In the world of blockchain, security and incentive mechanisms are the two core keywords. Any decentralized system, if it lacks a clear incentive design, can easily lead to participants not acting or even malicious attacks. #Boundless, in the design of its universal ZK computing infrastructure, regards staking and slashing as key links to ensure the stable operation of the entire system while aligning participants' behaviors with network interests. Why is staking necessary? The essence of staking is that participants lock their assets as 'margin' in the system. This margin demonstrates their commitment to network security. Boundless requires a large number of validators and computing nodes to participate in universal ZK computing, and they do so through staking $ZKC Come to gain verification rights and income opportunities. In this way, nodes not only have motivation (through rewards) but also constraints (the staked assets may be penalized at any time due to violations) when participating in network consensus and executing ZK computations. The staking mechanism ensures that every participant in the system must have 'skin in the game'; otherwise, they will lose eligibility. Reduction: merely having rewards is not enough to deter inaction. The history of blockchain has repeatedly proven that if nodes only receive rewards without bearing responsibility, the network will fall into risk. Boundless's slashing mechanism is precisely designed to address this situation. For example, if a node commits malfeasance during the verification process by submitting incorrect computation results or maliciously tampering with proofs, then its staked assets will be slashed. The penalties can range from partial forfeiture to complete liquidation of the stake, resulting in immediate expulsion from the system. In this way, nodes must either provide correct computations honestly or face significant economic losses. Slashing is not only a punishment but also a deterrent. As long as the rules are clear and the costs are sufficiently high, most nodes will choose to participate honestly, ensuring the safety of the entire system. The dual balance of staking + slashing in Boundless integrates the two aspects of design: staking ensures that nodes have investments and provides positive incentives; slashing ensures that nodes do not dare to commit wrongdoing, providing negative constraints. This mechanism, combined with general ZK computations, has several notable advantages: Higher security: ZK itself guarantees the correctness of computation and verification, while the staking/slashing mechanism guarantees the honesty of nodes. Economic drive: Nodes receive rewards through staking, while the system gains computational resources and network security, creating a win-win situation. Attack resistance: To attack the network, one must incur enormous costs because the staked assets will be slashed; this economic constraint is far more effective than mere technical defenses. Significance for the ecosystem: Staking and slashing are not just technical details; they have profound implications for the ecological development of Boundless. They ensure: Developer peace of mind: Developers can be assured that applications accessing Boundless will not frequently encounter errors due to node malfeasance. User trust: Ordinary users know that when using cross-chain or ZK functionalities, there is a strict mechanism in place to protect asset security. Self-driving ecosystem: As more nodes join, competition will become fiercer, and everyone will work harder to maintain the network to avoid slashing and strive for rewards. This means that #Boundless does not rely on a centralized team for maintenance; instead, through the mechanism of staking and slashing, it entrusts safety and governance to all participants. The longer the system operates, the higher the trust level will be, creating a positive cycle. Further thoughts: Staking and slashing may seem like mere economic design, but in fact, they represent the core logic of decentralized networks: uniting everyone through incentives and constraints. #Boundless chooses to deeply embed this mechanism into the infrastructure layer of ZK computation, not only to ensure safety but also to establish a long-term sustainable ecosystem. In the future, as more applications are hosted by Boundless, the mechanisms of staking and slashing may evolve, such as adjusting reward models based on different application scenarios or optimizing slashing standards in conjunction with community governance. Nonetheless, this mechanism will always remain the cornerstone of network stability and trust. The staking and slashing of Boundless are like the 'proof components' within the system: they hold every node and participant accountable for their words and actions. This is not only a technological innovation but also the most direct embodiment of the spirit of blockchain.$ZKC will be slashed, ranging from partial forfeiture to complete liquidation of the stake.@Boundless #Boundless $ZKC