Apr 18, 2023   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Horizen Labs’ Response to the United States Office of Science and Technology Policy RFI Seeking Comments on Digital Assets Research & Development

Horizen Labs:

About Horizen Labs

Horizen Labs is securing the world’s transition to Web3 by helping organizations reimagine the way they use blockchain technology to tackle some of their most important challenges.

Through a unique combination of platform capabilities, flexible architecture, sidechain compatibility, and enterprise-grade security, Horizen Labs is building the onramp for tomorrow by making blockchain safer and more accessible for Web2 organizations today. For more information, go to www.horizenlabs.io.

About Horizen

Horizen is the zero-knowledge network of blockchains powered by the largest node system and a massively scalable cross-chain protocol. Horizen offers best-in-class tools for developers to custom-build private or public blockchains with the level of flexibility unmatched by others. By building on Horizen, developers have the freedom to fully customize their blockchains including consensus, speed, privacy, and crypto-economies. Blockchains built on Horizen produce massive throughput without compromising decentralization. Please visit https://horizen.io for more information.

Introduction and Recommendations

Horizen Labs is securing the world’s transition to Web3 by helping organizations reimagine the way they use blockchain technology to tackle some of their most important challenges. With a deep focus on enterprises and governments, Horizen Labs is building the secure and reliable offerings necessary to drive blockchain adoption into the mainstream.

With zero-knowledge proofs being their core competency, it gives them a competitive advantage in the blockchain industry as they use Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (zk-SNARKs) to facilitate permissionless horizontal blockchain scaling through a unique sidechain and cross-chain transfer protocol. zk-SNARKs is an advancement in cryptography that enables transactions to be fully encrypted (aka "shielded") on the blockchain. Shielded transactions can still be verified as valid transactions under the network’s consensus rules.

This cryptographic technology is emerging and yet to be widely adopted, with very few firms in the blockchain industry that have a team of trained cryptographers. Horizen Labs sees the enormous potential of zero-knowledge cryptography for government and defense applications and has invested significant resources in building a highly skilled (Ph.D. level) cryptographic team.

Question Posed in the RFI

Federal research opportunities that could be introduced or modified to support efforts to mitigate risks from digital assets.

Horizen Labs’ Response

Based on extensive research and analysis, Horizen Labs recommends R&D focus in the following areas:

Part Certification/Documentation Tracking

Horizen Labs has uncovered numerous use cases with large suppliers in the aerospace, automotive, and defense industries that use different systems to track parts and part documentation. A problem exists in the handoffs between vendor/company teams that lead to errors and subsequently, costly delays in industrial/government programs.

Furthermore, tracking state changes, such as documentation revision of supply parts, including edits and changes, currently require manual processes and signatures which can introduce delays and are generally inefficient. The process of finding information on tracking a supply part and its availability, and status in a logistical system is confusing and adds time to a supply chain.

Space Object Tracking on Blockchain

Decentralized and tamper-proof space object databases can be updated in real-time by various stakeholders (Governments, Space Agencies, and Private Companies).

Early Threat Validation System on Blockchain

Decentralized network of early detection sensor data, such as missile warning systems. Blockchains’ inherent data authentication/verification processes and extensive safety features provide additional security for such a delicate network.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Horizen Labs is an innovative blockchain platform that is making strides towards driving blockchain adoption into the mainstream. With its expertise in zero-knowledge proofs the company is well-positioned to offer solutions for various challenges faced by enterprises and governments. By leveraging its unique sidechain and cross-chain transfer protocol, Horizen Labs can facilitate permissionless horizontal blockchain scaling while ensuring the privacy and security of all data. Through dedicated blockchains and custom smart contracts, the company is working towards streamlining supply chain processes, space object tracking, and early threat validation systems. With its Ph.D. level cryptographic team, Horizen Labs is poised to lead the way in this emerging technology and we can expect to see even more innovative solutions from them in the near future.