Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin declared the competition for zero-knowledge proof speed in the Ethereum ecosystem to be over. He stated that the primary focus for zkEVM developers must now transition to security. This shift follows the introduction of the Airbender Prime prover by ZKsync, which claims to achieve real-time proving on a single graphics card.
The ZKsync evaluation of Airbender Prime showed that 99% of proofs across 7,200 consecutive mainnet blocks were generated in under 10 seconds. The tool is currently ranked first on the ETHproofs leaderboard for average proving time. ZKsync notes that this performance allows for lower hardware requirements, potentially increasing the number of independent operators and institutions participating in the network.
Buterin outlined three critical requirements for zkEVM systems: adherence to Ethereum specifications, capping prover costs relative to block gas, and utilizing a sound proof system. He emphasized the need for formal verification, which involves mathematical proof of system integrity rather than relying solely on testing. This approach aims to ensure that speed gains do not compromise the security of the ledger.
The development of Airbender Prime does not alter core Ethereum protocol parameters such as supply, fees, or staking rewards. While the technology is marketed to institutions for its security benefits, it remains a tool specific to ZKsync rather than a change to the Ethereum mainnet. Market analysts suggest that any impact on the price of ETH would likely stem from broader sentiment or macroeconomic factors.
