Cardano has achieved a significant milestone by deploying its first zero-knowledge (ZK) smart contract on the mainnet. This milestone, utilizing the Plutus v3 ledger language, enhances the network's capabilities. The ZK smart contract, Halo2, enables zero-knowledge applications and partner chains like Midnight to integrate with Cardano. The Input-Output (IO) Research team verified the Halo2 proof on the mainnet for the Ad-hoc Threshold Multi-signatures scheme, validating 50 out of 90 signatures. This achievement eliminates the need for a trusted setup and addresses security risks and logistical challenges. Halo2's support for recursive proofs allows for efficient proof aggregation, targeting enhanced performance and scalability. By building on modern cryptographic primitives, Halo2 aims to enhance the overall security of zero-knowledge proof, paving the way for real-world applications to reduce costs and improve proof generation speed. Cardano's Hoskinson plans to leverage Bitcoin's code with a DeFi layer to restore its innovative edge, while Wyoming's stablecoin commission faces backlash for bypassing inclusive blockchain procedures. Read more AI-generated news on: https://app.chaingpt.org/news