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zk Privacy Solution Comparison
zkBob | zk.money | Railgun | Tornado.cash |
zkBob provides everyday privacy to everyday users. Limits, compliant wallet checks, and other security features ensure that zkBob is a safe place for honest users to discreetly transfer stable value.
Different privacy solutions offer different tradeoffs for users seeking anonymity on-chain. Below are some features that set zkBob apart.
zkBob | Railgun | Secret Network | zk.Money (sunset & no longer active) | Tornado.cash (pre-ban) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stable fees | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Optional KYC | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
No additional wallet required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
No native tokens required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Multisender | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Deposit limits (non-KYC) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Tiered deposit limits (KYC'd) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Current withdrawal limits | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Current pool size limits | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
TRM compliance integration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Cloud API | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
A big differentiator between the protocols is zkBob’s use of tokens such as USDC for transactions and fees. With stable pools, transaction fees do not fluctuate for users (hard coded to $0.10 per tx on Polygon/ $0.50 per tx on Optimism). If the actual tx cost is less, the extra amount is collected and dedicated to protocol and user support. In rare cases when it costs more, txs are divided and processed in several transactions.
zkBob pools have the additional utility including the ability to introduce compounding and lost/expired token redistribution. These features on the roadmap will provide future incentives for zkBob users.
Multitransfer is another unique zkBob feature, allowing users to transfer to multiple zk addresses with a single transaction. This is especially useful for employers sending salary payments to many employees. Rather than create proofs and pay fees for each tx, these can be sent in bulk, saving time and overhead costs.
Additional zkBob roadmap items include multi-chain deployment, decentralized relayer infrastructure, and fast client state sync also set it apart from competitors in the space.
In the table below we explore some technical and operational differences between zkBob, zk.money and Tornado.cash (pre-ban).
Note comparisons were made to show varying technology and zk tech. As zk.money and tornado.cash are no longer in active operation (sunset or banned), zkBob is currently the primary solution for optional privacy.
zkBob | zk.money (now sunset) | Tornado.cash (pre-ban) | |
---|---|---|---|
Deployment Chain | Polygon | Aztec Network Rollup | Ethereum/Gnosis Chain |
zkSNARK | Groth’16 | PLONK | Groth’16 |
Verification time | ~3 ms | ~ 6ms | ~3 ms |
Prover algorithm RAM requirements | ~5MB | ~900MB | ~10MB |
Trusted setup | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Deposit gas size | 642K | 51K | 910K |
Arbitrary Deposits/Transfers/Withdrawals? | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ ✅ |
Gas fee token(s) | -> USDC/ETH/BOB deposits & withdrawals (no native token required) | -> ETH deposits & withdrawals | -> ETH deposits & withdrawals |
Transfer token(s) | USDC, ETH, BOB | zkETH / zkDAI / zkrenBTC | ETH, DAI, USDC |
Transaction times | < 1 minute, Polygon infra | Variable (4hours to < 5 min) based on desired fee | < 1 minute, Nova on Gnosis Chain infra |
Tokenomics | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Geo restrictions | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Multi-chain deployment | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Decentralized relayers | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Fast client-state sync | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Last modified 3mo ago