Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the zkVM ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates
@RiscZero has significantly cut @ethereum block proving times - from 44 seconds in April to 20 seconds now - and aims to reach under 12 seconds using an affordable $120K cluster. Their fully open-source zkVM and GPU tools enable any team to build real-time proving setups, improving accessibility and decentralization in Ethereum’s ZKP infrastructure: https://x.com/RiscZero/status/1924536174707691710…
@boundless_xyz now supports Steel, a ZK-coprocessor that removes execution limits for Solidity smart contracts. With Steel, contracts can access historical state, compute across multiple blocks, and use onchain event logs as trusted inputs. Computation is done offchain, with only a small proof returned onchain - verifiable at constant gas. This unlocks richer, multi-block logic without relying on indexers or hitting @ethereum’s 30M gas cap: https://beboundless.xyz/blog/steel-on-boundless…
The RISC Zero team will be participating in House of ZK's upcoming @eth_proofs Summit:
1) @BruestleJeremy, Co-founder of @RiscZero along with @m_ratsim of @0xLita, @jbaylina of @0xPolygon, @pumatheuma of @SuccinctLabs and @alexanderlhicks of @ethereumfndn will dive into the frontier areas of real-time proving: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1930551768015872170…
2) @reka_eth, Director of Marketing at RISC Zero will moderate a panel featuring @leonardoalt of @powdr_labs, @portport255 of @zksync, @theyisun of @axiom_xyz and @radi_cojbasic of @IrreducibleHW. They will discuss benchmarks, bottlenecks, and what the future holds for zkVM: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932051887169097986…
3) Jeremy will also close the event with a broad keynote on the current state and future of ZK: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932061703270728183
@ProjectZKM recently shared an article explaining the structure of its ZKM Prover, focusing on Memory & Logic STARKs: https://zkm.io/blog/zkm-prover-memory-logic-stark…
The article explains how Memory STARK ensures memory accesses follow strict order and correctness via trace generation, constraint checks, and ZK circuit evaluations. Logic STARK verifies logical operations like AND, OR, XOR, and NOR through a trace and constraint system, enabling efficient STARK proofs and optional recursive verification using SNARKs for enhanced performance.
In the recent @eth_proofs Call #2, @sd_eigen, CTO of ZKM talked about the release of zkMIPS 1.0 in early May. Benchmarks show over 20 million execution cycles per second on a single AMD EPYC CPU, and 1.3 million MIPS proving speed on an RTX 4090 GPU. The code is open source and undergoing audit, with pipeline and cluster proving now implemented.
Timestamp - 01:08:40: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY…
During @BerBlockWeek at the House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit event, @sd_eigen, CTO of ZKM, will deliver a keynote and participate in two panels including:
- A discussion with @asn_d6, of @ethereumfndn, @portport255 of @zksync, @alexand_belling of @LineaBuild and @MayaD09111862 of @StarkWareLtd about zkVM design choices and the future of ZKPs: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1931713812014436853…
- A conversation with @carlo_cretino50 of @0xLita, @NorbertVadas of @thezkcloud, @schmiddominik1 of @0xMiden, and @alicelingl of @HouseofZK about the future of proof markets, ZK protocol design, and how zkVMs will seamlessly interact across chains: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932057862273896577
@MyntUSD is the first stablecoin to use SP1 by @SuccinctLabs, enabling users to lock balances with ZKPs instead of transferring tokens: https://x.com/SuccinctLabs/status/1930311173703950694…
Optimized for high-throughput chains like @monad_xyz and @megaeth_labs, this model allows seamless interaction with DeFi protocols. ZKPs become priced objects, improving composability and security.
You can read more of Succinct's news in our recent Succinct Special Report: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1930706018238935070
@zksync has open-sourced two key repositories: ZKsync Airbender, a new proof system designed to support interoperability plans, and ZKsync OS, which enables blockchains to use various virtual machines like EVM, EraVM, and WASM. Airbender can validate these systems, marking a technical step forward. More updates are expected in the coming weeks: https://x.com/zksync/status/1929919216859394377…
At the upcoming House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit, @portport255, Core Contributor to @the_matter_labs and @zksync, will be giving a keynote, as well as participating in a number of panels:
- Panel: zkVM Design and Proof System Tradeooffs - along with @asn_d6, of @ethereumfndn, @sd_eigen of @ProjectZKM, @alexand_belling of @LineaBuild and @MayaD09111862 of @StarkWareLtd: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1931713812014436853…
- Panel: zkVMs in Practice - Progress, Pitfalls, and Next Targets - along with @leonardoalt of @powdr_labs, @theyisun of @axiom_xyz, @radi_cojbasic of @IrreducibleHW, and @reka_eth of @RiscZero: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932051887169097986…
ZKsync is also a sponsor of the event
@powdr_labs and @axiom_xyz showcased autoprecompiles for zkVMs that outperform manual precompiles. Recent benchmarks using 25,000 Keccak iterations show autoprecompiles now generate end-to-end proofs 12.96x faster than pure software and 6% faster than manual precompiles. This suggests manual precompiles may soon be obsolete. Their approach uses @openvm_org’s RISC-V base and powdr’s middleware for chip-level optimizations and static analysis: https://powdr.org/blog/powdr-openvm-autoprecompiles…
In other news, @leonardoalt, Co-founder of @powdr_labs will speak at the House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit during @BerBlockWeek. He will join @portport255 of @zksync, @theyisun of @axiom_xyz, @radi_cojbasic of @IrreducibleHW and @reka_eth of @RiscZero to discuss zkVM performance, real-world benchmarks, key bottlenecks, and the future direction of zkVMs: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932051887169097986
@0xLita team has built a GPU library using NVIDIA’s NVRTC to generate CUDA code from Nim at runtime, leveraging Nim’s metaprogramming to compile a custom CUDA backend. Compared to ICICLE, a CUDA-accelerated cryptography library, their implementation achieved a 5.3x speedup in Merkle tree construction using the Poseidon2 permutation. The project will be open-sourced, with planned support for 64-bit limbs and additional platform targets: https://lita.foundation/blog/nvrtc-cuda-poc-building-a-gpu-prover-with-runtime-compilation…
The team also published an article explaining how their benchmark analysis tool helps maintain Valida zkVM’s performance by tracking execution time, memory usage, and scaling behavior. The tool analyzes CI benchmarks, detects regressions, and models performance trends. It also quantifies optimization impact and will soon include energy metrics and hardware-normalized results. Future plans involve public dashboards for transparent performance tracking and ecosystem benchmarking: https://lita.foundation/blog/benchmark-analysis-tool-tracking-performance-in-valida-zkvm…
In addition, the project has released the first version of its ISA specification. The document offers a clear definition of Valida program semantics to support zkVM and compiler toolchain developers. This milestone marks Valida's move toward becoming an open standard, similar to RISC-V, with contributions from a wide network of collaborators:
https://x.com/0xLita/status/1922622292376301791…
Finally, Lita at the House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit event will take part in two panels including:
1) @m_ratsim, Cryptography Engineer at @0xLita, will join @jbaylina of @0xPolygon, @BruestleJeremy of @RiscZero, @pumatheuma of @SuccinctLabs and @alexanderlhicks of @ethereumfndn to discuss cutting-edge work on real-time acceleration of ZK proofs: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1930551768015872170…
2) @carlo_cretino50, Cryptography Engineer at @0xLita along with @sd_eigen of @ProjectZKM, @NorbertVadas of @thezkcloud, @schmiddominik1 of @0xMiden and @alicelingl of @HouseofZK will discuss how evidence evolution and native zkVM interoperability will impact scalability, security and decentralisation of multichain ecosystems: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932057862273896577
@NexusLabs has launched the Verifiable AI Lab to create AI systems that are auditable, secure, and aligned with human values. The lab will focus on integrating cryptographic proofs into AI pipelines, using AI to verify complex systems, enabling AI agents to operate in real-world economies, and exploring AI's role in economic governance. The goal is to build trust through verifiability, not opacity: https://blog.nexus.xyz/nexus-verifiable-ai-lab/…
Continuing Nexus's mission to build verifiable AI, the Nexus MCP Server has been introduced. It enables AI agents to directly interact with the blockchain via the MCP standard, exchanging data and executing transactions. This connects AI with Web3 infrastructure and opens up possibilities for automation in finance, analytics, and governance. The server is now available for developers and supports scalable, secure integration: https://blog.nexus.xyz/mcp-server-support-on-nexus/…
As a next step in building verifiable AI, Nexus has launched the Verifiable Intelligence Alliance - an independent, multi-stakeholder group uniting researchers from cryptography, AI, and economics. VIA will coordinate open standards, research agendas, and prototypes to ensure AI systems can be audited and trusted. Nexus is providing initial funding and operational support: https://blog.nexus.xyz/introducing-via-the-verifiable-intelligence-alliance/…
Also as part of its push for verifiable AI, Nexus introduced zkMCP - a demo protocol showing how AI model execution can be cryptographically verified. Using the Nexus zkVM, it proves which model ran, with what input and configuration. The first test involved a decision tree classifier, producing a ZKP alongside the result, ensuring transparency and auditability: https://blog.nexus.xyz/nexus-zkmcp-verifiable-model-execution/…
Finally, @0xAlecJames, Business Operations and Strategy Manager at Nexus, will join @NorbertVadas of @thezkcloud, @MayaD09111862 of @StarkWareLtd, @Khovr of @ethereumfndn and @alicelingl of @HouseofZK in Panel: Benchmarking Methodologies and Verification Standards. The panel will take place at the House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit during @BerBlockWeek:
https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1929512121026421203
@jbaylina, Co-founder of @0xPolygon, in a recent @eth_proofs Call #2 told how ZisK is pushing toward real-time ZK proving. He shared their open-source zkVM now runs a transpiled RISC-V to Intel core at 750 MHz, just 4x slower than native execution. By optimizing parallel GPU scheduling and reaching 0.15s full aggregation, they aim for 12-second proof cycles and potential sub-second results ahead.
Timestamp - 00:55:40: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY…
At the upcoming House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit, Jordi will give a keynote and take part in a panel with @pumatheuma of @SuccinctLabs, @m_ratsim of @0xLita, @BruestleJeremy of @RiscZero and @alexanderlhicks of @ethereumfndn to discuss the cutting edge of real-time ZK proving - from achieving sub-12 second proofs and tackling memory bottlenecks, to orchestrating provers at scale: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1930551768015872170
@no89thkey, Co-Founder of @brevis_zk, in a recent @eth_proofs Call shared that their GPU-accelerated ZK proving system, Pico, is nearing release. Running on an RTX 4090, it achieves 6x speed over previous CPU setups.
Brevis also integrated its zkData Co-Processor into DeFi protocols and completed Ethproofs API integration. Real-time proving via optimized GPU clusters is expected within weeks, with security audits already underway.
Timestamp - 01:03:30: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY
@axiom_xyz and @powdr_labs have integrated Powdr’s autoprecompile technology into @openvm_org, enabling over 5x faster proof generation in tests with no added security risk. This is made possible by OpenVM’s modular design, which supports program-specific acceleration without modifying core code. The results show strong potential to replace hand-written zkVM precompiles with verified, automated alternatives: https://x.com/axiom_xyz/status/1925299359874523498…
Also, the project has launched the private beta of its Proving API, adding support for larger proving tasks, a web-based API console, and compatibility with the new @openvm_org Solidity SDK. Developers can now verify OpenVM proofs on any EVM chain without complex setup. The beta expands on improvements since March’s alpha release: https://blog.axiom.xyz/axiom-api-beta/
@openvm_org has launched its Solidity SDK, enabling developers to verify OpenVM zkVM proofs onchain for around ~330K gas. The SDK supports all zkVMs built with the OpenVM framework and is also available as a Foundry library for the default configuration. Developers can access documentation and the full announcement via OpenVM’s official channels: https://x.com/openvm_org/status/1922361094712262936…
Finally, @theyisun, Co-founder of @axiom_xyz as part of the @eth_proofs Summit will join @leonardoalt of @powdr_labs, @portport255 of @zksync, @radi_cojbasic of @IrreducibleHW, and @reka_eth of @RiscZero to dive into zkVM performance:
https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932051887169097986
@IrreducibleHW, in collaboration with @0xPolygon, has introduced PetraVM - a verifiable virtual machine optimized for Binius-based arithmetic. It supports Rust-to-Wasm compilation and uses PetraML, a functional language tailored for recursion. PetraVM features non-deterministic ROM, binary field memory, and no general-purpose registers. Aimed at enhancing ZK systems, a compiler and recursion program are expected by July, with further updates planned: https://x.com/IrreducibleHW/status/1920833298512674898…
@radi_cojbasic, Co-Founder & CEO of @IrreducibleHW, will be speaking at the House of ZK @eth_proofs Summit during @BerBlockWeek. He will join @portport255 of @zksync, @theyisun of @axiom_xyz, @leonardoalt of @powdr_labs and @reka_eth of @RiscZero to discuss the future of zkVMs: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932051887169097986
In the latest @eth_proofs Call, @bobbinth, Co-founder of @0xMiden shared updates on Miden VM, a STARK-based zkVM focused on safety, recursion, and client-side proving. It features memory isolation, a merkle-based syntax tree, and call-by-hash for secure linking. Miden aims for fast startup, small proofs, and plans to adopt Plonky3. EVM proving is targeted for Q4, pending support for modular precompiles. Timestamp - 00:13:10: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY…
Additionally, @schmiddominik1, Co-founder of @0xMiden will participate in one of the panels at the House of ZK Ethproofs Summit. He will join @carlo_cretino50 of @0xLita, @sd_eigen of @ProjectZKM, @NorbertVadas of @thezkcloud and @alicelingl of @HouseofZK to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of ZK technology - exploring how proof markets could reshape economic incentives, what native zkVM interoperability means for builders, and how protocol architecture must evolve to support a more composable, privacy-preserving Web3 ecosystem: https://x.com/HouseofZK/status/1932057862273896577
@DelphinusLab has launched its zkWASM Dapps Hub and Deployment Portal, simplifying multi-chain Web3 app creation: https://x.com/DelphinusLab/status/1925447829918482663…
Developers can deploy directly from GitHub, while users enjoy gas-free gaming with a single sign-in. Three new games - @0xAutomataGames, @0xMeMeDisco, and @0xspacenugget - highlight zkWASM’s capabilities. With 60,000+ daily users and support from major investors, Delphinus invites developers and node operators to join its growing ecosystem.
Logan Allen, Founder of @nockchain and @ZorpZK, in the latest @eth_proofs Call #2 talked about launching the Nock zkVM - a minimal zero-knowledge virtual machine supporting 12 base instructions and extensible cryptographic operations.
It’s now part of a new ZK PoW chain to incentivize SNARK performance competition. Formal results show efficiency gains over RISC-V systems, with a preprint to be released soon.
Timestamp - 00:17:30: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY
In the second @eth_proofs Call, John Burnham, Co-founder of @argumentxyz shared that the team open-sourced their zkVM prototype Ix earlier that day.
Built using Lean 4, it explores “ZKP carrying code,” aiming to compress formal proofs into compact ZKPs. One goal is fitting a formal proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem into a margin note-sized space, making formal verification more portable and user-friendly.
Timestamp - 00:06:20: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY
At the most recent @eth_proofs Call, @mvenkita, CEO of @ligero_inc, explained how Ligero’s zkVM, Ligetron, can perform 27,000 Poseidon hashes and 1,000 ECDSA verifications per second in a browser on Apple’s M4 Max.
Muthu suggested real-time @ethereum block proving may soon be possible from a browser and confirmed Ligero plans to open-source its tech in early June.
Timestamp - 00:09:25: https://youtube.com/live/f5AvMBUV4WY
