As institutions move on-chain and privacy becomes a growing concern, zero-knowledge technology is emerging as a critical building block for the next generation of the internet.
This week on
Privacy Podcast, host
Ben Schiller sits down with
Eli Ben-Sasson, CEO and Co-Founder of
StarkWare, mathematician, entrepreneur, and one of the pioneers behind zero-knowledge technology.
Eli, one of the founders of Zcash, discusses his new book on ZK proofs, why blockchain and zero-knowledge technology are fundamentally changing how trust is established online, and how privacy, scalability, and integrity can coexist in the digital world.
From Zcash to Starknet to the future of institutional adoption, Eli shares his vision for an internet where users have greater control over their identity, assets, and data.
"Technology in service of people, empowering them, giving them a place to basically ground their own reputation, finances, ownership, life." — Eli Ben-Sasson
What We Cover:
• Why zero-knowledge technology complements blockchain
• How ZK can improve privacy, scalability, and trust online
• The inspiration behind Eli's new book on zero-knowledge proofs
• The evolution of Zcash and the growing demand for privacy solutions
• Why institutions increasingly view privacy as a requirement for on-chain adoption
• StarkWare's new privacy innovations, including Stark BTC and Stark20
• The challenges of balancing privacy and user experience
• How academics can successfully transition into entrepreneurship
• Why crypto infrastructure continues to advance regardless of market cycles
• What the future of ZK could look like in everyday life
Why This Matters
As more financial activity, digital identity, and business operations move on-chain, privacy is becoming one of the most important challenges facing blockchain technology. Zero-knowledge proofs offer a path toward maintaining trust and transparency while protecting sensitive information. The technologies being built today could help shape how people transact, communicate, and establish trust online for decades to come.
Connect With Eli Ben-Sasson
About the Show
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the intersection of privacy, identity, and emerging technologies. Hosted by Ben Schiller, the show brings together builders, regulators, and thinkers shaping what comes next in a world where data is power.
Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the
Musso Media Team
Music: licensed.
All rights reserved. ©2026 Musso Media
What is Privacy Podcast?
The Privacy Podcast by Miden explores the future of privacy, identity, and trust in a digital world being reshaped by blockchain and AI.
Hosted by Ben Schiller, The Privacy Podcast dives into one of the most critical questions facing technology today: How do we build a more private, secure, and trustworthy internet?
A former journalist with over a decade of experience covering crypto and emerging technologies, including six years at CoinDesk, Schiller brings a sharp editorial lens to conversations at the intersection of privacy, blockchain, and digital rights.
At its core, this podcast is driven by a simple idea: privacy is not optional. It is foundational to the next phase of the internet.
As blockchain technology moves from experimentation to real-world adoption, privacy becomes essential for onboarding institutions, enabling enterprise use cases, and unlocking the full potential of decentralized systems. At the same time, it addresses a deeper, long-standing issue. The modern internet was built without effective privacy infrastructure, giving rise to what is often described as a surveillance-based economy, where personal data is exchanged for access to services.
This show explores how that model is changing.
Produced by Musso Media, The Privacy Podcast features conversations with leading builders, researchers, policymakers, and thinkers shaping what comes next.