In crypto technology, Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK) are quite practical—a simple way to explain it is that one can convince another of the truth without revealing specific information. This protects privacy and increases computational efficiency, leading many to believe it can change industry rules. However, this technology has mostly remained in laboratories: development is too difficult, the cost of generating proofs is too high, and interoperability between different platforms is poor, making most developers hesitant to engage. What @Succinct is doing is transforming this 'future technology' from theory into a tool usable on a large scale by building a new ZK foundational system, making Zero-Knowledge Proofs as accessible as water and electricity for anyone who wants to use them. The core of all this is its native token $PROVE.
From laboratory to practical application: @Succinct 's ZK system innovation.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs were previously hard to use mainly because there was a mismatch between 'those who need to use it' and 'those who can provide the service': developers needed simple tools to generate proofs, but generating proofs required substantial computational resources while ensuring security and reliability. Succinct's solution is to build a 'distributed proof generation system':
- Global nodes work together to compute: Instead of relying on a single institution for computing power, the system allows nodes from around the world (called Provers) to form a network. These nodes compete to take on proof generation tasks, ensuring that the system does not collapse if one node fails, while also driving costs down through competition—similar to food delivery platforms, where the more couriers there are, the fairer the prices and the faster the service.
- A single interface does it all: For developers, there is no need to struggle to understand the complex 'circuit design' in ZK; they simply submit their 'computational needs' (similar to filling out a form) through Succinct's interface, which connects them to the node network to quickly obtain verification results. This effectively opens a shortcut for developers, reducing what would take months of ZK-related work to just a few days.
- Using tokens to ensure reliability: The network uses PROVE tokens to manage rewards and penalties—nodes must stake some PROVE before they can take on tasks; if they miscalculate or engage in misconduct, their staked tokens will be deducted. Additionally, important tasks will involve multiple nodes working together to verify results, ensuring accuracy. This dual insurance of 'financial penalties + multi-node verification' enhances the reliability of proofs to a usable standard.
$PROVE: The core management tool of the ZK network.
If Succinct's technical framework is the 'hardware' of the ZK system, then $PROVE is the 'software' that makes it run, managing resource allocation, rewards, penalties, and decisions within the network.
1. Who can use the resources first: Users or projects can gain priority access to the node network's computing resources by staking PROVE. For example, high-frequency trading projects need millisecond-level responses; staking more PROVE allows them to move to the front; ordinary applications can stake less to balance cost and speed. This ensures resources are allocated to where they are truly needed and prevents bottlenecks.
2. Rewards for good performance, penalties for poor performance: After completing tasks, nodes receive PROVE rewards; the faster and more complex the work, the greater the rewards; if they intentionally miscalculate or malfunction, a portion or even all of their staked PROVE will be confiscated. This incentivizes nodes to upgrade their equipment and improve stability, fostering healthy competition.
3. How to share the profits: The money earned by the network (for example, fees paid by developers for proofs) is not determined by a few individuals but is automatically distributed based on how much PROVE is staked and the contributions of the nodes—those staking coins can receive dividends, and actively working nodes get extra rewards. This means the value of PROVE is tied to the actual earnings of the network, rather than being driven by speculation.
4. Everyone makes decisions together: People holding $PROVE can participate in network decisions, such as voting on how to distribute proof costs, whether to support new ZK algorithms, or whether to connect to a specific public chain. This model of collective decision-making allows the network to adapt flexibly to industry changes; for example, when new ZK standards emerge, support can be quickly secured through voting.
Recent data shows that the $PROVE network is becoming increasingly active, indicating that the market recognizes its value:
- The amount of staked $PROVE has doubled: from 5.5 million to 10.7 million (about 1% of the circulating supply), primarily staked by retail investors. This decentralized staking method is crucial—it cannot be manipulated by a few large holders, making decisions more aligned with ordinary users and reducing the risk of concentrated sell-offs.
- Attracting more nodes: In addition to basic PROVE rewards, the network collaborates with other projects to provide additional benefits. For example, in partnership with @cysic_xyz, nodes receive NFT whitelist qualification and CYS tokens, thereby attracting more high-performance nodes to join. This model of 'basic rewards + additional benefits' expands the node community and enhances computing power.
- A virtuous cycle has formed: The number of proofs generated weekly has doubled; the more users there are, the more the network earns, the greater the appeal of $PROVE rewards, leading to more staking and more nodes joining—this cycle of 'more users → more earnings → more rewards → more joiners' allows the network to grow faster.
In terms of collaboration, Succinct has secured top-tier investment: it was led by the insightful Paradigm with $55 million, which will be used to upgrade technology and expand partnerships. More importantly, it has established deep collaborations with over 35 projects, including Polygon, Mantle, World Chain, Celestia, and Lido, managing assets worth over $4 billion in total. For instance, after Polygon adopted Succinct's ZK system, it can protect privacy while also verifying transactions faster; Lido uses it to optimize the verification process for cross-chain staked assets—these collaborations not only bring actual usage to Succinct but also transform $PROVE from a 'concept' into something 'truly usable.'
As a newly launched token, whether the early investors and the team's $PROVE can be genuinely taken up by real users of the network (those staking coins, operating nodes) after entering the market will determine the short-term price stability. The best scenario is that the number of 'real users' increases rather than relying solely on speculation.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK) are widely recognized as the 'next-generation infrastructure' of Web3, capable of addressing core issues such as privacy protection, cross-chain trust, and computational efficiency. Through Succinct's technological innovations and collaborative efforts, PROVE has transitioned from a 'concept' to something 'usable,' working towards the goal of becoming a 'ZK foundational tool.' In a crypto market that demands technological breakthroughs, PROVE may be the key to seizing the ZK wave.