Scaling Decentralization

ZeroSync is spearheading the application of proof systems to Bitcoin. Leveraging this groundbreaking cryptography, we are pioneering the future of Bitcoin scalability, usability, and privacy.

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Proof Systems

Introducing a game-changing compression technique.

Succinct zero-knowledge proofs (zkSNARKs) promise a paradigm shift in blockchain scalability and privacy. While considerable engineering effort is underway in the Ethereum community to apply this technology, no similar investment has yet been made for the Bitcoin network. Therefore, ZeroSync was created to bring these proof systems to Bitcoin for the first time.

State Proof Demo

ZeroSync's Mission

Pioneering the Adoption of Proof Systems in the Bitcoin Ecosystem.

At ZeroSync, our mission is to catalyze the use of proof systems in the Bitcoin ecosystem to improve scalability, accessibility, and privacy. Our main activities are:

  1. Creating a proof system to sync Bitcoin's chain state instantly. Additionally, a toolkit for developers to enhance existing protocols, applications, and services with ZKPs.
  2. Building a community around Bitcoin proofs by presenting the tech at conferences, by providing resources to get people engaged, and by collaborating with other projects in the space.
  3. Working towards the eventual integration of a ZKP verifier into the main layer of Bitcoin.

Projects

ZeroSync is spearheading numerous applications of proof systems to Bitcoin

Our main projects are chain state proofs, BitVM, and zkCoins.

Chain State Proofs - Instantly sync a node

Similar to an SPV light client, the headers state proof verifies only the block headers, the proof of work, and the difficulty adjustments. Additionally, it augments the header chain with a Merkle tree over all block headers, which enables succinct proofs of inclusion for all blocks and transactions.

We have broadcasted state proofs from space via the Blockstream Satellite, for everyone to instantly sync the Bitcoin blockchain almost anywhere on earth.

BitVM: Compute anything on Bitcoin

BitVM is a computing paradigm to enable arbitrary computation on Bitcoin. Most notably, it allows to bridge BTC to second layers, enabling trust-minimized second layers such as sidechains, rollups, and zkCoins.

zkCoins: Improving Bitcoin scalability and privacy

The zkCoins protocol combines client-side validation with zero-knowledge proofs, increasing Bitcoin's throughput to more than a hundred transactions per second while offering strong privacy.

Research

ZeroSync is at the forefront of Bitcoin research and innovation

We are involved in a range of research projects, involving applied cryptography, cryptoeconomics, and advanced Bitcoin Script.

“After years of frustration about slow syncing, users will be able to sync with the network much faster, and with less computation. It’s a technological leap akin to the transition from slow dial-up internet to high-speed broadband”
— Eli Ben-Sasson STARKs co-inventor and StarkWare president
“ZeroSync is first of its kind in the Bitcoin space, compressing the chain and producing proofs about processing its state in a light client manner today and as a full node in the future, enabling new ways to interact with Bitcoin. It’s an ambitious project which is led by a motivated and smart team that I had the luck to see take it from an idea that seemed extremely hard to a reality.”
— Kobi Gurkan Head of Research at Geometry
“ZeroSync is an amazing project tackling this design space.”
— Olaoluwa Osuntokun CTO and Co-Founder at Lightning Labs

About

We are a Swiss nonprofit organization developing public goods.

Purpose

The ZeroSync Association is a nonprofit organization based in the Swiss canton of Zug. Its purpose is to spearhead the application of proof systems to Bitcoin both in terms of research and open-source software development.

Core Contributors

Robin Linus, Lukas George, Tino Steffens, Max Gillett, Andrew Milson

Sponsors

ZeroSync development is sponsored by research grants from

Media

Learn more about STARKs on Bitcoin

Publications and Articles

A selection of publications and articles about the technology and the project.

Presentations and Podcasts

History

Growing from an idea into reality.