Boundless Network Testnet Launches on Base
Yesterday, RISC Zero’s Boundless network, a groundbreaking zkVM proof marketplace, deployed its incentivized testnet on the Base Layer 2 chain. The initiative aims to deliver verifiable computation without modifying existing blockchain architectures.
Boundless Network Function
Boundless serves as a proof marketplace enabling chains to offload computationally intensive tasks using zero-knowledge proofs. Unlike conventional blockchains, Boundless isn’t a native blockchain but a specialized infrastructure designed to deploy proofs across networks.
- Chains submit computation tasks to Boundless for execution.
- Prover nodes (participating networks) claim and process these tasks off-chain.
- Provers stake ZKC tokens, creating economic incentives for accurate proofs.
- Completed proofs are submitted as compact ZK receipts, with verification costs minimal even for complex computations.
Boundless Architecture
The network employs a novel Proof of Verifiable Work (PoVW) consensus mechanism, distinguishing itself from alternatives like Succinct’s bidding and Kalypso’s time-based pricing. PoVW assigns cryptographic metadata to proofs, enabling:
- Proportionate payment to provers based on actual computation
- Detection and prevention of fraudulent proofs
Boundless maintains compatibility with its proprietary RISC Zero zkVM while preparing support for competing zkVM implementations—including SP1 by Succinct, Boojum by ZKsync, and Jolt.
Industry Adoption
Leading blockchain infrastructure providers have emerged as early adopters:
- EigenLayer: Utilizes Boundless for AVS slashing logic
- Celestia: Deploys it for data availability proofs
- Taiko: Leverages it in its multi-prover setup
- Lido: Implements it for zk-based staking oracles
Executive Perspective
“Today, anyone can perform massive computation with a zkVM for less than $30. We’re bringing this boundless mindset of elastic, unlimited computation to every chain, available at any point in time.”
CEO Shiv Shankar highlights cost savings against traditional on-chain computation (costing thousands of dollars), noting that the network currently processes work from 363 active provers, with projections of up to 1,000 GPUs in operation.
Upcoming Developments
RISC Zero has outlined ambitions for full mainnet launch and Token Generation Event for late 2025.
