Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the zkVM ZKosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates
Leading researchers @SuccinctJT of @a16zcrypto and @srinathtv of @MSFTResearch introduced 'Twist and Shout' - novel memory-checking techniques integrated into the Jolt zkVM. These advancements enhance prover efficiency by simplifying large sparse vector commitments into manageable constraints handled by the sum-check protocol.
Twist and Shout enables a 3x speedup in prover performance, complementing Jolt’s lookup-centric architecture and elliptic curve-based SNARKs. Beyond zkVMs, these techniques promise broader applications in SNARK design, validating efficient memory management and paving the way for faster, more scalable systems in cryptographic verification: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/introducing-twist-and-shout/
@ProjectZKM, along with @SuccinctLabs and @Snarkify_ZKP, have become the first partners of @ethereumfndn's new initiative, @eth_proofs. Akin to @l2beat, this new platform serves as a hub for showcasing zkVM proving capabilities on @ethereum’s mainnet EVM blocks. It aims to enhance zkVM diversity by inviting vendors to demonstrate their performance, with numerous integrations in the pipeline. The long-term vision is to achieve sub-12-second proving: https://x.com/eth_proofs/status/1883907113220739102…
In addition, ZKM Research shared an article compounding their latest research on FRI, a protocol for verifying polynomial degrees. The article details how FRI utilizes commit, folding, and query phases for efficient, secure proof generation, leveraging Merkle trees and hash functions. While offering post-quantum security and scalability, FRI balances trade-offs between proof size, proving time, and verification time. It’s also applied in polynomial commitments to enhance blockchain scalability: https://zkm.io/blog/the-fri-principle-and-its-application-analysis
@boundless_xyz (by @RiscZero) shared an article about its vision and design, detailing the teams alternative approach to blockchain scaling. Instead of creating another L1/L2, Boundless developed a universal ZK protocol that enhances existing chains without fragmenting value. Its architecture leverages off-chain computation with cryptographic proofs verified on-chain, enabling efficient scaling, verifiable computation, and seamless integrations: https://x.com/boundless_xyz/status/1884303101613506846
@SuccinctLabs introduced SP1 Turbo (v4.0.0), the latest upgrade to SP1, delivering faster zkVM performance, improving costs and latency across ZK workloads like rollups, light clients, and cryptographic verifications. With advanced GPU parallelization and new precompiles, such as Secp256R1 for RSA verification, SP1 Turbo achieves up to a 6.4x speedup over its predecessor. Its innovative memory consistency argument enhances efficiency, enabling Ethereum mainnet block proofs in under 40 seconds: https://blog.succinct.xyz/sp1-turbo/
Additionally, Succinct, @ProjectZKM, and @Snarkify_ZKP are among the first partners of @ethereumfndn's new initiative, @eth_proofs. This platform provides a neutral benchmark for evaluating zkVM proving performance on @ethereum’s mainnet EVM blocks, aiming to increase zkVM diversity by enabling vendors to showcase their capabilities, with numerous integrations planned. The long-term objective is to achieve sub-12-second proving times, significantly enhancing Ethereum’s scalability, security, and decentralization: https://x.com/eth_proofs/status/1883907113220739102…
Additionally, three critical vulnerabilities were patched in SP1 V3 and its dependency, Plonky3. Two issues were discovered by @alignedlayer, @class_lambda, @3miLabs, @levs57, and @kiliconu, while the third was identified by the Succinct team during preparations for SP1 Turbo. These fixes are now live in SP1 Turbo, and users are urged to upgrade immediately. Support for SP1 V2 and V3 ends on February 15, 2025: https://blog.succinct.xyz/sp1-security-update-1-27-25/
@NexusLabs, partnered with @HallidayHQ, @ionet, and @hyperbolic_labs, to accelerate blockchain adoption, ZK proving, and AI innovation. Halliday’s Web3 payments simplify asset management, IoNet boosts proving capacity with scalable compute power, and Hyperbolic enhances zkML with decentralized AI infrastructure: https://blog.nexus.xyz/halliday-partnership/
@0xLita published a post in which they revealed one of the details of the upcoming Valida zkVM 0.8.0 update, hinting at a 2x speed up:
@openvm_org has launched its first competitive security review, inviting researchers, ZK enthusiasts, and curious minds to examine its ZK circuits, VM framework, and Rust toolchain. With a $100,000 prize pool, submissions are open until March 10. The competition is hosted on @cantinaxyz and presented by @axiom_xyz, who will collaborate with judges to score findings: https://x.com/openvm_org/status/1883998984789950824…
In addition, the co-founders of @axiom_xyz, @theyisun and @jonathanpwang, joined the latest Snark Chocolate podcast by @Ingo_zk to discuss OpenVM and its impact on ZK development. OpenVM offers a Rust-based modular zkVM framework, eliminating CPUs for flexibility, supporting scalability, and enabling verifiable Web2 data: https://x.com/Ingo_zk/status/1884608379135353047
@DelphinusLab and @0xinfini unveiled a crypto-powered prepaid card for seamless real-world spending. Featuring free activation, daily yield on balances, and no hidden fees, the card supports purchases like subscriptions and even your daily coffee: https://x.com/DelphinusLab/status/1881980345395937390…
Tomorrow (Jan 31st) at 8pm UTC, @HouseofZK will host a star-studded panel titled 'The role of zkVM’s in Bitcoin scaling' during their Bitcoin Economy Conference.
Hosted by @alicelingl, experts in zkVM architecture including @ratankaliani of @SuccinctLabs, @DacEconomy of @ProjectZKM, @JacobEv3rly of @RiscZero, and @PlatonicMorgan of @0xLita will discuss what role their project's zkVM plays in the scaling of bitcoin: https://hozk.io/events/the-bitcoin-economy-conference
