Executive Summary
We’re excited to announce a strategic partnership with Soundness Labs, pioneers of decentralized, proof-agnostic ZK verification, to integrate the Linera network with Soundness Layer, the first fully decentralized, proof-agnostic verification layer for zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs.
This collaboration is mutually transformative:
For Linera, it brings native support for scalable, decentralized ZK proof attestations.
For Soundness Layer, it marks a major step forward in leveraging microchains to make the attestation process both faster and cheaper than ever before.
Together, we’re laying critical infrastructure for privacy-preserving, real-time blockchain applications at scale.
A Dual Innovation
Linera: Microchains for Massive Parallelism
Linera introduces a new paradigm in blockchain scalability with its microchain design:
Parallelizable Microchains: Each user or application can operate their own lightweight chain, enabling massive horizontal scaling.
Low Latency, Real-Time Execution: Ideal for dApps and zkApps requiring high responsiveness.
Trustless Sparse Client: Allows web frontends and AI agents to interact with Linera applications and their on-chain data directly, without a third-party provider.
Soundness Labs: Towards a Sound Internet
As a core product, Soundness Layer removes traditional barriers to on-chain ZK verification by offering:
Proof-Agnostic Infrastructure: Supports SP1, Ligero, Groth16, Risc0, Noir, STARK, and more.
Fully Decentralized Validator Network: Ensures trust through slashing, staking, and cryptoeconomic accountability.
Multi-Asset Restaking: Boosts economic security and decentralization.
Cross-Chain Attestation: Compatible across Ethereum, Sui, Linera and other chains.
The Power of Integration
Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs are redefining what’s possible in blockchain; enabling privacy, scalability, and cost efficiency at a level we have never seen before. From zk-Rollups to zkApps like zkLogin, ZK proofs are becoming the backbone of next-generation blockchain applications.
Yet with adoption accelerating, new challenges emerge:
How do we minimize ZK on-chain verification costs?
How do we ensure scalability without compromising decentralization?
On-chain ZK verification is typically expensive and slow, which has forced many developers to rely on centralized services.
This partnership solves that by:
Parallel Proof Verification: Microchains enable concurrency which increases throughput.
Censorship Resistance: Since both Linera and Soundness Layer leverage Walrus as their DDA, it ensures reliable, decentralized storage for the proof data and a smooth integration.
Secure Incentives: Validators are held accountable through economic mechanisms, making attestations both trustworthy and decentralized.
With this partnership, Linera will gain the ability to verify ZK proofs on-chain without relying on trusted parties. With this foundation, Linera will unlock support for ZK-powered applications ranging from zkLogin to digital identity systems, opening the door to a wide variety of Web2 and Web3 use cases in a proof-agnostic setting.
In return, Soundness Layer will benefit from the efficiency of Linera’s microchain-powered architecture, allowing the protocol to scale its throughput without compromising decentralization. This design minimizes costs by reducing computational overhead, creating the cheapest attestation routes to date.
Unlocked Use Cases
This partnership enables developers to build privacy-preserving, efficient, and scalable applications. It supports decentralized identity through tools like zkLogin, zkTunnel, and other privacy-focused onboarding solutions for Web3. It also advances self-sovereign identity by allowing decentralized verification without reliance on centralized authorities. In addition, it facilitates zkRollups, offering cost-efficient and low-latency solutions for Layer 2 scalability on Ethereum and beyond.
The integration significantly lowers barriers for developers by providing economic efficiency through reduced costs for on-chain verification. It simplifies development with a proof-agnostic, decentralized validation infrastructure that is easy to integrate. At the same time, it enhances security and privacy, delivering robust cryptoeconomic guarantees that preserve decentralization without sacrificing performance.
Conclusion
By combining Linera’s scalable microchain architecture with the decentralized, proof-agnostic verification infrastructure of Soundness Layer, we open new avenues for innovation in blockchain applications that demand real-time, scalable, and secure interactions.
Developers are now empowered to build sophisticated decentralized applications without the traditional constraints of verification costs and latency.