Some blockchains are meant to do one thing very well

In any industry, specialization ultimately outweighs generalization. As system complexity increases, successful tools are those that are designed to do one thing very well, rather than those that try to do everything at once. Remarkably, technology has always followed this path. Cloud computing has split into storage, compute, and databases, chip designs have branched into CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs, and finance has become dependent on clearinghouses and custodians for dedicated infrastructure. Blockchain is no exception.

Throughout the cycle, the blockchain ecosystem has begun to fragment into dedicated networks for data availability, stablecoins, tokenized assets, and payment layers optimized for speed and security. Following this path, it becomes clear that proof verification is the next area to follow this trajectory. This is a layer that is long overdue for its own specialized layer.

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Verification is a challenge

Zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVM) and cryptographic applications are now generating more proofs than ever before. Rollups, privacy apps, and zkML systems are moving into production, and each generates a huge amount of proofs that need to be checked. Demand is only accelerating, but the infrastructure for validating proofs has not kept up.

In Ethereum (ETH), one proof verification consumes approximately 200,000 to 300,000 gas. If the network is congested, it can cost anywhere from $1 to $10 or more per check. For applications that require thousands or millions of validations, their economics do not scale. Rather, the product’s unit economics become unpredictable, as what looks viable one day can break the bank the next, depending on the volatility of the gas.

Developers often try to work around these constraints by aggregating proofs or converting STARKs to SNARKs to meet EVM constraints. Although convenient, this can introduce complexity and inefficiency. There are also some nuances here. New proof types cannot always be verified on Ethereum. The bottom line is that the current infrastructure cannot withstand the demands of proof.

Just add a validation layer

What is the solution? Specialization. A dedicated verification layer that can verify orders of magnitude more proofs reduces costs and delays while protecting your applications from fluctuations in the L1 gas market. The framework for this approach involves more than simple efficiency. Rather, it embodies the core spirit of web3 by emphasizing composability.

Specialization also means dedicated support for new versions of existing verifiers. These are updated very frequently. Support for new proof types allows your projects to adapt and stay ahead of the curve as the market evolves.

Picture your specialized validation layer as a shared resource available to any application, be it an identity protocol, zkVM, gaming platform, or a growing number of use cases that wax and wane from year to year. Verification becomes a plug-and-play primitive across the ecosystem, rather than every project individually solving the same bottleneck.

Who benefits?

A dedicated validation layer has wide-ranging benefits for the entire ecosystem.

zkVM

Systems like RISC Zero and SP1 can avoid the costly detour of converting STARK proofs to SNARKs just to meet EVM constraints. The validation layer allows it to work natively, improving performance and reducing costs.

Identity and authentication protocols

Apps that frequently require proof of authenticity can achieve it predictably and at low cost. The verification layer can support a worldwide system where billions of microproofs would be prohibitively expensive.

games and entertainment

Online games often rely on randomness and fair play. Fast and low-cost verification allows you to build provable fairness into your mechanisms without interrupting the flow of gameplay. Leaderboards, anti-cheat, in-game economies: they all benefit from removing the need for trust.

AI and zkML systems

As AI becomes an increasingly important part of the technology field, machine learning will often intersect with blockchain. Proofs of model consistency and inference correctness can be verified inexpensively in batches. As this pertains to AI agents and analytical systems, it opens the door to increased trust in machine-driven decision-making. Because trust is not required, agents can communicate with each other and collaborate more effectively.

cross-chain application

In a multi-chain world, redundancy is increasingly an issue. The verification layer enables a “verify once, prove everywhere” framework, where proofs generated in one environment can be centrally checked and referenced throughout the chain, potentially improving interoperability.

In other words, proof verification is a key element wherever trust and efficiency intersect.

The next wave of dedicated chains

As the multi-chain ecosystem expands, we are already starting to see the potential benefits of specialization.

Celestia and EigenDA are two examples. By optimizing data availability, applications are freed from the need to reinvent the wheel. Even stablecoin-first chains like Arc and Tempo have tailored their infrastructure specifically for payments and exchange, demonstrating how modularity and specialization can enable more effective scalability.

The validation layer is the long-awaited natural next step in becoming the next area of ​​specialized innovation. These are built into a composable stack alongside oracles, DA networks, and payment layers. By treating proof verification as a specialized function, we address one of the most pressing bottlenecks facing the blockchain industry today. We offer proofs for $0.003 and can integrate any proof type, eliminating the need for aggregation or STARK to SNARK conversion.

If general purpose blockchain breaks the frontier, specialization will pave the way for the future. A dedicated validation layer increases efficiency and opens up a whole new design space for developers and users, ensuring that your Web3 infrastructure is not only functional, but optimized.

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