Optimism, one of the leading layer 2 scaling solutions for the Ethereum mainnet, recently announced the implementation of zero-knowledge proofs for its OP Chains. OP Chains is the name given to a network of layer 2 chains that share functions including bridging, decentralized governance, and upgrades, among others.
O(1) Labs took to Twitter earlier today to announce the latest partnership with the Optimism Foundation:
We're so excited about our @optimismFND RFP to implement a zero knowledge proof (ZKP) for OP Chains being selected. 🔥 We thought we'd publish a quick 🧵to break it down… https://t.co/yN7qn2XEQo
— O(1) Labs (@o1_labs) July 21, 2023
According to O(1) Labs, the integration of a fault-proof program-compatible MIPS virtual machine was proposed for the OP Stack in order to enhance its efficiency. The MIPS VM would also work seamlessly with a Nova-folding-style bn128-kzg-plonkish system. This combination would allow O(1) Labs to prove the correctness of arbitrary program execution traces.
As per Optimism’s Github repository, the implementation of a zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) for OP Chains was a prerequisite for secure and low-latency cross-chain communication between Layer 2 and Layer 1. ZKP would also enable such communication directly between OP Chains. The OP Stack Zero Knowledge Proof was dubbed Foundation Mission (RFP).
In order to successfully complete the mission, a zero-knowledge-proof system would have to be implemented. Such a system would prove the Optimism fault proof program through an instruction set architecture (ISA) supported by the golang compiler such as MIPS. The ZKP implementation had a positive reception and was welcomed by the Optimism community.
Speaking on the ZKP implementation for OP Chains, O(1) Labs stated
With this powerful combination of technologies, we’ll create a fault-proof and high-performance environment for verifying program executions. This advancement will bring greater scalability, security, and usability!
The price of Optimism’s native token OP increased by nearly 3% following the latest development. Data from CoinMarketCap showed that OP was trading at $1.53 at the time of writing. The token had a market capitalization of $1.03 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of $74 million.
