zkou
Zkou is a term used in discussions of cryptography and blockchain to describe a class of protocols that combines zero-knowledge proofs with data oracles. The concept envisions an oracle that provides off-chain data to smart contracts with proofs of correctness published on-chain, without exposing the underlying data. The name is formed from zk, referring to zero-knowledge, and OU, standing for oracle unit, in some usages. In literature, zkou is used as a shorthand for this class of protocols rather than a single standardized specification.
Technical overview: A zkou protocol typically consists of three layers: an off-chain data source (oracle), a
Applications: In decentralized finance, zkou concepts support privacy-preserving price oracles and censorship-resistant data feeds. Other use
Challenges: Deployments face data availability and oracle reliability concerns, as well as computational and gas costs
History: The term is not tied to a single project, but related ideas appear in academic literature