Aleph Zero launches first EVM-compatible ZK privacy layer with sub-second proof time

adminJune 20, 2024

Zug, Switzerland, June 20, 2024, Chainwire

Aleph Zero makes important ecosystem advancements, including the first EVM-compatible ZK privacy layer that can generate zero-knowledge proofs in less than a second on consumer-grade devices, and zkOS, a suite for seamlessly integrating on-chain privacy into a variety of Web3 applications. announced. .

Aleph Zero Foundation is pleased to announce the testnet launch of the ZK Privacy EVM Layer 2 solution based on Arbitrum Orbit on Gelato RaaS. This is the first EVM-compatible privacy solution capable of a sub-second ZK proof time, making on-chain privacy virtually instantaneous, significantly improving the end-user experience.

Aleph Zero also revealed its long-term strategy for developing zkOS, a client-side, chain-agnostic zero-knowledge privacy system. zkOS aims to provide Privacy-as-a-Service (PaaS) with seamless app integration across WASM and EVM compatible networks. These initiatives open up Aleph Zero’s ecosystem to a wider range of EVM users and represent the first step towards potential multichain growth.

zkOS allows users to conduct private transactions and interact with dApps without compromising their data. The system supports high-throughput applications such as privacy DeFi apps, RWA, AI, and enterprise solutions, expanding the reach of privacy technologies to a wider audience.

“Privacy issues are still largely unresolved. They are expensive, complex to use and deploy, and their use cases lack economic incentives. With Aleph Zero’s zkOS and zk-privacy EVM layer 2, we aim to change this not only in the Aleph Zero ecosystem, but also in the wider Ethereum ecosystem, thanks to the flexibility of the Arbitrum Orbit stack and our collaboration with the idOS network. ” -Antoni Zolciak, co-founder of Aleph Zero

Launched in November 2021, Aleph Zero’s substrate-based WASM layer 1 blockchain provides developers with sub-second finality, support for 170 validator nodes, and 40+ external teams building a variety of applications. Layer 1 now also acts as a data availability layer for the L2 EVM layer, its applications, and the L3 AppChain.

The new ZK Privacy EVM Layer 2 developer testnet is now live and inviting builders and early adopters. Integrated examples include NFT company Rarible and a yet-to-be-announced team working on a new prediction market. Developer mainnet launch is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024.

Aleph Zero EVM, Ethereum’s ZK privacy layer 2 rollup, was built in partnership with Gelato leveraging Arbitrum Anytrust DAC technology for a fast, secure, and scalable execution environment. It boasts block times of up to 250ms with near-instant transaction finality, processing thousands of transactions per second, making it one of the fastest EVM chains on the market.

“Aleph Zero EVM uses Arbitrum Orbits’ advanced web3 scaling stack and the most performant developer tools to build the most advanced privacy-enhanced blockchain infrastructure on the market.” said Luis Schliesske, founder of Gelato. “Privacy will be a key story in 2024 and beyond as more mainstream use cases emerge.

The Aleph Zero EVM Layer 2 developer testnet includes Gelato’s extensive developer tools and third-party infrastructure such as oracles, block explorers, and multi-sig, making it a versatile platform.

Aleph Zero’s zkOS uses Halo2 with the KZG promise scheme for speed and universally reliable setup. Although it requires more developer effort than alternatives like Noir or Risc0, Aleph Zero’s zkToolkit simplifies zkOS integration, ensuring high performance and ease of use across Aleph Zero and existing apps in the Ethereum ecosystem. Initial benchmarks show that zkOS zero-knowledge proofs can run in 600-800ms on standard devices using browsers such as Safari or Chrome.

development roadmap

The EVM testnet was released today, with a mainnet release scheduled for Q3 2024. This allows developers to deploy production-ready apps with optional privacy features. zkOS MVP is expected to be released in Q3 2024 and will work with idOS to provide ZK ID functionality and private operations on random ERC-20 tokens in Q4 2024. Advanced features of zkOS are scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2025. Please see the User Roadmap section for more details. at alephzero.org

Use cases

Confirmed use cases that work with Aleph Zero and zkOS include:

Holyheld: Enhances card payments with privacy protection technology.
DRKVRS: Add privacy to a unique action RPG game.
Larible: NFT company with Rarible Marketplace integrated with Aleph Zero.
Reference 3: Establishment of a new encryption-based ZK content standard.
Aidos: Manage personal data access to dApps.
Peace Market: Compliance with investments in segmented luxury RWAs.
Upcade.xyz: Presents a new standard for web3 gaming.
Common: Expanding Private DeFi Suite to the EVM ecosystem through Aleph Zero.

For more information about Aleph Zero EVM and zkOS, visit Aleph Zero or join our communities on Discord and Telegram.

About Aleph Zero

Aleph Zero is a privacy-first blockchain solutions ecosystem designed for speed, data confidentiality, and ease of development, supporting development across WASM-based Rust and EVM-based Solidity environments. Aleph Zero demonstrates adaptability to a variety of sectors and applications, supported by an engaged community and growing ecosystem.

For inquiries, please contact (email protected) or (email protected).