In the blockchain arena, Rollup and cross-chain have always been the most important application directions. Rollup is responsible for scaling, addressing the performance bottlenecks of public chains like Ethereum; cross-chain solves the problem of ecological fragmentation, allowing assets and data to flow freely. The zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technology is precisely the core of these two scenarios.
Succinct plays a very clear role here: it is neither Rollup nor a cross-chain bridge, but rather the 'verification layer' for both. Rollup needs to package thousands of transactions and generate a proof to submit to the main chain; the cross-chain bridge needs to verify whether the state on another chain is real. If each project does this verification work on its own, not only is the development threshold high, but the security risks are also enormous. Succinct provides a universal, chain-agnostic verification infrastructure that allows developers to directly call existing capabilities.
From an investment perspective, there are three logics here:
Essential Demand: Rollup and cross-chain are trends that cannot be reversed, and the demand for verification will not decrease, only increase. Succinct's market potential is virtually 'unlimited'.
Value Capture: Every time a Rollup transaction is packaged, and every time a cross-chain state verification occurs, fees will be generated, which will be settled through PROVE, creating real demand.
Risk Diversification: Succinct does not rely on a single ecosystem; it can serve the Rollup of the Optimism ecosystem as well as the cross-chain bridge of the Cosmos ecosystem, naturally diversifying the risks.
Many people like to use the metaphor of 'Pickaxe (selling shovels)' to describe this type of project. During a gold rush, those who truly profit are often the ones selling shovels. There may be many competitors in Rollup and cross-chain, but no matter who wins, verification cannot be separated from Succinct. From an investor's perspective, such positioning is undoubtedly more robust.
Therefore, I believe that the Rollup and cross-chain scenarios are not only the landing opportunities for Succinct but also an important support for the long-term value of the PROVE token. It has positioned itself in the 'essential position' of the industry chain, which is the fundamental reason I am optimistic about it in the long run.
