SP1 and the Decentralized Network of Verifiers: A Technical Overview $PROVE
Dismantling the System Architecture. $PROVE is the code at the heart of a robust two-part system from @Succinct: SP1 and the Decentralized Network of Verifiers. Let’s explore each component.
SP1 (Plonky1 Brief): This is a high-performance open-source ZK virtual machine (zkVM). It is designed for general-purpose computing, meaning developers can write provable programs in standard languages like Rust, which are then executed within SP1 to generate ZK proofs. This is a significant leap forward compared to writing custom and complex circuits for each specific task. SP1 makes ZK programming more intuitive and efficient.
The Decentralized Network of Verifiers: Generating ZK proofs is computationally expensive. Instead of forcing developers to manage powerful (and costly) hardware themselves, Succinct has created a decentralized network of verifiers. Developers submit proof generation functions to this network. Verifiers, incentivized by $PROVE tokens, compete to complete these functions quickly and efficiently. This creates a permissionless, cost-effective, and scalable market for generating ZK proofs, ensuring that ZK-supported applications can operate smoothly without central bottlenecks.
