Secure Decentralized Carpooling Application Using Blockchain and Zero Knowledge Proof

Abstract

Blockchain extends its reach far beyond cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, encompassing a broader spectrum of applications. It acts as a transparent, distributed, and unchangeable ledger where every participant in the network possesses a copy of the blockchain. This decentralized system secures all data and transactions through encryption, ensuring reliability. The key components of blockchain-based applications include Smart Contracts, which house the application’s logic and operate on the blockchain. In traditional carpooling systems, centralized authorities like Uber or Ola control the entire process, collecting and managing data from both drivers and riders. However, by leveraging blockchain and smart contracts, a more secure and private carpooling system can be established, allowing riders and drivers to connect directly without intermediaries. Blockchain applications encounter challenges, primarily related to scalability and privacy. Every node in the system processing transactions limits scalability. Moreover, the practice of publishing all data at each node for processing raises privacy concerns. To tackle these issues, an approach using non-interactive proofs for off-chain computations can enhance efficiency. This approach verifies correctness without exposing private data, thus improving privacy. ZoKrates, a toolbox, simplifies this process by providing a domain-specific language (DSL), compiler, and generators for proofs and verification of Smart Contracts, streamlining complex zero-knowledge proof tasks and promoting their adoption. © 2024 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.