RISC Zero rolls out production-ready zkVM

RISC Zero has officially launched zkVM 1.0, a new general-purpose zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM) touted as production-ready. 

The platform distinguishes itself by utilizing zero-knowledge proofs to facilitate the development of dapps across various blockchains.

One of the key features of zkVM 1.0 is its cost-effective proving process and better performance metrics, the team at RISC Zero claims. 

zkVM 1.0 is capable of generating proofs for any program developed in Rust, allowing for the development of complex logic without the limitations typically associated with size or gas costs.

The zkVM aims to offload a large portion of computational work in on-chain dapps. Here, ZK proofs ensure that computations are compressed and verified quickly without the verifier needing to perform the computations themselves.

Such a mechanism is crucial for enhancing the scalability of blockchain applications, as it facilitates the execution of complex operations off-chain while maintaining on-chain verification. This includes potential use cases in Layer 2 blockchains, cross-chain bridges, and other areas where efficient, verifiable computing is critical.

Unlike zkEVMs, which are tailored specifically for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) environments, zkVMs are virtual machines leveraging zero-knowledge proofs for dapps.

Besides zkVM 1.0, other examples include Nexus zkVM, SP1 from Succinct Labs, and Jolt by a16z crypto.

Further enhancing its utility, zkVM 1.0 will support dapp interoperability across any blockchain that integrates a RISC Zero Verifier. This means that applications can operate across different chains, including Ethereum, Base, OP, Arbitrum, World Chain, and Starknet.

For zkVM 1.0’s launch, RISC Zero has conducted a trusted setup ceremony and undergone rigorous third-party audits, the project said.

RISC Zero raised $40 million in a Series A funding round in July 2023.