Intuitively there is a drastic distinction between the pure decentralized block-chain systems like Defis and those that only utilize block-chain as an enhancing technology but remain centralized with real-world business model and conventional technologies like database, application server, etc. Our study explores extensively this distinction from a methodological point of view, classifies them into blockchain-complete and blockchain-partial, analyzes key features of the two types, and reveals the root cause of this distinction. We analyze the function or, in more strong words, the "ultimate purpose" of blockchain in the blockchain-partial systems, and present a conceptual model we named proof-chain that quite satisfactorily represented the general paradigm of blockchain in blockchain-partial systems. A universal tension between strength of proof-chain and privacy is then revealed and the zero-knowledge based proof-chain takes shape. Several case studies demonstrate the explaining power of our proof-chain methodology. We then apply proof-chain methodology to the analysis of the ecosystem of a collaborating group of blockchain-partial systems, representing the paradigm of public and private data domain whose border the proof-chain crosses. Finally, some derived guidelines from this methodology speak usefulness of our methodology.

中文翻译：

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基于零知识的证明链——一种区块链部分系统的方法论

直观上，像 Def​​is 这样的纯粹去中心化的区块链系统与那些只利用区块链作为增强技术但仍然使用现实世界的商业模式和传统技术（如数据库、应用服务器等）保持中心化的系统之间存在着巨大的区别。 我们的研究从方法论的角度广泛探讨了这种区别，将它们分为区块链完整和区块链部分，分析了这两种类型的关键特征，并揭示了这种区别的根本原因。我们分析了区块链部分系统中区块链的功能，或者更强烈的“最终目的”，并提出了一个我们命名为证明链的概念模型，它非常令人满意地代表了区块链部分系统中区块链的一般范式。证明链的强度和隐私之间的普遍张力被揭示，基于零知识的证明链形成。几个案例研究证明了我们的证明链方法的解释能力。然后，我们将证明链方法应用于分析区块链部分系统协作组的生态系统，代表了证明链跨越边界的公共和私有数据域的范式。最后，从这种方法论中得出的一些指导原则说明了我们方法论的有用性。代表了证明链跨越边界的公共和私有数据域的范式。最后，从这种方法论中得出的一些指导原则说明了我们方法论的有用性。代表了证明链跨越边界的公共和私有数据域的范式。最后，从这种方法论中得出的一些指导原则说明了我们方法论的有用性。