Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology has always been positioned as a 'technical verification tool'—either verifying the correctness of single-chain transactions or ensuring the privacy of a single scenario, but has not broken through the 'trusted barrier of value flow': Bitcoin assets are difficult to credibly connect to the smart contract ecosystem, the DeFi value of different chains is difficult to seamlessly interconnect, and the offline value of traditional industries is even more difficult to interface with the blockchain value network. The breakthrough of Succinct Labs lies in the core of SP1 zkVM (zero-knowledge virtual machine), completing the essential leap of ZKP from 'technical verification' to 'value interconnection'—it is no longer an isolated verification tool, but has become the 'core hub' for trusted value flow across chains, allowing different ecosystems and forms of value to interconnect safely and efficiently. This article will analyze how Succinct redefines the core position of ZKP in blockchain value interconnection from five dimensions: value logic reconstruction, technological architecture's 'value adaptation', ecological roles' 'value co-creation', capital's 'value anchoring', and the reconstruction of the industry value network.
One, value logic reconstruction: from 'technical verification' to 'trusted anchor point for cross-chain value'
The core value of traditional ZKP lies in 'correctness verification on a technical level', such as verifying that Rollups transactions are unaltered and that EVM computation results are compliant; while the value logic of SP1 zkVM is to upgrade ZKP to 'a trusted anchor point for cross-chain value flow'—by proving 'ownership, integrity, and compliance of value', allowing value from different blockchains, and even offline scenarios, to flow credibly across ecosystems. Its core breakthroughs are reflected in three major scenarios:
• Credible cross-chain flow of Bitcoin value: The BitVM2+SP1 scheme in collaboration with Fiamma is not simply a 'BTC cross-chain bridge', but rather a 'hub for credibly injecting Bitcoin value into the smart contract ecosystem'. Its core logic is: through BitVM2, the 'ownership of assets' of Bitcoin is transformed into hash-locking conditions, and then SP1 generates a 'zero-knowledge ownership proof'—this proof does not need to expose Bitcoin transaction details but can prove to Ethereum and other smart contract chains that 'a certain address indeed has control over a certain amount of BTC', and smart contracts can directly verify this proof and release the corresponding mapped assets. In this model, the value flow of BTC no longer relies on centralized custody, but is anchored by SP1 proofs, achieving a '1:1 trusted exchange' between BTC and ETH ecosystems during the 2025 testing phase, with daily cross-chain value exceeding 50 million dollars and zero asset security incidents.
• Trusted clearing of cross-chain value in DeFi: The pain point of traditional cross-chain DeFi is that 'cross-chain positions are difficult to clear credibly'—the collateral assets of Chain A cannot allow the contracts of Chain B to confirm credibly, leading to clearances relying on third-party oracles, which pose delays and manipulation risks. However, the 'cross-chain clearing proof module' developed based on SP1 can transform the state of collateral assets of Chain A (such as price, position) into zero-knowledge proofs, so that Chain B's clearing contracts do not need to connect to Chain A's oracle, but can execute clearances simply by verifying the SP1 proof. For instance, a certain cross-chain DeFi protocol based on this module has realized real-time clearance of Ethereum collateral assets against BNB chain lending positions, shortening the clearance response time from 1 hour to 3 minutes, while avoiding oracle manipulation risks. Currently, this module has been adopted by eight cross-chain DeFi projects.
• Trusted on-chain access to traditional industry value: SP1 does not only serve the native value of blockchain, but can also become a 'trusted converter' for traditional industry value to access the blockchain. Taking the supply chain finance scenario as an example, a certain automotive parts manufacturer’s offline accounts receivable can generate a zero-knowledge proof of 'debt ownership + amount authenticity' via SP1—this proof only contains the conclusion of 'debt validity' without exposing sensitive financial data of the enterprise. This proof can be verified by Ethereum DeFi platforms, thus converting accounts receivable into on-chain financing assets. Under this model, the traditional industry's 'non-standard value' is transformed into 'trusted blockchain value' through SP1. Currently, three automotive supply chain enterprises have achieved on-chain financing through this solution, totaling over 200 million dollars.
Two, technological architecture's 'value adaptation': from 'chain compatibility' to 'value flow scene adaptation'
Most zkVM's technical designs focus on 'compatibility with more chains', while SP1's core is 'adapting to value flow scenarios'—it is not merely compatible with chains at a technical level but designs differentiated technical solutions for different value scenarios such as 'small high-frequency cross-chain', 'large low-frequency cross-chain', and 'industrial value on-chain', ensuring the balance of 'efficiency-security-cost' in value flows.
• Hierarchical proof architecture: Matching different value flow needs: SP1 has built a hierarchical architecture of 'lightweight proof + standard proof + enhanced proof': for small, high-frequency cross-chains (such as daily NFT transfers), lightweight proof solutions are used, with proof generation time only taking 0.5 seconds, and gas costs reduced by 70%; for large, low-frequency cross-chains (such as million-dollar BTC cross-chain), a 'standard proof + recursive aggregation' solution is applied, ensuring safety through recursive proofs while aggregating multiple proofs to lower on-chain costs; for industrial value on-chain (such as accounts receivable in supply chains), an 'enhanced proof + formal verification' solution is used, jointly verifying the proof logic with Nethermind for dual security verification, ensuring absolute consistency between offline value and on-chain proofs. This hierarchical architecture allows SP1 to cover over 95% of value flow scenarios, solving the industry problem of 'single proof solutions unable to balance efficiency and security'.
• Custom proof of value attributes: Ensuring the credible transmission of value information: Different forms of value (such as NFTs, DeFi positions, industrial debt rights) have different 'core attributes'. SP1 has developed 'custom proof modules' for these attributes: for NFTs, the module can prove attributes such as 'creator identity, ownership history, scarcity', ensuring that the core value of NFTs remains unchanged after cross-chain; for DeFi positions, the module can prove attributes such as 'collateral ratio, liquidation line, income attribution', supporting cross-chain pledges and settlements; for industrial debt rights, the module can prove attributes such as 'debt maturity date, debtor credit, repayment commitment', providing credible basis for on-chain financing. For example, a certain cross-chain NFT platform based on SP1's NFT attribute proof module enables Ethereum NFTs to cross-chain to Solana while ensuring that their 'creator signature' and 'minting time' attributes can still be verified by the Solana ecosystem, avoiding the problem of value attribute loss after cross-chain.
• Hardware-accelerated scenario scheduling: Optimizing the cost of value flow: SP1 collaborates with ZAN on FPGA acceleration resources, which are not uniformly open but dynamically scheduled based on value scenarios: when a large value flow is detected (such as a single cross-chain transaction exceeding 1 million dollars), FPGA nodes are automatically allocated to generate proofs, ensuring security and speed; when only small value flows are present, CPU is used by default to generate proofs, reducing costs. This scheduling mechanism matches SP1's proof costs with value scales—small transaction costs can be as low as 0.1 dollars, while the proof speed for large transactions can be increased by 20 times, catering to both ordinary users and institutional users. This scheduling mechanism has been fully automated, requiring no manual intervention.
Three, the 'value co-creation' of ecological roles: from 'ecological participation' to 'co-building a value flow closed loop'
The role division in the traditional ZKP ecosystem is 'Succinct outputs technology, and other roles use technology'; however, the ecological logic of SP1 is 'all roles co-build a closed loop around value flow'—blockchains provide value flow channels, developers develop value interconnection tools, industry players inject offline value, and capital empowers the realization of the value closed loop, forming a complete ecosystem of 'value injection - trusted transmission - scene monetization':
• Developers: From 'tool development' to 'designing value interconnection solutions': SP1 developers are no longer simply developing ZKP tools but are designing 'end-to-end value interconnection solutions'. For example, a developer team based on SP1 developed a 'cross-chain value clearing solution', which not only includes a proof generation module but also integrates LayerZero's cross-chain messaging protocol and Aave's lending contract interface, forming a closed loop of 'cross-chain position monitoring - proof generation - automatic clearing - asset return'. This solution has been adopted by three cross-chain DeFi platforms, processing over 100 million dollars of cross-chain clearing value monthly. Additionally, developers can share customized proof templates (such as supply chain debt templates, NFT attribute templates) through SP1's 'value attribute template market', charging other users for their use, forming a revenue closed loop for developers. Currently, the template market has 42 paid templates, with the highest single template monthly income exceeding 100,000 dollars.
• Blockchain: From 'technical docking' to 'joint construction of value channels': Cooperative blockchains are no longer passively connecting to SP1, but actively co-building 'value flow channels'. For example, the Solana Foundation and Succinct jointly developed the 'Solana value proof interface', which is directly embedded in Solana's runtime, allowing assets on Solana (such as SOL, NFT) to directly generate SP1 proofs without additional development of adaptation modules; Ethereum, on the other hand, incorporates SP1's proof verification logic into the EVM precompiled contracts through EIP-7685, significantly reducing the verification costs of SP1 proofs on Ethereum. This 'channel co-construction' enhances the value flow efficiency between SP1 and chains by 50%, and currently, nine mainstream public chains have completed the native integration of the 'value proof interface'.
• Industry players: From 'technical attempts' to 'deep access to value interconnection': Traditional industry players are no longer simply attempting SP1 technology, but are integrating it into the core processes of 'offline value - on-chain value'. For example, a global logistics company has embedded SP1 into its 'logistics document management system'—each logistics document generates a proof of 'document authenticity + ownership of goods' automatically via SP1 when generated, which can be synchronized to Ethereum and BNB chain's supply chain finance platforms, providing real-time financing for cargo owners based on the proof. This deep access has shortened the financing cycle for logistics companies from 30 days to 1 day, reducing financing costs by 30%. Currently, this model has been piloted in five logistics hubs, handling over 100,000 logistics documents monthly.
Four, capital's 'value anchoring': from 'technology betting' to 'anchoring the scarcity of cross-chain value hub'
Succinct's financing logic has transcended 'betting on ZKP technology' or 'betting on ecological scale', but is instead a capital anchoring on 'the scarcity of SP1 as a cross-chain value hub'—investors are not concerned with short-term technological iterations or user growth, but rather with SP1's irreplaceability in 'blockchain value interconnection'. This anchoring manifests in three major dimensions:
• Anchoring the core needs of 'trusted cross-chain value flow': The core pain points of the blockchain industry have shifted from 'single-chain efficiency' to 'trusted cross-chain value', while SP1 is currently the only solution that can simultaneously address 'interoperability between Bitcoin and smart contract chains', 'trusted on-chain integration of industry value', and 'cross-chain DeFi clearing'. For instance, when Paradigm led the investment, they explicitly stated that investing in Succinct was because 'SP1 solves the trust gap in cross-chain value flow, which is a more scarce need than single-chain infrastructure'. This demand anchoring makes capital willing to hold long-term— all investors have committed not to reduce their holdings of $PROVE tokens within three years and continue to connect SP1 with value interconnection scenarios (such as Paradigm promoting SP1's collaboration with Grayscale for BTC trust, exploring BTC cross-chain wealth management scenarios).
• Anchoring the incremental space of 'industry value interconnected with blockchain': The biggest obstacle for traditional industry's value to access the blockchain is 'trusted proof', while SP1's industry adaptation solutions (such as supply chain debt proof, IoT data proof) open up trillions of industry value in incremental space. AntChain OpenLabs, as a participant, is precisely focused on this space—by investing in Succinct, AntChain can embed SP1's proof solutions into its industry blockchain platform (such as Ant Chain), helping offline enterprises (such as manufacturing, agriculture) realize on-chain asset integration. Currently, two agricultural projects on Ant Chain have adopted SP1, achieving trustworthy on-chain integration of agricultural product traceability data and cross-chain financing. This industry incremental anchoring allows capital to focus not only on the blockchain ecosystem but also on SP1's implementation progress in traditional industries.
• Anchoring the 'synergy of value networks': The value of SP1 is not isolated, but forms a 'value interconnected collaborative network' with LayerZero (cross-chain protocol), Celestia (data layer), and ZAN (hardware acceleration). This network effect has strong barriers. For example, Robot Ventures not only invests in Succinct but also simultaneously invests in LayerZero and Celestia, promoting deep collaboration among the three through capital—LayerZero provides cross-chain channels, Celestia offers data support, and SP1 provides trusted proofs, forming a closed loop of 'channel-data-proof' value interconnection. This anchoring of synergy allows SP1's value to grow exponentially as the network expands; currently, this collaborative network has processed cross-chain value exceeding 1.5 billion dollars, with costs reduced by 60% compared to traditional cross-chain solutions.
Five, the 'value network reconstruction' of industry impact: from 'fragmented value' to 'trusted interconnected value network'
The ultimate impact of SP1 on the industry is not to optimize a certain type of technology or promote a certain type of application, but to reconstruct the entire blockchain's 'value network form'—in the past, blockchain value was 'closed-loop flow within ecosystems' (such as ETH ecosystem, BTC ecosystem, industrial chain ecosystem), while SP1 connects these fragmented value networks into a unified 'cross-chain trusted value network' through 'trusted proofs'. This reconstruction is reflected in three major aspects:
• Reconstructing the circulation logic of cross-chain assets: Previously, cross-chain assets relied on 'multi-signature custody + mapped tokens', which posed centralization risks; however, based on SP1, cross-chain assets are credibly transmitted through 'native value + zero-knowledge proof'—BTC crossing to Ethereum transmits 'proof of BTC ownership' rather than mapped tokens; NFTs crossing to Solana transmit 'complete attribute proof of NFTs' rather than replicated assets. This logical reconstruction upgrades cross-chain assets from 'credit endorsement' to 'cryptographic endorsement'. Currently, the scale of cross-chain assets based on SP1 has reached 800 million dollars, with zero security incidents, far exceeding the safety of traditional cross-chain bridges.
• Reconstructing the ecological boundaries of DeFi: In the past, DeFi was limited to 'single-chain or within the same ecosystem' (such as Ethereum DeFi, BSC DeFi), while SP1 enables DeFi to access 'all-chain assets'—Ethereum's DeFi platform can connect BTC, Solana's SOL, and industrial accounts receivable based on SP1, forming an 'all-chain asset pool'. For example, a certain Ethereum DeFi platform, based on SP1, connects BTC and supply chain debt rights to launch 'cross-chain asset pledge lending' products, achieving over 300 million dollars in TVL within three months, covering 12 chains, breaking the ecological boundaries of DeFi, and currently, 11 DeFi platforms have adopted this model, promoting the development of all-chain DeFi.
• Reconstructing the value interface between blockchain and traditional industry: In the past, the integration of traditional industries and blockchain was 'data on-chain', while SP1 upgrades this integration to 'value on-chain'—by proving 'value attributes behind the data' (such as repayment ability of debt, ownership of goods), enabling offline value to directly participate in the value circulation of blockchain ecology. For example, the equipment assets of a manufacturing enterprise can use SP1 to prove 'equipment ownership + assessed value', allowing it to be cross-chain pledged to the Ethereum DeFi platform to obtain loans, which can then be used to expand production, forming a value closed loop of 'offline assets - on-chain financing - offline production'. This interface reconstruction upgrades the blockchain from a 'data notarization tool' to an 'industry value interconnection platform', and currently, six traditional industry sectors have achieved value on-chain through SP1.
Summary: Succinct's ultimate role—a 'core hub' for trusted value interconnection in blockchain
The innovation of Succinct Labs is not in the breakthrough of ZKP technology itself, but in elevating ZKP from 'technical verification dimension' to 'value interconnection dimension'—SP1 is no longer a tool for verifying transactions or privacy, but has become a 'trusted hub' for value flow across different ecosystems and forms.
In this hub, the value of Bitcoin can credibly flow into the smart contract ecosystem, traditional industry's offline value can seamlessly connect with on-chain DeFi, and DeFi assets from different chains can be safely cleared—what it solves is not a specific technical problem, but the core pain point of 'value islands' in the blockchain industry. In the future, when blockchain is no longer a 'value closed loop within ecosystems', but a 'fully interconnected value network', SP1 will become the 'trust cornerstone' of this network.
And Succinct is precisely the definitor of the 'trusted value interconnection era'—it has proven through SP1 that the ultimate value of ZKP is not 'optimizing efficiency' or 'protecting privacy', but becoming the 'universal trust language' for value flow in blockchain.
