Coinspeaker
RISC Zero Launch ZkVM 1.0 for Development of DApps
RISC Zero, a zk-STARKs-based zero-knowledge verifiable general computing platform has officially announced the launch of zkVM 1.0. As reported by The Block, the new product is a new general-purpose zkVM which the developer team prides as being production-ready. It is quite distinct from existing solutions because it utilizes zk proofs for the development of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) based apps across different blockchains.
Features of RISC Zero’s zkVM 1.0
zkVM 1.0’s cost-effective proving process is touted as one of its key features amongst others. The team behind the platform also highlighted its better performance metrics as an added advantage. Markedly, zkVM 1.0 has the capacity to generate proofs for different programs, in as much as it is developed on Rust.
This functionality provides room for the development of complex logic, taking away the limitations usually associated with size or gas costs. RISC Zero’s aim with this new platform is to offload a significant percentage of computational work in on-chain DApps. With the zk proofs, compression of computations is achieved and verified at a fast pace. All these are performed without the verifier conducting the computation themselves.
Overall, this mechanism plays a crucial role in improving the scalability of blockchain apps. It facilitates the execution of complex operations off-chain while also maintaining on-chain verification. This runs across potential use cases in Layer-2 blockchains, cross-chain bridges as well as areas where it is important to have efficient and verifiable computing.
Ordinarily, zkEVMs are tailored specifically for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) environments but zkVMs on the other hand, are virtual machines that leverage ZK proofs for DApps. Apart from the newly launched zkVM 1.0, other existing zkVMs include Nexus zkVM, Jolt from popular Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) crypto and SPI from Succinct Labs which recently got a part in Polygon and AggLayer’s collaboration.
In the near future, zkVM 1.0 will support the interoperability of DApps across any blockchain that integrates a RISC ZERO Verifier. Consequently, applications can operate on various chains like Ethereum, Base, OP, World Chain, Arbitrum, and Starknet.
To usher in the launch of zkVM 1.0, RISC Zero conducted a trusted setup ceremony. According to the project, the codes also passed through rigorous third-party audits.
Space And Time Launch Proof of SQL
In similar news, California-based crypto startup Space and Time (SXT) recently released its sub-second ZK prover stack called Proof of SQL.
It was made to grant its users access to this high-performance zero-knowledge prover on GitHub. Proof of SQL is designed as a novel ZK proof that cryptographically guarantees the accurate computation of SQL database queries against untampered data.
One key intricacy of ZK models is the fact that they allow developers or users to confirm the validity or veracity of data or transactions without revealing confidential information. This feature makes it preferred amongst other solutions.
