Here we survey the progress of leading zkVM builders, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
a16z - Jol
tIn this article, Justin Thaler shares with us progress on Jolt, a zkVM for RISC-V, with reduced proof sizes and added features. He stresses the need for formal verification to achieve true security, as current SNARK systems are too complex and error-prone. The Jolt roadmap includes audits, verification of polynomial IOPs, and simplified designs to ensure correctness and long-term reliability. Justin claims that the journey to bug-free zkVMs will be slow but crucial:
https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/getting-bugs-out-of-snarks/
Lita - Valida
The Valida Rust compiler now allows developers to write Rust programs without the full standard library, with examples available on GitHub showcasing apps like Ethereum block execution and JSON parsing. Valida also supports C programs for tasks like checksums and SHA-256 hashing. Lita also introduced Valida version 0.6.0-alpha, enhancing its zkVM and compiler with new features. Key updates include support for signed 32-bit division, JALV jump instructions, and fixes for trace interpolation and memory reads. The compiler now supports Rust's standard I/O, 64-bit atomics, and link time optimization. While the current Docker image is optimized for x86_64, ARM support is in progress. Upcoming features include partial execution proofs and performance optimizations:
https://www.lita.foundation/blog/introducing-valida-0-6-0
Nexus and Orochi Network have partnered to boost the Nexus zkVM's capabilities, focusing on verifiability and ZK computing. This collaboration aims to enhance data availability and security, pushing forward the vision of a Verifiable Internet:
https://blog.nexus.xyz/orochi/
Nexus is also teaming up Gevulot up to boost computing power on the Nexus Network, integrating Nexus zkVM with Gevulot's Firestarter for easier, cost-effective ZKP deployment. This aims to build the world's most powerful distributed supercomputer: https://blog.nexus.xyz/gevulot/
RISC Zero has launched Kailua, a software suite that upgrades Optimistic Rollups to Hybrid ZK Rollups. Kailua combines the benefits of both rollup types, offering reduced collateral needs, lower proving costs, and faster finality. It's currently in testing and works with the OP Stack, aiming to enhance blockchain efficiency and dispute resolution:
https://risczero.com/blog/kailua-how-it-works
EigenLayer's security is enhanced by Boundless by Risc Zero, which uses ZKPs to manage the complex, gas-intensive task of slashing. This solution reduces onchain costs by 99.9%, ensuring scalable and secure operations:
https://risczero.com/blog/boundless-eigenlayer
Succinct introduced the Succinct Network whitepaper, which elucidates on their decentralized protocol designed to make ZKP generation faster, cheaper, and widely accessible. It centers on 'proof contests': auctions where provers compete to deliver efficient results. These contests balance decentralization and cost, ensuring fair participation while maintaining speed. Built on the SP1 zkVM and an application-specific blockchain, the network is poised to scale blockchain apps, enhance privacy, and enable verifiable computing:
ZKM Research released part one of a blog series comparing cryptographic proof systems - Groth16, PLONK, and STARK - used widely in blockchain for verifying computations. Starting with the Discrete Logarithm Problem, the series explores the evolution of proof systems, focusing on universal systems capable of validating diverse computations. Future posts will detail encoding, arithmetization, and evaluation processes, contextualizing each system's trade-offs for blockchain use:
