I have a vague recollection of a point someone made before that most ideas are usually wrong or incorrect at the start. For example, Nvidia was built on the thesis that non-triangular polygons would dominate, which was 100% wrong (today all polygons are triangular). But they often develop into something true.
Sure, but to find what works you need to take action first. The problem is if you have no support network that encourages you to take action you are more likely not to start or to give up when you face headwinds. That's one reason startups tend to happen in a few hubs. Yes, it's also where VC is, but to get started you need likeminded people who don't reflexively shoot down anything new.
Aren't several cryptocurrencies built on ZKPs? Their business model aside, ZKPs do look like one of the rare examples of theoretical elegance and real world use (even if not widespread).
