ZK Co-Processor: Opening a New Computing Paradigm for Web3

In the traditional computing field, coprocessors are responsible for handling other complex tasks for the CPU. There is a similar demand in the Ethereum ecosystem, mainly reflected in two aspects: first, the high Gas fees limit the development of complex applications; second, smart contracts can only access a limited amount of block data, hindering innovation based on big data.

To address these issues, the ZK co-processor has emerged. It can be viewed as the "GPU" of Ethereum, handling computation-intensive and data-intensive tasks, while the main chain focuses on simpler operations like asset transactions. The development of ZK technology provides the co-processor with reliable off-chain computing capabilities.

Currently, well-known ZK co-processor projects in the industry mainly focus on three major application scenarios: on-chain data indexing, oracles, and ZKML. General-purpose ZK co-processors such as Risc Zero, Lagrange, and Succinct are dedicated to building a verifiable computing environment that is independent of the chain.

The core components of these projects usually include:

• Prover Network: Generate ZK Proofs
• Request Pool: Store user proof requests
• Rollup Engine: Packages proof results on-chain
• Visual Development Platform
• Off-chain state storage
• Proof of Market: Matching Computational Power Supply and Demand

In terms of technical implementation, the solutions adopted by various projects are quite similar:

• Supports both SNARKs and STARKs
• Use recursive proof techniques to improve efficiency
• Build a prover network and computing power market

Unlike Layer 2, ZK co-processors are primarily aimed at application developers and can serve as off-chain virtual machines for Layer 2, computational offloading tools for public chain applications, cross-chain data oracles, and more. They have the potential to reconstruct multiple middleware in the blockchain, such as oracles and cross-chain bridges.

However, ZK coprocessors still face some challenges:

1. High development threshold, requires mastery of specific languages and tools
2. The track is still in its early stages, and performance standards have yet to be unified.
3. Dedicated hardware has not yet been commercially deployed on a large scale.
4. The technical routes of various projects are similar, making it difficult to form an overwhelming advantage.

Nevertheless, ZK co-processors represent an important step for blockchain in transitioning from decentralization to trustlessness. They are expected to reshape the paradigm of Web3 application development, supporting more complex on-chain interactions. As the technology continues to mature, the ZK industry chain is expected to achieve commercialization in the next cycle, laying the foundation for Web3 to accommodate a billion users.