The Ethereum Foundation has just announced a one-year roadmap to integrate zero-knowledge proof technology directly into the main chain, starting with the zkEVM client software at Layer 1 as optional – and potentially mandatory in the future.
In a post titled 'Shipping an L1 zkEVM #1: Realtime Proving', protocol engineer Sophia Gold stated that validators will be able to verify blocks by checking three independent zk proofs instead of having to re-execute the entire transaction. These proofs need to meet strict real-time standards, including a 10-second delay for 99% of blocks, a 128-bit security level (minimum 100-bit for initial deployment), proof size under 300 KiB, and the ability to run on hardware worth no more than $100,000, consuming less than 10 kW.
Initially, only a few validators are expected to deploy the new software. As confidence is bolstered through audits, formal verification, and bug bounty programs, gas limits may be raised to the point that proof verification becomes the default. These proofs will also serve as the foundation for native zk-rollups on the main chain, according to Gold.
Gold challenges zkVM development teams to achieve timely latency goals before the Devconnect event in Argentina in November, calling it the 'race to real-time'. If successful, Ethereum will become the largest practical application in the world using zk technology, paving the way for on-chain privacy, signature aggregation, and stronger scalability.
Motivation for changing the entire ecosystem
Ethereum's ambition for zkEVM is occurring in the context of rival blockchains also rushing to integrate zk-proof, as Layer 2 rollup solutions have already utilized similar cryptographic technology. Gold's post is seen as the clearest roadmap to date on how Ethereum will directly bring zk into the consensus mechanism, bringing the network closer to the 'zk-friendly' vision that co-founder Vitalik Buterin once outlined.
This move aligns with the Ethereum Foundation's restructuring of the protocol and ecosystem development department, aimed at accelerating the application of technology into practice. New teams will focus on core security systems as part of the 'One Trillion Security' initiative while supporting developers through strategic guidance and expanding the funding pool.