Technical Whitepaper v1.0

The Geometry of
Zero Knowledge

How Orthogonal creates a new dimension of privacy and trust in the multichain universe — where proof replaces exposure, and identity transcends borders.

Abstract

"In cryptography, we discovered something paradoxical: you can prove you know a secret without revealing it. Orthogonal transforms this mathematical miracle into the foundation of cross-chain identity."

Orthogonal is a Zero-Knowledge Identity Oracle that enables users to prove ownership, reputation, and eligibility across multiple blockchain networks without revealing their wallet addresses, transaction history, or personal data. By leveraging advanced ZK-SNARK circuits and a decentralized oracle network, we create a new paradigm where privacy and verification coexist.

The Paradox of Transparency

Blockchain promised financial sovereignty. Instead, it created the most surveilled financial system in history.

Total Exposure

Every transaction you make is permanently recorded and publicly visible. Your entire financial history is an open book to anyone who knows your address.

Fragmented Identity

Your reputation on Ethereum means nothing on Solana. Each chain is an island, forcing you to rebuild trust from zero every time you cross a bridge.

Privacy vs. Compliance

To prove you're eligible for an airdrop, you must reveal your holdings. To comply with regulations, you must expose your identity. A false dichotomy.

The Orthogonal Solution

Prove ownership without revealing addresses
Port reputation across all chains
Verify eligibility while staying private
Comply without compromising sovereignty
Core Technology

What is Zero Knowledge?

The Cave Analogy

Imagine proving you know the secret password to a cave with two entrances without ever saying the password. You enter through one side, emerge from the other on command — impossible without the secret. That's ZK.

ZK-SNARKs

Succinct Non-interactive Arguments of Knowledge — tiny mathematical proofs (just bytes) that can verify complex statements instantly, without revealing the underlying data.

On-Chain Verification

Smart contracts can verify ZK proofs in milliseconds. Orthogonal posts these verified attestations on-chain, creating composable, trustless identity primitives.

The Mathematical Foundation

Zero-Knowledge proofs rest on the hardness of discrete logarithm problems and elliptic curve cryptography. The Groth16 proving system we employ achieves:

  • Completeness:Valid proofs always verify
  • Soundness:Invalid proofs never verify
  • Zero-Knowledge:Proofs reveal nothing else
// Orthogonal ZK Circuit
proof
├── publicInputs: [chain_id, commitment]
├── privateWitness: [address, balance, nonce]
├── circuit: ownership_v2.circom
└── verifier: 0x7a4f...c91e
✓ Proof verified in 2.3ms
System Design

The Orthogonal Architecture

Four layers working in concert to deliver privacy-preserving, cross-chain identity.

01

Client SDK

Local proof generation in the browser or native app. Your private keys and data never leave your device.

WebAssembly ZK proverWallet signature verificationMerkle tree constructionCross-platform support
02

Oracle Network

A decentralized network of nodes that verify proofs and relay attestations across chains.

BFT consensus mechanismEconomic security via stakingMulti-chain listenersProof aggregation
03

Verification Layer

On-chain smart contracts that verify ZK proofs and store attestation commitments.

Groth16 verifier contractsGas-optimized circuitsUpgradeable architectureComposable primitives
04

Identity Registry

A unified namespace mapping ZK commitments to cross-chain identity claims.

Soulbound attestationsRevocation mechanismExpiry managementSelective disclosure

Unlocking New Possibilities

Zero-Knowledge identity isn't just about privacy — it enables entirely new paradigms.

Sybil-Resistant Airdrops

Prove you're a unique human with on-chain history across multiple chains, without doxxing your wallets. Fair distribution, preserved privacy.

Cross-Chain Reputation

Your lending history on Aave, your NFT collections on Ethereum, your DeFi farming on Solana — all composable into a single portable score.

Private KYC Attestations

Complete verification once, use everywhere. Prove you're accredited, over 18, or a US non-resident without revealing documents.

DAO Governance

Vote with conviction while maintaining privacy. Prove your stake and eligibility without revealing your identity or exact holdings.

The Orthogonal Future

We envision a world where your digital identity is truly yours — portable, private, and powerful. Where proving who you are doesn't mean exposing who you are. Where the chains of surveillance give way to the freedom of cryptographic truth.

"

In the geometry of trust, orthogonal vectors create new dimensions. We are building the axis upon which the multichain future rotates.

— The Orthogonal Team