Ethereum Foundation launches zkAPI for private AI model payments

Ethereum Foundation zkAPI — The Ethereum Foundation has launched a new tool called zkAPI, designed to let users pay for AI model services without revealing their identity. The system uses zero-knowledge proofs to authorize payments from an Ethereum vault, ensuring the API provider cannot link requests to a specific payer.

The zkAPI framework allows developers to integrate private payment mechanisms into their applications. Users deposit funds into a smart contract vault on Ethereum, and when they need to use an AI service, they generate a zero-knowledge proof to authorize the payment. This proof verifies the user has sufficient funds without exposing their wallet address or transaction history to the service provider.

This development aims to address privacy concerns in the growing AI economy, where payment for model usage can create data trails. By decoupling payment from usage, the foundation hopes to foster more private and censorship-resistant access to AI tools. The launch highlights ongoing efforts to expand Ethereum’s utility beyond financial transactions into areas like decentralized AI and privacy-preserving computation.