Бутерин о роли ZKID и ИИ в финансовом будущем: новые горизонты для идентификации и платежей Headline: Buterin on the Role of ZKID and AI in Financial Future: New Horizons for Identification and Payments

The emergence of «low-risk DeFi» and groundbreaking applications based on Zero-Knowledge Identity (ZKID) have the potential to revolutionize financial markets. This was articulated by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin during a conversation with HashKey Group Chairman Xiao Feng, as reported by journalist Colin Wu.

«I have been discussing ZKID quite a bit lately. Why? Because identity and privacy are critically important in today’s world,» he emphasized.

According to the programmer, centralized databases are «inevitably hacked,» leading to data breaches. ZKID employs zk-SNARKs to verify information without the need for third-party involvement.

Buterin pointed out that this technology could be applied in under-collateralized lending scenarios, allowing borrowers to demonstrate their creditworthiness through an analysis of transaction histories without disclosing all their assets.

«Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies are considered part of the fourth industrial revolution, which should also bring forth new financial services. […] New models for raising funds might emerge. Imagine entrepreneurs being able to utilize ZKID to attract $100,000 globally,» Feng added.

Previously, Buterin introduced the concept of «pluralistic identification,» where no single entity fully controls the issuance of digital IDs, enhancing privacy protection, which Buterin believes to be foundational for freedom.

In their discussion, the HashKey Chairman also addressed the limits of decentralizing applications. Feng noted the paradox of stablecoins: despite a decentralized infrastructure, they remain dependent on centralized issuers like Circle.

Buterin acknowledged that many applications require an element of trust that is sometimes provided through centralized components.

«Take email, for example: theoretically, it’s a decentralized protocol, but in practice, a few large platforms dominate. Nonetheless, blockchain offers significant advantages: even if the L2 solution is semi-centralized, users can withdraw their assets through contracts on L1 independently. This is a real advantage,» added the Ethereum co-founder.

Buterin also underscored the growing role of AI in payments. He predicts that in the next five to ten years, artificial intelligence will begin to handle «many micropayments.» However, he believes that full automation may be too risky for large transactions.

«AI is too vulnerable to attacks. But it is suitable for small payments. Additionally, AI can serve as a risk management tool for larger transfers—evaluating whether a transaction of $100,000 looks suspicious. I believe we will gradually discover the right ways to combine AI with payments. Successes will come, but there will also be mistakes,» he explained.

It’s worth noting that Buterin approaches artificial intelligence with caution—back in August, he expressed concerns that superintelligent AI could lead to disaster. The Ethereum co-founder has also warned about the dangers of using this technology for management within the crypto industry.