zkSync developers unveil new Boojum proof system

The Matter Labs team, the main developer of the Ethereum-layer-2 zkSync Era, unveiled a new proof system Boojum based on the STARK protocol.

Previously the network used a SNARK-based model with zero-knowledge proofs, which processed more than 100 transactions per second. According to project representatives, STARK will increase throughput severalfold.

“The enhanced performance of Boojum means that the system can confirm transactions faster, and the reduced hardware requirements improve the network’s access to cheaper machines to boost horizontal scalability,” Matter Labs said.

A key feature of Boojum is its ability to run on consumer-grade GPUs, requiring only 16 GB of RAM.

The new proof system uses a Rust-based arithmetic and constraint library. The development turns general computations in the protocol into a mathematical form, which “simplifies auditing, maintenance and updating the system,” the zkSync team explained.

The Boojum update has already been integrated into the mainnet, but it is in an experimental stage. At present the mechanism can only generate and verify “shadow proofs” using real production data.

Matter Labs launched the alpha version of zkSync Era in March 2023. Later support for the L2 solution was added by 1inch Network, Aave and Rocket Pool.

Earlier in June, developers introduced ZK Stack — a modular toolkit for building Hyperchains on top of and alongside zkSync Era.