Deep Dive
1. Steel ZK Coprocessor (December 2025)
Overview: Allows developers to query historical blockchain states and perform multi-block computations off-chain, with results written back to contracts at predictable gas costs.
This upgrade lets EVM-based dApps process millions of state queries in a single call, bypassing gas limits for data-heavy tasks like DeFi risk modeling. Provers generate ZK proofs for these computations, which are verified on-chain.
What this means: This is bullish for ZKC because it expands use cases for decentralized apps requiring heavy computation (e.g., cross-chain collateral checks). Developers can build more complex products without Ethereum’s gas constraints.
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2. OP Kailua Rollup Upgrade (December 2025)
Overview: Introduces hybrid ZK fraud proofs for Optimistic Rollups, cutting finality from days to 1–3 hours.
OP chains can now opt for “validity mode,” where ZK proofs cryptographically confirm transaction batches. This reduces reliance on fraud-proof windows and strengthens security against malicious actors.
What this means: This is neutral for ZKC in the short term, as adoption depends on rollup migration. However, it positions Boundless as a go-to solution for rollups seeking faster finality without full ZK-rollup complexity.
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Overview: New commands like claim-mining-rewards automate reward distribution for provers, tied to their staked ZKC.
Provers now use a streamlined workflow: aggregate proofs → submit on-chain → claim rewards every 48-hour epoch. The system caps rewards at 1/15 of a prover’s staked ZKC per epoch to prevent centralization.
What this means: This is bullish for ZKC because it incentivizes long-term staking and lowers barriers for provers to participate, potentially increasing network security and proof throughput.
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Conclusion
Boundless is doubling down on scalability for both developers (via Steel/Kailua) and provers (via mining tools). These updates align with its vision of making ZK compute “internet-scale.” Will rising prover participation offset ZKC’s inflationary token model?