Decoding the Path to Telos' Hardware-Accelerated zkEVM L2

This roadmap outlines the development plan for our SNARKtor powered Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (ZK-EVM) with hardware acceleration. The key goal is to enable the development of fast and cost effective Decentralized Applications leveraging Zero Knowledge. The Telos zkEVM, using TLOS as Native Token and rolling-up on Ethereum, will leverage hardware acceleration, for cryptographic operations like Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) and hashing functions and will be integrated with SNARKtor both for a more efficient attestation on the L1 and for a more efficient verification of dApps ZK Proofs. Below are the key milestones for both testnet and mainnet.

Q4 2024: zkEVM using TLOS as Native Token and Leveraging Hardware Acceleration for faster proving in Testnet

The first milestone in our roadmap is deploying the TLOS Hardware Accelerated ZK-EVM in testnet. The focus will be on making the Telos token as the main L2 token and optimizing two key cryptographic operations of the zkEVM prover through hardware acceleration:

• FFT Acceleration: Fast Fourier Transforms are a critical component of Zero-Knowledge Proof systems, and accelerating them will reduce the computation time needed for proof generation.
• Merkle Tree and Hash Function Acceleration: Similarly, hardware acceleration for hashing functions will significantly improve the efficiency of proof generation.

This milestone will set the foundation for the next future upgrades and ensure scalability for cost effective decentralized applications.

In Q1 2025, we will deploy this version on the Ethereum mainnet bringing the benefits of reduced computational costs and faster proof generation to the mainnet environment, allowing developers and users to leverage the improved performance of the ZK-EVM in real-world applications.

As with the testnet deployment, the TELOS token will be utilized for both internal operations and transaction fees in this mainnet version.

Q2 2025: Initial SNARKtor Integration in Testnet

In Q2 2025, we will roll out the initial SNARKtor integration in the testnet. SNARKtor is designed to aggregate multiple Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), significantly improving the efficiency of proof verification on layer 1.

This integration will allow the ZK-EVM to aggregate its proofs using SNARKtor, which will streamline and optimize the verification process on the L1.

This initial SNARKtor integration will serve as a crucial step toward reducing verification gas costs, setting the stage for more comprehensive SNARKtor functionality in future releases.

Q3 2025: Full SNARKtor Integration in Testnet

By Q3 2025, we will introduce the Full SNARKtor Integration in the testnet. This will include not only the aggregation of ZK-EVM proofs but also the integration of SNARKtor into the zk-EVM in order to enable decentralized applications (dApps) that require Zero-Knowledge Proofs for example for use cases needing data protection, selective disclosure and identity verification.

• dApp Proof Aggregation through SNARKtor: Decentralized applications using the ZK-EVM will benefit from SNARKtor’s proof aggregation, allowing for more scalable and privacy-focused interactions.
• SNARKtor Verifier Integration: The SNARKtor verifier will be integrated directly into the ZK-EVM to handle the verification of aggregated proofs, ensuring a seamless process for dApps.

This testnet milestone will demonstrate the full potential of SNARKtor in reducing verification overhead for both ZK-EVM proofs and dApp-related proofs.

Q4 2025: Full SNARKtor Integration in Mainnet

In Q4 2025, we plan to deploy the Full SNARKtor Integration on the mainnet, corresponding to the testnet phases from Q2 2025 and Q3 2025. This will include:

• Layer 1 Attestation with SNARKtor: Proofs generated by the ZK-EVM will be verified more efficiently on layer 1 through SNARKtor, reducing gas costs and enhancing scalability.
• Full dApp Proof Aggregation: Decentralized applications will benefit from SNARKtor’s ability to aggregate and verify their Zero-Knowledge Proofs, improving the efficiency and data protection of applications running on the ZK-EVM.
• Verifier Integration: SNARKtor’s verifier will be fully integrated into the ZK-EVM on mainnet, providing robust, scalable verification for all aggregated proofs.

By the end of Q4 2025, the full set of features—hardware acceleration, SNARKtor integration, and the efficient handling of proofs—will be live on the mainnet, offering a comprehensive solution for Zero-Knowledge Proofs on Ethereum using the Telos token.

Conclusion

This roadmap outlines a series of milestones for both testnet and mainnet deployments of the Telos Hardware Accelerated Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (ZK-EVM), with the inclusion of SNARKtor for proof aggregation. The development spans from Q4 2024 through Q4 2025, with each phase bringing critical upgrades in terms of performance, scalability, and data protection. By the end of this timeline, the ZK-EVM will be fully equipped to provide efficient and scalable Zero-Knowledge Proof generation and verification for both layer 1 and decentralized applications, with hardware acceleration and advanced proof aggregation through SNARKtor. These developments will make the ZK-EVM a powerful tool for developers looking to build privacy-focused applications on Ethereum, while also reducing computational overhead and gas costs through efficient proof aggregation and hardware acceleration.

The use of TLOS as the native token throughout the system, starting from the initial milestones on both testnet and mainnet, will further streamline the economic model, ensuring smooth transactions and cost management within the ZK-EVM ecosystem. By the end of Q4 2025, all the planned functionalities will be live on the mainnet, marking the completion of the full roadmap and setting the stage for broader adoption of Zero-Knowledge technology across Ethereum-based platforms.

This announcement is part of our 'Revealing Telos' Next Growth Leap' campaign, where we'll share major upcoming updates. We're committed to keeping our community connected with everything we're building behind the scenes. Stay tuned for more alpha!