ZkSync launches new STARK-based proof system with focus on usability at scale

Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution with zkSync Era launched A new Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (STARK)-based proof system called Boojum that promises to run on consumer-grade general processing units (GPUs).

ZkSync Era is one of a handful of Ethereum scaling protocols that use zero-knowledge rollup (ZK-rollup) to increase capacity and speed while reducing fees. ZK-rollups mostly use two major proof systems: zk-STARKs and zero-knowledge concise non-interactive knowledge logic (zk-SNARKs).

The new Boojum proof system is based on zkSync’s Rust-based cryptographic library that implements an improved version of the arithmetic circuits for zkSync Era and its ZK developer stack. Most importantly, it allows Boozum Provers to run on everyday personal computers rather than on powerful hardware and servers.

The upgrade can only run on computers with 16 gigabytes (GB) of GPU random-access memory (RAM), ensuring that regular users can participate in network activity. For context, zkSync currently runs on a cluster of 100 GPUs, each with 80GB of RAM.

Prior to Boojum’s launch, zkSync relied primarily on zk-SNARKs, which were capable but comparatively less transparent than zk-STARK-based systems. While the former system processed around 100 transactions per second, Boozum promises to provide better processing capabilities.

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In the final phase of implementation, the new proofs will wrap the STARK proofs with a non-transparent pairing-based SNARK. This would essentially be a slightly improved version of the current SNARK-based proof system. This proof requires less storage and is cheaper to verify, thereby reducing the cost of the proof system, and therefore, the transaction itself.

Boojum is currently live on the zkSync Era mainnet for testing, building and validating “shadow proofs”. The developers are currently testing Shadow Proof with real production data before full migration and wider use. The new system will be upgraded without any regeneration.

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