Artificial intelligence and metered API providers can no longer link service requests to specific payment identities following the deployment of a new zero-knowledge protocol. The tool, known as zkAPI, allows users to pay for la lll access using prepaid ETH or USDC on the Ethereum blockchain. By utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, the system separates the financial identity of the payer from the actual usage of the API, ensuring the service provider cannot track the individual user.

The Ethereum Foundation and the Open Anonymity project developed the protocol from a design co-authored by Vitalik Buterin to eliminate the need for middlemen to link personal data with identities. The tool is currently integrated into the OA-chat platform, which has opened sign-ups for new users. The collaboration aims to establish a foundational infrastructure for privacy and sovereignty in AI inference payments.