prompt, and users have no way to verify the consistency of the model’s behavior.
Privacy Issue: System prompts may contain highly sensitive business information, such as pricing strategies, risk control policies, or proprietary algorithm logic. While developers do not wish to disclose this information, they still need a way to prove to users that it has not been tampered with.
Proof of Prompt: A Zero-Knowledge Solution for Trustworthiness
Zypher's Proof of Prompt technology was developed to address this challenge. By leveraging zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, Proof of Prompt can verify that system prompts remain consistent across each invocation without revealing their actual content. In other words, it provides both developers and users with a mechanism to ensure that prompts have not been tampered with, significantly enhancing the trustworthiness of LLM interactions while fully preserving privacy.
Technical Architecture of Proof of Prompt
The core implementation of Proof of Prompt is based on cryptographic commitments as the foundation for verification:
Cryptographic Commitment: Developers generate a commitment value for the system prompt and publish it on-chain.
Zero-Knowledge Verification: Each time a user interacts with the LLM, the model generates a response along with a zero-knowledge proof to verify that the prompt used aligns with the original commitment.
On-Chain Verification: A smart contract on the blockchain validates whether the zkProof and the commitment value match, ensuring that the prompt has not been altered.
Recent Technical Progress of Proof of Prompt
In the implementation of Proof of Prompt, Transport Layer Security (TLS) plays a crucial role. TLS is the standard protocol for securing data transmission over the internet, supporting multiple encryption algorithms. Understanding their characteristics helps us better appreciate Zypher's technological innovations in this area.
A more detailed explanation of the application of ChaCha20 and AES in TLS has been provided. TLS typically employs Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) algorithms to ensure both the integrity and authenticity of encrypted data. This means that ChaCha20 and AES are often used in combination with additional mechanisms for authenticated encryption, such as ChaCha20-Poly1305 or AES-GCM.
Technical Advantages of ChaCha20-Poly1305 and AES-GCM
🔹 ChaCha20-Poly1305: As an AEAD mode, ChaCha20-Poly1305 combines the stream encryption efficiency of ChaCha20 with the message authentication capability of Poly1305. It not only provides fast encryption processing but also effectively prevents data tampering. This makes it particularly suitable for environments with limited hardware acceleration, such as embedded devices or mobile platforms.
🔹 AES-GCM: AES-GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) is an authenticated encryption mode based on block encryption. By integrating efficient block encryption with the Galois authentication mechanism, AES-GCM achieves high performance in hardware-accelerated environments, making it ideal for server-side applications and data centers.
Technological Innovations of Proof of Prompt
In the Proof of Prompt framework, Zypher not only supports ChaCha20 and AES, two mainstream encryption algorithms, but also fully leverages their respective advantages within zkCircuits. ChaCha20 has a smaller circuit footprint, making it more suitable for applications where reducing circuit complexity is essential. On the other hand, AES benefits from hardware acceleration and widespread industry adoption, making it a reliable choice for high-performance environments.
By integrating these mainstream TLS encryption algorithms into the zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) environment, Zypher has achieved several key breakthroughs:
1️⃣ Reduced Circuit Size: Zypher’s zkCircuit design reduces the circuit size by an order of magnitude compared to traditional ZKP methods, significantly lowering computational costs and resource consumption.
2️⃣ Improved Verification Efficiency: By incorporating AES and ChaCha20’s authenticated encryption modes, Proof of Prompt enhances the efficiency of the verification process, ensuring faster response times and an improved user experience.
3️⃣ Enhanced Encryption Flexibility: Whether using AES-GCM on server-side applications or ChaCha20-Poly1305 for mobile and embedded devices, Proof of Prompt adapts flexibly to different hardware conditions and performance requirements.
Zypher’s innovation lies in integrating AES and ChaCha20 into zero-knowledge circuits (zkCircuits). Since ChaCha20 requires significantly fewer circuit resources than AES, Zypher effectively supports both algorithms. This technological breakthrough dramatically reduces zkCircuit complexity by an order of magnitude, while maintaining the efficiency and reliability of a TLS environment. By optimizing circuit design, Zypher has successfully elevated these encryption algorithms within the ZKP framework, establishing them as a core driving force behind the practical implementation of Proof of Prompt.
https://x.com/Zypher_Network/status/1891729688252514427
Industry Applications of Proof of Prompt
1. On-Chain Finance
In the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, many protocols rely on complex algorithms to ensure liquidity, collateral security, and overall market stability. Proof of Prompt provides a robust verification mechanism, bringing transparency and trustworthiness to various on-chain financial scenarios:
🔹 Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs): Many DEXs utilize Automated Market Maker (AMM) models to provide liquidity. Proof of Prompt can verify whether AMM price curves, fee distribution, and revenue-sharing calculations remain consistent with the predefined algorithm. This prevents potential risks like price manipulation due to code changes or external attacks.
🔹 Synthetic Assets & Stablecoin Protocols: Protocols that issue synthetic assets and stablecoins often rely on collateral-based mechanisms. Proof of Prompt ensures that collateral ratio calculations and liquidation rules strictly follow the originally defined model. This increases user trust and helps reduce market volatility.
🔹 Lending & Liquidation Platforms: On-chain lending protocols maintain system stability through strict liquidation rules and interest rate adjustments. Proof of Prompt verifies that these rules remain unaltered, ensuring a secure environment where both users and institutions can safely participate in lending activities.
2. Off-Chain Finance (Traditional Finance)
In traditional financial institutions, Proof of Prompt offers a new approach to increasing transparency and building customer trust:
🔹 Enhancing Trust in Pricing Models: Pricing strategies in traditional finance (such as loan interest rates, foreign exchange rates, etc.) often depend on internal models. Since the transparency of these models directly affects customer trust, Proof of Prompt can verify that pricing models consistently adhere to predefined rules, ensuring they haven’t been altered by internal operations or external interventions.
🔹 Validation of Risk Control Models: Risk management models—including credit scoring and stress testing—are fundamental to financial decision-making. Proof of Prompt enables institutions to prove to customers, partners, and regulators that their risk assessment algorithms remain unchanged and have not been manipulated or bypassed.
🔹 Transparency in Payments & Settlements: In cross-border payments and complex settlement processes, Proof of Prompt can verify the transparency and consistency of transaction fees and commission calculations. This reduces uncertainty for international clients and enhances the competitiveness of financial institutions.
3. Web3 Gaming & NFT Ecosystem
Proof of Prompt can also serve as a security mechanism for blockchain gaming and digital collectibles platforms:
🔹 On-Chain Game Rule Verification: In blockchain-based games, Proof of Prompt can verify in-game reward distribution rules, economic model stability, and the consistency of smart contract logic. This ensures fairness and transparency within the gaming ecosystem.
🔹 NFT Minting & Distribution: On NFT platforms, developers can use Proof of Prompt to verify that the original metadata and minting logic of NFTs have not been tampered with, increasing buyer confidence in the platform.
🔹 Cross-Game Economic Interactions: For ecosystems that support cross-game assets, Proof of Prompt ensures that asset conversion rules and usage conditions remain unaltered, promoting trust and stability in cross-game economies.
4. DAO Governance & Community Management
Proof of Prompt is also applicable to decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governance:
🔹 Verification of Governance Proposals: DAOs can use Proof of Prompt to ensure that approved proposals follow predefined rules during execution, preventing disputes caused by tampered governance code.
🔹 Transparency in Fund Allocation: By verifying funding distribution rules and incentive mechanisms, Proof of Prompt ensures that DAO treasury allocations remain fair and transparent, increasing community trust.
🔹 Cross-Chain Governance Interoperability: In multi-chain ecosystems, Proof of Prompt can verify the logical consistency of governance mechanisms across different chains, fostering transparent cross-chain collaboration and community governance.
5. Decentralized Storage & Content Verification
In the field of decentralized storage and content distribution, Proof of Prompt offers the following applications:
🔹 Integrity Verification of Stored Data: Proof of Prompt ensures that data stored on decentralized networks has not been tampered with and remains consistent with the developer’s original specifications.
🔹 Transparency in Content Access Rules: For content that requires specific access conditions (such as paid subscriptions or permission-based documents), Proof of Prompt can verify that access rules remain unchanged.
🔹 Trustworthy Decentralized CDN Validation: In distributed content delivery networks (CDNs), Proof of Prompt verifies that CDN nodes serve content that matches the original commitment, enhancing user trust in content distribution quality.
A Milestone in Advancing Industry Trust
Zypher’s Proof of Prompt technology integrates AES and ChaCha20—two well-established TLS encryption algorithms—with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) to create a highly efficient and reliable verification framework. This innovation not only enhances technical performance but also reduces development costs and lowers the barrier to adoption.
Proof of Prompt not only addresses the trust issues in existing LLM systems but also sets a new benchmark for trust across a broader range of industry applications.
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