ZKC is the native token of Boundless, a universal zero-knowledge (ZK) proving infrastructure built by the RISC Zero team.
The idea is that blockchains, rollups, or applications can use Boundless to outsource or borrow ZK proving capabilities, rather than building them in-house.
The token has a supply and inflation schedule: in Year 1 the inflation is ~7 %, tapering over time to ~3 % by Year 8.
Use cases for ZKC include staking (to secure or support the network) and governance (voting on upgrades, etc.).
The token just recently (2025) launched / mainneted, and has seen volatility and sell pressure tied to airdrops and unlocks
Short-Term Outlook (weeks → months)
In the short term:
You should expect high volatility. The token is already seeing big price swings around listing, airdrop events, and unlocks.
Sell pressure from newly unlocked tokens or airdrop recipients could push price down temporarily.
Positive announcements (new chain integrations, partnerships, performance benchmarks) could trigger rallies.
Listings on more exchanges (or higher tier ones) could improve liquidity, which helps reduce spreads and may attract more capital.
So short-term, there is potential upside, but also a high chance of drawdowns. It’s risky for large capital unless you monitor developments closely and set stop-losses / risk limits.
---
Long-Term Outlook (1 → 3+ years)
In the long term, the upside is “if everything works out,” but there are many hurdles.
Bull case scenario
If Boundless becomes a widely adopted standard for ZK proving, with many chains, rollups, and dApps relying on its infrastructure:
Demand for ZKC (for staking, governance, provers) would rise materially.
The network could see sustained utility, making token holders more comfortable holding rather than flipping.
Over time, inflation is designed to taper, reducing pressure from new issuance.
In such a scenario, ZKC could very well multiply many times from its early listing level.
