What cryptography methods are used in Ethereum?

Ethereum uses a variety of cryptographic methods to secure its network and protect user information. Some of the main methods used in Ethereum include:

• Public-key cryptography: This is used to secure transactions on the Ethereum network. Every Ethereum address has a public key and a private key associated with it. The public key is used to receive funds, while the private key is used to sign transactions and access the funds in the corresponding address.
• Hash functions: Ethereum uses a variety of hash functions, including SHA-3 (also known as Keccak), to secure its network. Hash functions are used to create a unique and fixed-size digital fingerprint of a piece of data, which is useful for verifying the integrity of data and detecting any tampering.
• Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA): Ethereum uses the ECDSA algorithm to generate and verify digital signatures. Digital signatures are used to prove that a transaction was signed by the person who holds the private key associated with the address that initiated the transaction.
• Merkle Trees: Merkle trees are used in Ethereum to summarize all the transactions in a block. This allows the clients to verify that a transaction was included in a block without downloading the whole block.
• zk-SNARKS (zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge) : A special kind of zero-knowledge proof that allow to verify a statement without revealing the information behind it. Its usage is still in experimental phase but planned to be used for some privacy features in ethereum.

All these cryptography methods work together to secure the Ethereum network and protect the privacy of its users. It is important to note that in blockchain technology it is very important to follow up with updates and security improvement as the technology evolves, to remain secure.