Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the zkVM ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
Featuring: @SuccinctLabs, @ProjectZKM, @zksync, @NexusLabs, @RiscZero, @brevis_zk, @ziskvm (@0xPolygon), Jolt (@a16zcrypto), @ZorpZK, @ligero_inc, & @DelphinusLab
Tech
@SuccinctLabs has launched Stage 2.5, expanding its Prover Network by onboarding top ZK hardware teams and community members to build a large-scale, efficient proving cluster: https://blog.succinct.xyz/stage-2-5-2/
This marks the final phase of a six-month testnet and a key step toward mainnet. The release includes a full implementation of their open protocol, enabling anyone to run a prover node. Succinct is now focused on scaling participation, improving infrastructure, and attracting top teams to compete on performance and cost.
Integrations
Succinct and @hibachi_xyz have teamed up to launch Hibachi, a fast and private decentralized exchange using ZKPs and encrypted data on @celestia. It avoids exposing user positions - common in traditional onchain orderbooks - and delivers execution speeds rivaling offchain exchanges.
By combining onchain verifiability with offchain performance, they introduce a new DEX model. Succinct's tech also powers broader verifiable applications beyond exchanges through its vApp framework: https://blog.succinct.xyz/hibachi/
Additionally, @AcrossProtocol has launched V4, integrating Succinct’s ZKPs to simplify and speed up crosschain interoperability. Previously reliant on custom adapters, Across now uses a ZK light client to verify @ethereum state across chains. This reduces time, audit complexity, and trust assumptions. V4 is already live, powering bridges to @BNBCHAIN and @PancakeSwap, enabling standardized, scalable support for new chains without custom development: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1940442119090716721
Partnerships
The project announced several other collaborations, enhancing verifiability across blockchains, documents, and virtual machines through ZK infrastructure:
• @Terminaxyz: Utilizes the Succinct Prover Network to generate proofs of Solana Virtual Machine execution, enabling scalable and verifiable ZK-applications on Solana without re-executing transactions: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1932465881369710684
• @eas_eth: Helped launch a toolkit using SP1 to turn offchain attestations into verifiable ZKPs, enabling privacy-preserving claims with optional onchain verification: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1935415308929613897
• @PrivacyScaling: Supported zkPDF - a tool to prove facts from signed PDFs without revealing the full content, unlocking privacy-preserving use cases in identity, finance, and legal workflows: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1935565523045220780
• @Celo: Powered the Eclair Testnet with OP Succinct Lite and @eigen_da v2, delivering modular ZK fault proofs and scalable data availability to support Celo’s L2 ambitions: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1940416130876907735
@ProjectZKM has published a series of articles elucidating on the technical solutions and architectural principles behind its zkVM stack:
The first article discusses offline memory checking in zkVMs - a technique where all memory reads are verified in batch after execution. This reduces overhead compared to Merkle-based methods. It introduces read/write sets and validates correctness using multiset hashing or lookup tables, ensuring efficient, scalable memory verification for ZKP systems: https://zkm.io/blog/offline-memory-checking-in-zkvm
The second article explains why ZKM’s MIPS-based zkVM is optimized for real-world use: stable ISA, low abstraction overhead, and GPU-accelerated proving.
Instead of aiming for mass integrations, ZKM focuses on deep, high-performance deployments across chains. The modular design, Rust support, and production readiness make it ideal for latency-sensitive ZK apps: https://zkm.io/blog/why-zkm-choosing-the-right-zkvm-for-your-application
The third article outlines ZKM’s journey from research to real infrastructure, describing the strategic choice of MIPS, the Entangled Rollup vision, and Bitcoin-native integration via @GOATRollup.
With benchmarks outperforming rivals and GPU support on the way, ZKM is building scalable, cross-chain ZK infrastructure built for long-term impact: https://zkm.io/blog/zkm-the-journey-so-far
The fourth article explores how ZKM compresses large STARK proofs into compact SNARKs using recursive circuits.
It introduces root, aggregation, and block circuits to efficiently verify and merge proofs. Through a multi-step shrink process, ZKM builds a recursive chain per table, optimizing constraint performance and enabling scalable proof systems fit for production use: https://zkm.io/blog/zkm-prover-stark-to-snark
The most recent article - released as the second part to the highly acclaimed MIPS vs RISC-V article published in May - analyzes why ZKM chose MIPS32r2 over RISC-V, focusing on microarchitectural simplicity and constraint efficiency.
It explains how MIPS offers fixed-width, low-entropy opcodes that simplify zk circuit design. Compared to RISC-V’s modularity and variability, MIPS enables faster decoding, fewer constraints, and easier circuit integration - critical advantages in ZK proving environments: https://zkm.io/blog/why-zkm-chose-mips32r2-over-risc-v-part-2-microarchitectural-simplicity-and-constraint-efficiency
ZKM also released a string of teaser tweets pointing towards a significant update coming to its proving stack.
@zksync has introduced Airbender, a new high-performance open-source RISC-V zkVM designed for fast, cost-efficient proof generation: https://zksync.mirror.xyz/ZgRmbYA_EE3wfGcXWv81m-xcED-ppNKkRzkleS6YZRc
Benchmarks show Airbender delivers sub-second proofs for ZKsync blocks and proves @ethereum blocks in under 35 seconds using just one GPU - far outpacing competitors requiring dozens of GPUs. It reaches 21.8 million cycles per second on H100 GPUs and is 4-11x faster than alternatives like zkVM SP1 by @SuccinctLabs and zkVM by @RiscZero.
Airbender supports general-purpose use, enables near real-time settlement, and reduces proof costs significantly. Though still in beta, developers can begin building with it now and test its performance on a live demo app.
Tech
@NexusLabs has officially launched Testnet III globally, following a phased 24-hour rollout to identify bugs and fine-tune infrastructure: https://blog.nexus.xyz/live-everywhere/
This test phase, lasting several months, prepares for the upcoming Nexus Mainnet and focuses on scaling verifiable computation. Participants can connect, run provers, use the CLI, and track their impact via a real-time leaderboard.
Nexus positions itself as a L1 network built for transparent, accountable computation in an AI-driven world where trust is increasingly vital.
Partnerships
Nexus continues to grow its ecosystem with new partnerships focused on data infrastructure and user onboarding:
• @Noves_fi: Enables a structured Aggregated Data Layer that transforms raw blockchain activity into human-readable, cross-chain insights - allowing developers to build apps without parsing logs, while dashboards and protocols gain real-time, interpretable analytics across Nexus: https://blog.nexus.xyz/partnering-with-noves-to-power-a-aggregated-data-layer/
• @dynamic_xyz: Delivers seamless wallet onboarding by abstracting key management and crypto complexity - letting users connect via email on any device. This collaboration supports Nexus’ goal of accessible, secure access to verifiable infrastructure for millions worldwide: https://blog.nexus.xyz/scaling-wallet-onboarding/
The Boundless Foundation has been introduced, an independent organization focused on advancing ZK technology and supporting the Boundless Network ecosystem: https://beboundless.xyz/blog/introducing-the-boundless-foundation
In partnership with RISC Zero, the foundation aims to make scalable, private computation widely accessible. With a multi-zkVM approach, it funds innovation, fosters collaboration, and supports over 30 teams building real-world ZK applications across industries through open, decentralized infrastructure.
Security
@RiscZero disclosed a critical vulnerability in its rv32im circuit, affecting 3-register RISC-V instructions in risc0-zkvm versions 2.0.0 to 2.0.2.
Security researcher Christoph Hochrainer reported the flaw via HackenProof. The issue has been fixed in version 2.1.0, and all partners have migrated to the patched release: https://x.com/RiscZero/status/1935404812146725042
Media
The keynote recording by @BruestleJeremy, CEO of RISC Zero, at House of ZK's @eth_proofs Summit was released, where he talked about about the road ahead for ZK - from breakthroughs like GPU-based real-time proving and zkVM innovations to the pressing need for better hardware and developer-friendly models - and unveiling Boundless, a cross-chain protocol aiming to make verifiable computation universally accessible: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1940722590164631977
Tech
@boundless_xyz introduced the incentive model for Proof of Verifiable Work (PoVW): https://beboundless.xyz/blog/the-last-iteration-of-blockchain-incentives-povw
Unlike Proof of Work or Stake, PoVW allows standard devices to participate, enabling decentralized, verifiable computing markets. It aligns incentives with productive output, removing artificial limits on scalability. Each new participant adds computing power, creating a collaborative infrastructure that supports multiple blockchains without energy waste or high entry costs.
@brevis_zk has released Pico-GPU 1.0, a GPU-accelerated version of its zkVM now proving full @ethereum blocks on @eth_proofs: https://blog.brevis.network/2025/06/27/announcing-pico-gpu-setting-a-new-zkvm-benchmark-with-gpu-acceleration/
Offering 10× to 20× speedups over CPU, it outperforms SP1 by 25% in live benchmarks. Already integrated in DeFi workflows, Pico-GPU supports tasks like reward distribution and private swaps.
Version 2.0 with multi-server clustering for scalable proving is coming soon.
The @ziskvm team released a comprehensive thread introducing Zisk, a new open-source zkVM stack designed for developers building verifiable programs in languages like Rust, with Go and C# support planned: https://x.com/ziskvm/status/1935307212282593503
Created by eight core engineers behind @0xPolygon’s zkEVM, ZisK runs on RISC-V 64 and focuses on low-latency, high-speed proof generation. Its modular design allows use as a library or standalone tool, with support for custom circuits and ZK apps.
Fully open source under MIT/Apache 2.0, ZisK aims to be the reference zkVM for the community.
@SuccinctJT of @a16zcrypto, @BagadSuyash and @yuval_domb of @Ingo_zk and @QuangVDao of @CarnegieMellon present two new techniques to accelerate sum-check proving, central to SNARKs and zkVMs like Jolt: https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/1117
One approach replaces costly field multiplications with cheaper operations when values are small. The other reduces overhead for equality polynomials commonly used in sum-checks. Combined, these yield practical 2-3× speedups for proving steps in Spartan-in-Jolt, with gains reaching 20× in memory-limited scenarios.
Their optimizations cut both runtime and memory use, offering a more efficient path for scalable ZK computation.
The @ZorpZK team introduced a new framework for compiling programming languages into efficient verifiable circuits, enabling faster development of zkVMs: https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/1110
By identifying “traversable” languages that separate memory and execution, they create compact circuits with high efficiency. To validate their model, the team built a zkVM for the Nock language, achieving performance on par with leading systems while using fewer resources.
Their approach provides a pathway to compile a broad range of languages into secure zkVMs generically, offering flexibility and formal guarantees previously limited to custom-built or highly optimized virtual machines.
Tech
@ligero_inc has open-sourced Ligetron, a lightweight ZK prover that runs efficiently on devices from phones to servers: https://x.com/ligero_inc/status/1937913434789842983
Ligetron supports full ZKPs, scales to billions of gates, and runs in browsers using WebGPU. Built on the Ligero ZK system, it offers programmability, memory efficiency, and post-quantum security. Developers can write in C++ or Rust and prove credentials on mobile instantly.
Media
On the latest episode of @HouseofZK Radio, @mvenkita (CEO) and Carmit Hazay (Chief Cryptographer) of Ligero joined @alicelingl, where they discussed the future of privacy-preserving computation, the real-world deployment of verifiable cryptographic protocols, and how Ligero’s innovations are making secure, scalable computation accessible even beyond the blockchain space: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1940377235036188810
@DelphinusLab has completed the zkWASM testnet and is preparing for mainnet launch: https://x.com/DelphinusLab/status/1934626538735198321
The platform lets each app run as its own rollup, generating proofs and settling to any base chain. With over 60,000 users and 1,027 active nodes, its economic model drives growth: more apps increase demand, lower costs, and boost rewards for provers.
