A developer guide comparing three zero-knowledge proof frameworks for the zkGaming on Stellar hackathon: RISC Zero, Noir, and Circom. Each framework offers different trade-offs in expressiveness, ease of use, and on-chain verification complexity.
This article provides a technical comparison of three zero-knowledge proof systems for developers building games on Stellar. Circom uses traditional arithmetic constraint systems (R1CS) and Groth16 proofs, making it mathematically efficient but requiring deep cryptographic knowledge. Noir offers a Rust-like syntax for circuit programming with better developer experience, though its UltraHonk verifier is still maturing for Soroban integration. RISC Zero takes a different approach by allowing developers to write normal code that executes in a zero-knowledge virtual machine, ideal for complex game logic but with higher proving overhead. The author emphasizes that the best choice depends on the specific game logic and verification guarantees needed.