Zero-Knowledge Technologies Inc/Foundation has unveiled a novel Type 1 Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) compiler, focusing on addressing security concerns prevalent in similar Ethereum scaling solutions supported by ZK (Zero-Knowledge) technologies.
Misha Komarov, CEO, and co-founder of =nil; Foundation, emphasized the technology's emphasis on security and its capability to automatically compile high-level programming code into zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive knowledge arguments (zk-SNARKS) circuits.
The zkEVM developed by the company is crafted to be compatible with evmone, which is a C++ variant of the Ethereum base execution environment. An essential aspect of this technology is the processing and consolidation of application code into proofs submitted to Ethereum, following the same format as its EVM counterpart.
The emphasis on compatibility is highlighted to enhance security and expedite implementation. This aligns bytecode identically and eradicates the necessity for extensive and costly code reviews. Moreover, this method ensures that transactions and smart contracts are directly compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
Several prominent zkEVMs have already made their way into the market in 2023. These layer 2 protocols aim to assist Ethereum in handling substantial transaction loads and smart contract functionalities. Notable companies such as Consensys, Polygon, StarkWare, and Matter Labs have launched ZK-rollup solutions, offering high-throughput, low-fee functionalities to decentralized applications, services, and network users.
Komarov emphasized that =nil; Foundation's approach diverges from other zkEVM designs, which manually define circuits, a process he described as "time-consuming" and "overly complex." He highlighted the risks associated with human error in such methods, referring to the discovery of a sanity bug in Matter Labs’ zkSync Era mainnet, which was rectified through a bug bounty reward to ChainLight security firm. This issue was linked to manually defined circuits.
The foundation's strategy revolves around an automated Ethereum EVM compiler, created over two years, aiming to replicate Ethereum's original implementation's security. This automated approach seeks to streamline code review processes and adapt to future changes in the Ethereum network seamlessly.
