What is Boundless (ZKC)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Boundless aims to make ZK proofs accessible and scalable for all blockchains. Developers submit proof requests (e.g., for rollups, privacy apps) to a decentralized network of provers, who compete to generate and verify proofs. This shifts heavy computation off-chain while ensuring on-chain verifiability, addressing bottlenecks like gas costs and block size limits.

By creating a marketplace for proofs, Boundless allows chains to inherit ZK security without needing to build their own infrastructure (Boundless docs).

2. Technology & Architecture

The protocol uses a zkVM (zero-knowledge virtual machine) to generate proofs from code written in standard languages like Rust or Solidity. Key innovations:
- Proof of Verifiable Work (PoVW): Provers stake $ZKC to participate, then earn rewards based on proof complexity and speed.
- Aggregation Layer: Combines proofs from multiple chains into a single on-chain verification, reducing costs.

This architecture allows Boundless to act as a “shared security layer” for cross-chain applications, with capacity scaling as more provers join the network (CoinDesk).

3. Tokenomics & Governance

• Utility: $ZKC is staked by provers as collateral to ensure honest work, used for governance votes, and distributed as rewards.
• Supply: 1 billion genesis supply with controlled inflation (7% Year 1, tapering to 3% by Year 8).
• Ecosystem Incentives: 6.85% of tokens allocated to community initiatives, including retroactive airdrops to BNB holders and staking rewards (Binance Square).

Conclusion

Boundless positions ZK proofs as a public good for blockchains, combining decentralized compute with tokenized incentives. Its success hinges on balancing prover participation and developer adoption. Can it become the default ZK layer for Ethereum, Bitcoin, and beyond as demand for verifiable compute grows?