Contributor Corner

Since the initial proposal of Zero-Knowledge Proofs in the 1980s by researchers Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, and Charles Rackoff, the development of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology has significantly evolved. Today, these groundbreaking cryptographic techniques have the potential to revolutionize privacy, security, and trust across various domains; perhaps particularly regarding decentralized systems and applications.

Here, we explore zkMIPS, a zero-knowledge Virtual Machine developed by ZKM, designed to enable the correct execution of programs off-chain while maintaining on-chain verifiability. zkMIPS is the key component of our approach to securely addressing critical challenges in blockchain interoperability and scalability.

In this continuation of our series on zkMIPS, we explore the specific proving process that verifies the correct execution of MIPS programs off-chain. Here, we cover the structured steps involved in segmenting the program, the modular proof structure, and the cryptographic proofs employed.‍

zkMIPS is a novel zkVM tailored for the MIPS instruction set, leveraging its stability and extensive use in IoT and legacy applications. zkMIPS opens up numerous practical applications for ZKPs by providing efficient and secure proof generation within a zkVM framework, and enabling verifiable computation for MIPS-based programs. This thread outlines the proving process for MIPS program execution within zkMIPS.

Here, we look at some of the potential application of zkMIPS; particularly its integration within the architecture of our Entangled Rollups design, the function of which is to enable multi-chain interoperability without relying on traditional blockchain bridges. Entangled Rollups utilize zkMIPS to facilitate a trust-minimized mechanism that addresses liquidity fragmentation and lowers the barriers for user and developer onboarding in a multi-chain environment. This design enables direct interaction between different blockchain infrastructures without the need for an additional consensus gadget called “bridge”.