Zeko Protocol is a high-speed Layer 2 (L2) built on Mina to enhance the scalability and efficiency of zkApps. By leveraging independent sequencers, Zeko overcomes the slow transaction finality of Mina’s mainnet and provides a low-cost, high-performance execution environment.
Now, a critical step has been taken to accelerate ecosystem growth: the launch of Zeko Foundation. This new entity focuses on supporting developers, strengthening governance, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the protocol.
With the incentivized testnet and mainnet launch approaching, Zeko Foundation and Zeko Labs are working to drive the widespread adoption of zkApps and bring zero-knowledge technology to a broader audience.
Zeko Foundation: Strengthening the Ecosystem
Zeko Foundation was established to expand the Zeko ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of decentralized applications. Its core focus areas include:
🌱 Developer & Ecosystem Support: Providing funding, technical guidance, and tools to help projects grow on Zeko.
🌍 Community Governance & Engagement: Encouraging active participation from users and developers in decision-making processes.
📊 Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability: Optimizing incentive mechanisms and economic models to establish Zeko as a self-sustaining Layer 2 network.
Zeko Protocol co-founder Brian McKenna has been appointed CEO of Zeko Foundation, leading efforts to shape the future of zkApps.
Zeko: A Scalable Layer 2 for Mina
While Mina is designed for decentralization and privacy, its reliance on a single sequencer can create bottlenecks, slowing down transaction finality. Zeko eliminates these limitations with its independent sequencer architecture, enabling transactions to finalize within seconds while preserving Mina’s security guarantees.
Key advantages of Zeko:
✅ Near-instant finality: Unlike Mina L1, which can experience delays, Zeko processes transactions within seconds.
💡 Low transaction costs: Optimized zk-SNARK verification makes deploying and running applications far more cost-effective.
🌎 Optimized for high-frequency applications: Ideal for DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and enterprise solutions, expanding Mina’s real-world use cases.
📱 Seamless compatibility with various platforms: zkApps built on Zeko can run across browsers, mobile devices, and enterprise systems, making privacy-preserving applications more accessible.
By removing scalability barriers, Zeko transforms zkApps into practical, high-performance applications ready for mass adoption.
Zeko Labs: Advancing Core Protocol Development
While Zeko Foundation focuses on ecosystem growth and governance, Zeko Labs leads the development and technical innovation behind Zeko Protocol.
Under the leadership of CEO Evan Kereiakes and CTO Las Safin, Zeko Labs is actively working on:
Enhancing Zeko’s independent sequencer architecture to provide ultra-fast transaction finality.
Building trustless bridges between Mina and other blockchains to improve interoperability.
Developing long-term economic and security models to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
Zeko’s technical foundation isn’t just for the Mina community it is designed to offer a scalable, efficient, and developer-friendly Layer 2 solution for Web3 as a whole.
A New Era for zkApps Begins
As blockchain adoption grows, speed, affordability, and scalability are becoming essential. Zeko ensures that zkApps operate at Web2 speeds while maintaining Web3’s decentralization and privacy guarantees.
By expanding Mina’s capabilities, Zeko paves the way for a new generation of scalable and user-friendly decentralized applications.
With the incentivized testnet launch just around the corner, Zeko Foundation and Zeko Labs are shaping the future of zero-knowledge applications.
