The Boundless team, which is developing ZK-infrastructure from RISC Zero, has introduced a method for using Bitcoin to verify resource-intensive zero-knowledge proofs.
Prover networks are the only model for rollups that deliver all-inclusive pricing with guaranteed capacity to handle proving
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The new “cross-chain verification system” will enable the first cryptocurrency to be used as a settlement layer.
Initially, the solution will connect the Ethereum mainnet and the L2 network Base with Bitcoin. This effectively opens access to the security of the most decentralized blockchain for popular smart contract platforms.
“Fundamentally, this is not about turning Bitcoin into Ethereum. On the contrary, it is Ethereum-style execution protected by Bitcoin, not running on it,” said Boundless CEO Shiv Shankar in an interview with The Block.
According to him, the network of the first cryptocurrency acts as the ultimate verifier and settlement layer for ZK, which “can express a multitude of complex computations.”
The event marks a new phase in the development of zero-knowledge cryptography. The technology, which found its first widespread application in the blockchain industry, allows for the verification of complex computations without revealing transaction data. Developers use ZK-proofs to scale networks and enhance privacy.
The verification system from Boundless is built on the Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BitVM). This framework for verifying off-chain computations on the Bitcoin network once sparked active discussions within the community.
The BitVM concept was introduced back in 2023, with a full launch occurring in mid-2025. The technology brings smart contract functionality to Bitcoin without requiring changes to its code or consensus rules.
“What BitVM opens up and what Boundless creates is the ability to tie real computations to Bitcoin without any changes to it,” Shankar emphasized.
According to the announcement, Citrea — a native ZK-rollup based on Bitcoin — has joined the initiative. The development stands alongside second-layer solutions and concepts like OP_CTV, aimed at scaling the network and adding new capabilities to the first cryptocurrency.
A Complex Task
According to the specialist, ZK-proofs have become faster, cheaper, and more reliable, reaching “industrial readiness.” However, native integration of this technology into the Bitcoin network remains a challenging engineering task.
“We are here to do complex things, not simple ones. […] Bitcoin lacks native verification primitives, so everything has to be expressed through its scripting model. Verification in Bitcoin is more limited because it is more honest,” Shankar explained.
Boundless operates on the zkVM toolkit from RISC Zero. The project aims to expand network support beyond Ethereum and Base.
The initiative lays the groundwork for transforming Bitcoin into a “universal security layer” for the entire blockchain ecosystem.
As part of this strategy, in August, Boundless integrated with the cross-chain protocol Wormhole to connect EVM networks with Solana.
Earlier, Billions Network CEO Evin McMullen called ZKP technology the foundation of a new era of reliable artificial intelligence and digital identity.