Vitalik Buterin Introduces GKR Protocol to Accelerate ZK Computations

The technology has proven to be 15 times more efficient than zk-STARK-based solutions.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed the use of the GKR protocol to enhance the efficiency of traditional zk-SNARK and zk-STARK systems. 

A GKR tutorial:https://t.co/Oo7jraC4sy

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 20, 2025

According to him, recent years in cryptography zero-knowledge proofs have seen a trend towards creating specialized solutions for specific types of tasks. Some are optimized for arithmetic circuits, while others are for mandatory transitions. 

The GKR protocol, proposed in 2010, combines the advantages of both approaches. It is designed to handle large volumes of data and allows for the verification of millions of computations per second without the need to check intermediate steps.

Buterin explained that the technology is suitable for operations consisting of many identical data arranged in layers. Examples include mass hashing through Poseidon2 or the operation of neural networks where one algorithm is applied to different data sets. 

In traditional systems like STARK, proofs must be generated for each stage of calculations — for instance, creating Merkle trees for all data. This requires hashing 4-16 bytes for every byte of original information. GKR eliminates such operations — the protocol uses cryptographic commitments only for input and output computations. 

In practice, the technology has proven to be 15 times more efficient than zk-STARK-based solutions. 

“However, these calculations remain theoretical. […] Practical efficiency depends on the balance between two conflicting factors: increased memory requirements and the advantages of parallel computing architecture,” Buterin clarified. 

At the core of GKR is a mathematical method of sumcheck verification for sequential simplification of verification. Initially, the system proves the correctness of the final result, then through a series of transformations, it proceeds to verify previous stages of computations, and so on to the original data. Each step reduces the complexity of the task.

In Buterin’s view, zero-knowledge proofs occupy a central role in enhancing Ethereum’s scalability. 

Previously, he introduced the concept of ZKID, calling it the foundation for new financial models. The technology uses zk-SNARKs for information verification without third-party involvement.