Boundless unlocks Bitcoin settlement and verification for Ethereum and Base ZK proofs
Boundless developed a system to use Bitcoin as a settlement and verification layer for ZK proofs from Ethereum and Base.Summary
The Boundless team, which develops the ZK proof network launched by RISC Zero, has created a cross-chain verification system enabling the use of Bitcoin as a settlement and verification layer for computationally intensive zero-knowledge proofs originating from Ethereum and Base.
Boundless CEO Shiv Shankar clarified that this does not turn Bitcoin into Ethereum, but rather secures Ethereum-style execution using Bitcoin as the ultimate verifier without running execution on Bitcoin itself. This advancement leverages the Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BitVM), a framework that validates offchain computation on Bitcoin without requiring core protocol changes, which Shankar emphasized is the key benefit.
The system also integrates with Citrea, a Bitcoin-native, ZK-powered rollup. This move reflects a shift in the Bitcoin ecosystem toward verifying more without altering consensus, providing rollups with stronger, neutral settlement layers. Boundless, powered by RISC Zero's zkVM, plans to expand support to more chains, aiming for Bitcoin to serve as a shared security layer across the broader blockchain ecosystem.
(Source：The Block)