Weikeng Chen, a newcomer to the Bitcoin development scene, has made waves in the industry with his recent achievement of implementing a zero-knowledge verifier using Bitcoin script. This milestone, sponsored by infrastructure company Starkware, has the potential to unlock Bitcoin’s programmability and scale its use globally.
Chen, a Chinese native and venture firm partner, delved into Bitcoin development just six months ago, driven by a desire to contribute his technical skills to the industry. His journey led him to focus on zero-knowledge technology and eventually to the implementation of a SNARK verifier, a cryptographic tool that enables the verification of zero-knowledge proofs on the Bitcoin network.
The collaboration between Chen and Starkware around the OP_CAT soft fork proposal has been instrumental in achieving this milestone. The project, dubbed the “Bitcoin Wildlife Sanctuary,” culminated in the successful implementation of a STARK verifier using the OP_CAT primitive, signaling a potential new era of development on Bitcoin.
While the results are cause for celebration, Chen remains focused on the work ahead, acknowledging that the proof-of-concept is not yet production-ready. However, contributors at Starkware are optimistic about the project’s potential to pave the way for scaling solutions like ZK rollups on Bitcoin.
Chen’s success has not only showcased the possibilities of OP_CAT but has also highlighted the importance of creating a welcoming environment for new developers in the Bitcoin ecosystem. As he looks to share his progress with the development community and gather feedback, Chen hopes to inspire others to dream big and contribute to the future of Bitcoin development.
