The Evolution of SNARKtor: A New Standard for Proof Aggregation

Since we published the SNARKtor whitepaper in February 2024, our team at Telos have been hard at work developing it into a groundbreaking protocol that scales zk-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge) in blockchain ecosystems. 

With SNARKtor, we're introducing a new standard in proof aggregation, enabling unprecedented blockchain scalability, cost-efficiency, and privacy preservation.

By condensing multiple proofs into a single, efficient entity, SNARKtor is transforming how we build and manage decentralized applications. In this article, we’ll take you through the journey of SNARKtor’s progress since its announcement, the milestones we’ve achieved, and where we’re headed next.

The Birth of SNARKtor: Solving zk-SNARK Scalability with Decentralized Proof Aggregation

In February, we introduced SNARKtor, a decentralized protocol designed for recursive proof aggregation. zk-SNARKs—cryptographic proofs that allow a party to validate a transaction without revealing the underlying data—are crucial for the future of blockchain. However, scalability and efficiency have been significant challenges. With SNARKtor, we’ve solved these challenges by aggregating multiple zk-SNARK proofs into a single, verifiable proof in a decentralized fashion. This drastically reduces gas costs and improves verification speeds.

By developing SNARKtor, we're positioning Telos at the forefront of applying zk-SNARK technology to real-world use cases, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to privacy-enhanced transactions, and even cross-border payments.

The Proof-of-Concept: EthCC’s Digital Battleship Demo

During EthCC, we showcased SNARKtor’s potential with a proof-of-concept (PoC) in the form of a digital Battleship game. Players submitted their moves as zk proofs via SNARKtor, and we aggregated these proofs into a single, compact proof before submitting it on-chain. This demonstration clearly showed how SNARKtor can reduce the number of proofs submitted and significantly lower gas fees.

For this PoC, we used the Risc Zero zkVM to generate user proofs and developed Risclonky2, a custom-built wrapper to convert Risc Zero proofs into Plonky2 SNARK circuits. This success proved that zk-SNARK-based applications, once constrained by high costs and complexity, can now become scalable and cost-effective thanks to SNARKtor.

Key Technological Advancements Since EthCC

Since the EthCC showcase, we’ve made significant progress in enhancing SNARKtor, laying the groundwork for future development. Here are some of the key milestones we've completed and what’s currently in progress:

Completed Milestones:

1. Repository Organization & Management: We reorganized the SNARKtor repositories to better support the next phases of development and ensure seamless integration of all components.
2. Continuous Integration (CI): We implemented CI workflows for the main SNARKtor repositories to maintain high development standards and consistency across the platform.
3. Docker Integration: SNARKtor components, including the Battleship demo, were integrated with Docker, providing developers with a quick and easy way to run the entire system.
4. On-Chain User Registration: We now allow users to register on-chain, with the capability to fund accounts, streamlining their interaction with the SNARKtor ecosystem.
5. GitHub Releases: We released the first official versions of SNARKtor components on GitHub, making the protocol more accessible to developers worldwide.

Ongoing Developments:

1. Proof Aggregator Modularization: We're currently modularizing the Proof Aggregator into distinct components such as Scheduler, Submitter, and Prover, which will align with SNARKtor’s full protocol specification.
2. Multi-Machine Proof Aggregation: We’re working on multi-machine proof aggregation to push SNARKtor’s scalability even further by enabling parallel proof processing.
3. Key Concepts Like “Schedules” and “Slots”: We’ve started implementing key components like schedules and slots, which will allow SNARKtor to manage and optimize proof aggregation dynamically.

The Future of SNARKtor: Expanding Beyond the PoC

SNARKtor’s development roadmap extends far beyond the initial PoC. One of the most exciting upcoming developments is SNARKtor’s integration with the Telos' zkEVM Layer 2 solution. This integration will enable us to aggregate proofs not just for individual transactions, but for entire rollups. These rollups will then be submitted to Ethereum, significantly lowering gas fees while scaling Ethereum-compatible applications.

We’re also exploring hardware acceleration to further enhance SNARKtor’s performance. By partnering with Ponos Technology, we’re developing a hardware-software hybrid solution that speeds up proof generation. This approach will balance both privacy (with on-device proof generation) and scalability (by handling more transactions faster and more efficiently).

SNARKtor: A Universal Solution for Blockchain Proof Aggregation

SNARKtor isn’t limited to the Telos ecosystem. Its proof aggregation capabilities can benefit any blockchain seeking to enhance scalability and reduce costs. Whether it’s for DeFi applications, private transactions, decentralized gaming, or cross-chain interoperability, SNARKtor’s technology can be applied to a wide range of blockchain use cases.

As we continue to innovate with SNARKtor, we believe its scalability, efficiency, and privacy-preserving features will bring Zero Knowledge proof technology to the forefront of blockchain development. With its universal proof aggregation capabilities, SNARKtor is set to transform how developers and businesses interact with digital data, unlocking the full potential of zk-SNARKs for the broader blockchain industry.

SNARKtor remains in stealth mode. Stay tuned – we'll be going public soon.

At Telos, we are deeply committed to maintaining transparency with our community. To keep everyone informed about our progress, we will provide monthly updates on SNARKtor's development, sharing our milestones, challenges, and achievements as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in blockchain scalability.