Catenaa, Wednesday, May 07, 2025-Google announced it is integrating zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology into Google Wallet, launching a privacy-focused digital identity solution beginning in the United Kingdom.
The tech giant said the move aims to allow users to verify age and other credentials without revealing personal information.
While Google did not confirm whether the system is blockchain-based, it credited the crypto industry’s foundational role in advancing ZK technology. The company’s custom solution was developed with Ligero, a startup backed by crypto investors including Galaxy Ventures and Digital Currency Group.
Zero-knowledge proofs, first introduced by researchers in the 1980s, gained traction through crypto projects such as Zcash and Ethereum, where they help enable privacy features and scalability through mechanisms like zk-Rollups and zk-SNARKs.
Google’s implementation will be open-source, allowing other wallets and online platforms to adopt the technology. The Wallet-based digital ID will expand to the U.S. and additional markets, with applications including airport identification, online health access, and account recovery.
Use cases include verifying identity with Amazon, Uber, CVS, and MyChart. The integration signals a shift from academic cryptography to real-world deployment of ZKPs, driven by breakthroughs in blockchain technology.
While the new system maintains independence from blockchain for now, Google’s adoption could bring ZK privacy tools closer to the mainstream and widen their practical applications globally.
