zkVerify blog

zkVerify 2024 Year in Review

an advertisement for a zk online hackathon for web3 builders

Introduction

In 2024, zkVerify made impressive advancements in the world of modular blockchain technology, positioning itself as a leader in ZK proof verification. Focused on enhancing scalability, efficiency, and developer accessibility, the platform introduced a series of groundbreaking features that set new standards for the industry. From testnet launches and ecosystem expansions to performance upgrades and the introduction of novel use cases, zkVerify has been at the forefront of transforming the zk-rollup space. This year’s milestones not only reduced proof verification costs but also empowered developers with new tools to build trustless, efficient applications.

Key Highlights

  • 7 verifiers deployed by zkVerify team
  • 1 incentivized testnet deployed
  • 4 verifiers under development by external parties through the Incentivized Testnet program and the Grants program
    • Incentivized Testnet program
      • A total of 3 submissions have been received. These submissions will lead to the delivery of the Plonky2, Halo2, and SP1 verifiers.
    • Grants program
      • 4 submissions were shortlisted, and 1 was approved. The approved submission will lead to the development of an additional verifier, the Starky verifier.
  • 4 networks integrated to receive proof receipts
  • 15 Hackathon project submissions
  • 4 hackathons hosted/participated in
  • 8 major events attended
  • 34 partnerships and integrations
  • 10,000+ Devs joined zkVerify Metaschool Course

Technical Deliveries

March 31, 2024 - Milestone 1: Cost analysis and initial spin up of a public testnet

a table showing the dates january 17 2014 and march 31 2014

May 23, 2024 – zkVerify Goes Live on Testnet

a highly efficient modular blockchain for zk proof verification
  • zkVerify officially launched on the testnet as a modular blockchain platform designed to handle ZK proof verification.
  • The platform enables users to submit and verify various types of proofs across zk-rollups and settlement layers.
  • This 1st iteration is able to verify FFLONK and ZKsync Era proofs. Enabling integrations with Polygon CDK and ZKSync chains.
  • By optimizing verification processes, zkVerify can reduce verification costs by up to 91%, translating to significant cost savings for zk-rollup projects.
  • Supports developers working with Horizen Labs and the broader Horizen ecosystem.

June 13, 2024 – Version 0.3.0 Release: New Verifiers

  • Introduced verifiers for two major proof systems: Groth16 and RISC Zero.
    • Groth16 Verifier:
      • A pairing-based proof system widely used in Ethereum zk-applications.
      • Compatible with popular ZK development tools like Circom and SnarkJS, simplifying proof generation and verification for developers.
    • RISC Zero Verifier:
      • A zkVM that enables verification of generic computation, particularly code written in Rust.
      • Uses the FRI protocol for computational efficiency and integrates the Poseidon2 hash function for cryptographic performance.
      • Provides an efficient pathway for developers working with RISC Zero-based zk-applications to submit proofs directly to zkVerify.
  • These additions significantly expand zkVerify’s capability to handle diverse proof types with enhanced efficiency.

June 28, 2024 – zkVerify Proof Receipts Broadcast on ApeChain

  • zkVerify began supporting Proof Receipts Broadcast on ApeChain, the blockchain powering the ApeCoin ecosystem.
  • Projects on ApeChain can now leverage zkVerify to integrate ZK proofs natively, opening opportunities for innovative zk-based gaming applications and financial products.
  • Integration prepares zkVerify for compatibility with UltraPlonk, enabling proof verification for Noir-generated proofs (Noir is a Rust-based ZK programming language).
  • The move reinforces zkVerify’s support for advanced ZK tooling and gaming-specific use cases.

September 11, 2024 – Version 0.5.2: Enhanced Blockchain Functionality with Substrate Pallets

  • Introduced powerful Substrate pallets to expand zkVerify’s ecosystem capabilities:
    • Treasury Pallet: Facilitates on-chain governance for managing funds transparently and efficiently.
    • Bounties Pallet: Works alongside the Treasury to enable community-driven bounty creation for incentivizing contributions to specific tasks or projects.
    • Vesting Pallet: Provides token vesting mechanisms to release tokens over time, supporting sustainable tokenomics models for zkVerify users.
    • Utility Pallet: Allows the execution of multiple extrinsics within a single transaction, reducing gas costs and improving operational efficiency.
  • These pallets create a highly interoperable blockchain environment, fostering decentralization, transparency, and reduced operational costs for developers and users.

October 4, 2024 – Version 0.6.0: Bags-List Pallet and Proof Storage Enhancements

  • Introduced the Bags-List Pallet, a key improvement to zkVerify’s Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) mechanism:
    • Organizes nominators into groups based on their stake, optimizing election scalability without degrading performance.
  • Improved proof verification storage to optimize how verification data is structured, making zkVerify’s on-chain performance more reliable and scalable.

October 29, 2024 – Runtime Upgrade 0.8.0 and Node Release 0.6.0

  • Implemented native Groth16 proof verification, replacing the older WASM-based implementation:
    • Proof verification is now 5x faster and more computationally efficient.
    • Dramatically lowers the operational costs for developers submitting Groth16 proofs.
  • Runtime Upgrade 0.8.0 activates native Groth16 verification for all nodes, ensuring compatibility and efficiency across the network.

November 12, 2024 – Decentralized SQL Verifier for SXT Chain

  • Launched a decentralized verifier for Space and Time’s Proof of SQL ZK coprocessor on SXT Chain.
  • Enabled zkVerify to support the verification of ZK-proven SQL queries more efficiently compared to Ethereum.
  • Supports cross-chain data processing by proving queries against data stored on SXT Chain (aggregating data from Ethereum, Bitcoin, ZKsync, Sui, Aptos, and Polygon).
  • Use cases include trustless querying for financial data, healthcare records, and AI applications to verify integrity without exposing sensitive information.

December 12, 2024 – Runtime Upgrade 0.9.0 and Node Release 0.7.0

  • Introduced Domains, a customizable framework for managing proof aggregation and verification policies:
    • Developers can define conditions for proof publication, including time-based triggers and minimum proof thresholds.
    • Aggregation receipts can be directed to specific destinations, optimizing cost-efficiency and latency for zkApps.
  • Implemented token bonding for verification keys and domains registration:
    • Tokens are bonded during registration and returned upon deregistration, ensuring fair network resource allocation.
  • Integrated Hyperbridge, a decentralized relay mechanism for cross-chain proof receipts:
    • Offers an alternative to zkVerify’s centralized relayer, paving the way for greater scalability and censorship resistance.

Events / Hackathons

two men are standing next to each other in front of a table .

During 2024, the zkVerify Team attended, spoke at, and participated in many different events in the Web3 space!

Throughout 2024 we hosted and participated in a few different hackathons as well! As a result of these hackathons, 15 unique projects were built utilizing zkVerify technology. All of those projects can be viewed here.

  • zkHack Montreal
    • zgate
    • Provable Multiparty Delay Encryption
    • ZTips
    • ZkSafe Ownership Ofuscation
  • ETHWarsaw
    • ZKFeedback
    • Verifiable zk-mastermind
    • Crypto PoS
  • ETHSofia
    • ZKLauren
  • zkVerify Online Hackathon
    • AttestVerify
    • zkVerify x Galxe Identity Protocol
    • ZeroKnowledge Voting
    • zkMarket
    • Fairplay
    • AnonAgents
    • zkvm maxi

Partnerships

In 2024 over 30 Partnerships and Integrations were completed! Here are a few of the major ones to highlight:

Media Mentions / Press Releases

Throughout 2024, zkVerify had 21 different pieces of media coverage covering various integrations, partnerships, and technical upgrades! Here are some examples of the major ones:

Looking Ahead

As 2024 draws to a close, zkVerify has established itself as a pivotal force in the modular blockchain landscape. With a proven track record of reducing verification costs, expanding ecosystem support, and unlocking new use cases, the platform has laid the groundwork for continued innovation in 2025. With plans to further boost throughput and decrease verification times, zkVerify is poised to drive even greater advancements, providing developers with the tools they need to build faster, more scalable zkApps and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in blockchain technology.