zkSNARK
A zkSNARK is a short cryptographic proof that a calculation is correct without revealing its data. Aleo has made it the basis of its mining.
zkSNARK stands for "zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge". It is a cryptographic technique that makes it possible to prove that a calculation was done correctly, or that you know a piece of information, without revealing the data itself. The resulting proof is short and very quick to verify, even if the original calculation was heavy.
These proofs are used first and foremost for privacy: Zcash uses them for its shielded transactions. Aleo, launched in 2024, goes further and makes them the core of its mining. Instead of computing hashes, miners, called provers, solve a puzzle that consists of producing proofs of this kind. They are rewarded according to the valid solutions they find, while block validation relies on a different mechanism.
Computing these proofs mainly involves heavy mathematical operations on very large numbers. It was first done on graphics cards, then dedicated ASICs appeared, such as those in the IceRiver AE range. Hashrate is expressed in a unit specific to this calculation rather than in hashes, so it cannot be compared with that of another algorithm. Check the efficiency, power consumption and compatible pools before buying.
Our Aleo collection brings together the machines suited to this type of mining.