Technical Research - Comparative Analysis of Semaphore vs other privacy approaches

[aguzmant103]

Semaphore is one of the simplest ways to add privacy to applications. What other technologies exist and how do they fit and compare to each other?

For example:

• Semaphore groups vs Sismo Groups
• Semaphore vs Nym (mixnet)
• Semaphore vs other zkID protocols

[atomniketh]

I just got approved to be in Aztec's/zkCamp's Noir course cohort. I'm thinking of doing a comparison of how I would use Noir to do what I did with Semaphore in my StealthComms project. I can maybe create a matrix to compare Semaphore vs. Noir/Nargo if that would help.

[aguzmant103]

Yes!! Super helpful @atomniketh comparing performance on different implementations of Semaphore is great, (languages, proving systems, etc)

I think @vplasencia has done some work with that, unsure if she did Noir though

[vplasencia]

Hey @atomniketh! That would be great. Thank you!

[gnart33]

Hey @atomniketh I will also be in the coming zkCamp's Noir cohort, happy to help with your idea. @aguzmant103 I did a little writeup about Semaphore here, can also dig in other projects architecture

[vplasencia]

There is a Semaphore implementation in Noir that can be useful for your project: https://github.com/StefanVelkoski/semaphore-noir @atomniketh @trangnv

[atomniketh]

@trangnv Look for me in the ZKCamp circles group. Let's coordinate there!

[atomniketh]

ZK Language	Noir	Circom	Cairo	Leo
From	Aztec	Iden3	Starknet	Aleo
Compiles to	IR (ACIR)	R1CS	Sierra (IR)	R1CS
Supports	Integrated with UltraPlonk, Extendable to Groth16, Halo2	Groth16	Stark, FRI	SNARK-based
Used By	Verifier can be deployed on EVM compatible chains	Tornado Cash, Polygon Hermez, Dark Forest, Semaphore	Starknet	Aleo

[cijimenez]

hi! @vplasencia @aguzmant103 is this issue still Issues? could I take it? I am part of the PSE 2024 core program

[vplasencia]

Hey @cijimenez 👋

Yes, it's still open. Do you want me to assign this issue to you?

[cijimenez]

Hi @vplasencia Yes, of course! Please assign it to me. I would also like to get more details and understand the specific objective of this issue. Thanks!

[vplasencia]

Hey @cijimenez! Done. Thanks. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

The main idea of the issue is to do some research on some similar projects working (or that worked) on similar topics to explain the similarities and differences with Semaphore. The issue description has some ideas but feel free to do some research about it and add other projects too.

You can decide on the most effective way to compare them, including which parameters to use for the comparison.

[vplasencia]

Hey @cijimenez! Thank you very much for the great work! Do you need any help to add the document to the website and documentation?