The launch of Boundless’ incentivized testnet marks a significant milestone in the crypto world as it represents the first real stress test for production-ready zero-knowledge infrastructure. With the Ethereum Foundation and EigenLayer leading the way as early adopters, the race to implement ZK proofs across different chains has officially begun.
Boundless Network has recently rolled out its Mainnet Beta on Coinbase’s Base blockchain, unveiling what it describes as the first “universal” zero-knowledge protocol, as stated in a press release shared with crypto.news on July 15.
The incentivized testnet, powered by RISC Zero’s zkVM, has garnered participation from key players such as the Ethereum Foundation, Wormhole, and EigenLayer, showcasing early confidence in a project that is still in its beta phase.
The introduction of Proof of Verifiable Work in this rollout presents a novel concept that rewards users for creating and validating ZK proofs, essentially establishing a decentralized marketplace for computational integrity.
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Unveiling the Inner Workings of Boundless’ Zero-Knowledge Strategy
Boundless aims to serve as a decentralized platform where blockchains, developers, and miners can come together to exchange verified computation. Fueled by RISC Zero’s zkVM, the protocol acts as a universal layer for proofs, enabling any blockchain to outsource complex computations while ensuring cryptographic security.
Think of it as a trustless hub for outsourcing: instead of each blockchain redundantly verifying the same data, they can now share proofs across networks, reducing costs and latency.
The significance of Boundless’ beta launch lies in the fact that it is the first time a ZK system is being tested under real economic conditions. Previous implementations, such as zkEVMs, co-processors, or privacy chains, have functioned independently. Boundless changes the game by incentivizing a decentralized network of proof generators and validators, establishing a live marketplace for zero-knowledge computation.
“Mainnet Beta enables any protocol, on any blockchain, to gain access to best-in-class decentralized ZK infrastructure for proof generation, aggregation, data availability, and settlement, powered by Boundless,” stated Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless Network.
Proof of Verifiable Work: A New Approach to Mining
At the core of Boundless’ beta release is Proof of Verifiable Work, a departure from traditional mining practices. PoVW rewards users for verifying zero-knowledge proofs within a zkVM. High-performance GPU owners, whether institutional miners or individual operators, can now earn fees by validating computational integrity rather than brute-forcing hashes.
Aside from aligning incentives, this mechanism has the potential to reshape the cryptocurrency labor market. By linking rewards to proof complexity and speed, Boundless establishes a merit-based system where the most efficient miners earn the highest rewards.
Early participants will also receive allocations of $ZKC, Boundless’ native token, prior to its official launch later this year. The distribution of the token will be based on the complexity, volume, and speed of completed proofs. The press release indicates that the token generation event for $ZKC is scheduled for later in 2025.
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