Key Takeaways
Boundless is a protocol that uses zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to scale programmable blockchains through a decentralized prover marketplace.
The Boundless Market connects developers (who request proofs) with provers (who generate them), using a Proof of Verifiable Work (PoVW) system to reward useful computation.
ZKC is the network’s native token. It’s used for staking, incentives, governance, and rewards for provers within the decentralized marketplace.
What Is Boundless?
Boundless is a protocol designed to enhance the scalability of blockchains through the use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Typically, programmable blockchain networks require every full node to re-execute all transactions in a block to verify the resulting state. While this approach provides security, it also results in a significant amount of duplicated work and slower performance.
Boundless takes a different approach by introducing verifiable computing and a decentralized prover marketplace. Developers can submit computation tasks, and provers compete to generate ZKPs for them. Instead of having nodes repeat the same computation, a single prover performs the task and produces a proof that other nodes can quickly verify. This reduces redundancy and allows developers to build more complex applications without being constrained by high gas costs or block size limits.
How Boundless Works
Proof of Verifiable Work (PoVW)
Boundless relies on a system known as Proof of Verifiable Work to distribute rewards. Unlike traditional Proof of Work (PoW), where miners solve cryptographic puzzles to maintain consensus, PoVW directs computing power toward producing ZKPs that can be used in applications.
Provers participate by staking ZKC tokens and earning rewards for successfully completing proof requests. If they fail to deliver, a portion of their stake may be lost. This model creates strong incentives for provers to act reliably while ensuring the network’s resources are directed toward useful work.
Boundless Proving Stack
Boundless is built on the RISC Zero zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM). It allows developers to prove that programs written in the Rust programming language were executed correctly, without requiring every node to repeat the process. The network manages the proving process through two main components: Bento (a local proving infrastructure) and the Broker (a market interaction service).
Bento serves as the infrastructure for managing requests, executing programs, and assembling proofs into the proper format. It is designed to be flexible, capable of running on a single GPU or scaling to large clusters. Working alongside Bento, the Broker connects provers to the Boundless marketplace by evaluating proof requests, placing bids, and locking requests when they are secured. Once Bento generates the proof, the Broker submits it on-chain for verification.
The proof request process usually consists of the following steps:
Write a program: A developer writes a Rust program for the zkVM. Running the program produces the output along with a cryptographic seal that proves the execution was correct.
Submit request: The developer, now the requestor, sends a proof request to the Boundless Market, either on-chain or off-chain, and deposits funds to cover the job.
Provers bid: Provers compete in a reverse Dutch auction. The first prover to accept the request locks it by posting collateral, which is slashed if they fail to deliver.
Submit proof: The selected prover generates the proof and can bundle multiple requests into one aggregated proof. Once the proof is verified on-chain, the prover is rewarded and their collateral is returned.
Utilize proof: The developer receives the verified proof and integrates it into their application as a confirmation of correct execution.
Key Features
Steel
Steel is Boundless’s ZK coprocessor for Ethereum applications. It enables Solidity developers to offload heavy computations to the Boundless network while maintaining verifiable results on-chain. This approach enables developers to reduce gas costs, avoid block size limits, and build decentralized applications (DApps) that would otherwise be too large or expensive to run.
Steel works by retrieving state from EVM-compatible blockchains, executing programs off-chain in the zkVM, and then producing proofs that can be verified on-chain. This separation between execution and verification provides developers with a means to scale applications, process high volumes of activity, and maintain security without relying on trust in a single party.
OP Kailua
OP Kailua is a toolkit designed to enhance optimistic rollups with zero-knowledge Fault proofs. As of September 2025, it is in active development and recommended only for testing environments. The toolkit is built on Optimism’s Kona engine and uses the RISC Zero zkVM to enhance rollup security, reduce finality times, and lower collateral requirements. Instead of relying only on fraud proofs, Kailua introduces an alternative dispute resolution model that provides additional safeguards against invalid transactions.
Boundless Token
The ZKC token is the native token of the Boundless network. It’s used within the Boundless ecosystem for many purposes, including:
Staking: ZKC stakers can earn rewards and support network security. All stakers receive a share of epoch rewards, creating both commitment and capacity in the protocol.
Governance: ZKC holders can vote on upgrades, grants, and marketplace rules. Over time, governance will expand to include community proposals and veto power.
Rewards: Provers can earn ZKC for generating valid ZKPs. This mechanism ties token rewards directly to useful work, encouraging efficient proving.
Collateral: Provers lock ZKC as collateral before taking on a request. If they fail to deliver on time, part of the collateral is burned, and the rest is reassigned as a bounty. This system reduces circulating supply as network activity grows.
Boundless (ZKC) on Binance HODLer Airdrops
On September 12, 2025, Binance announced ZKC as the 39th project on the Binance HODLer Airdrops. Users who subscribed their BNB to Simple Earn and/or On-Chain Yields products from September 2 to 5 were eligible to receive ZKC airdrops. A total of 15 million ZKC tokens were allocated to the program, accounting for 1.5% of the total token supply.
ZKC was listed with the Seed Tag applied, allowing for trading against the USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY pairs.
Closing Thoughts
Boundless takes a different approach to blockchain scalability by using zero-knowledge proofs to verify computations, rather than requiring every node to re-execute them. This model reduces redundancy, enables more complex applications, and creates a marketplace where useful computation is incentivized. The protocol is designed with developers in mind, abstracting away technical complexity so they can easily request proofs and focus on building applications.
Further Reading
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