**Zero-Knowledge Proofs: The Future of Decentralized ID**

Zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs are stirring up the crypto world, with debates on their cost and complexity. Critics argue ZK is pricey, but Leo Fan, co-founder of ZK hardware company Cysic, disagrees. He highlights that while ZK-proofs were historically expensive, advancements have made them more cost-efficient than traditional ID systems.

Fan notes that hardware improvements and efficient proof generation have slashed costs and reduced finality time to around 10 seconds. This makes ZK a viable, privacy-preserving method for decentralized identification.

Countries are taking notice. Buenos Aires recently integrated ZK-powered QuarkID into its digital ID system, enhancing data autonomy for 3.6 million residents. In August, Worldcoin introduced its iris-scanning World ID orbs in Vienna, and Malaysia followed suit, incorporating these orbs into its official ID system.

ZK-proofs are proving to be a game-changer, offering a blend of privacy and efficiency that traditional systems struggle to match.