Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the ZK Cross-Chain ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
Featuring: @Agglayer, @union_build, @PolyhedraZK, @AcrossProtocol, @Orbiter_Finance, @zkLink_Official, & @hyperbridge
Tech
@0xPolygon's @Agglayer updated its CDK - Erigon - enabling enterprises to launch customizable zkRollups with native gas tokens using the high-performance Erigon client: https://agglayer.dev/blogs/agglayer-cdk-erigon-the-stack-powering-enterprise-ready-zk-blockchains
Proven in production with 99.95% uptime and over 1B transactions, it delivers 150M gas/s baseline and 750M bursts, reaching ~8,000 TPS in testnets.
Integrated with Agglayer for fee-free interoperability and fast withdrawals, deployments start from about $500 per month with @gateway_eth support.
Publications
Agglayer shared an article dissecting rival interoperability layers, explaining how the @Optimism Stack offers standardized, Superchain-compatible rollups but requires governance compliance and revenue sharing, while @arbitrum Orbit provides high customization and autonomy but also imposes licensing and revenue fees: https://agglayer.dev/blogs/op-stack-vs-arbitrum-orbit-which-stack-should-you-choose
Both, the article claims, limit sovereignty through ecosystem lock-in, whilst Agglayer CDK enables multistack blockchain development - currently supporting OP Stack and Erigon - with ZK security, interoperability, and no protocol tax, letting builders design sovereign, enterprise-ready chains without hidden restrictions.
Record Breaking
@union_build has concluded its Trusted Setup Ceremony, amassing a total of 5,866 contributors and setting a new record for the largest Groth16 event, surpassing @MantaNetwork: https://x.com/union_build/status/1950241288085000580
Contributors earned XP, early NFT access, and helped secure Union’s proving system. Even after closing to new entrants, over 1,000 additional contributions were made voluntarily.
Partnerships
Union and @boundless_xyz are partnering to provide trustless connectivity and unlimited scaling across ecosystems. Union will support Boundless in powering 'The Signal', extending scalable, secure connections to diverse networks: https://x.com/union_build/status/1949823891590787321
Hiring
Union have announced that @Gandalf_NFT has joined as Head of Liquid Staking and DeFi. With eight years’ Web3 experience in L1s, NFT launchpads, validators, and LSTs, he will lead development of a new BTC-focused product: https://x.com/union_build/status/1948760955271397460
@PolyhedraZK has updated its Expander proving backend, boosting performance and flexibility for zkML apps: https://blog.polyhedra.network/expander-and-ecc-prover-update/
Enhancements include improved shared memory for multi-thread processes, a more adaptable polynomial commitment scheme interface, and configurable SIMD for varied parallelism. zkML gains reduced memory usage, finer CPU allocation control, and separated setup, proving, and verification phases. PCS claim merging is now more efficient, alongside bug fixes and feature removals.
The project has also merged an @ethereumfndn pull request fixing MPI issues on macOS 15, enabled the Sumcheck protocol for variable-length polynomials, and advanced development of a Docker service module for zkML, further strengthening Expander’s capabilities: https://x.com/PolyhedraZK/status/1953747978927452315
Publications
@AcrossProtocol published an article explaining how its protocol enables near-instant, secure crosschain transfers using an intent-based system: https://across.to/blog/what-happens-when-you-bridge
Users submit a request, which independent relayers race to fulfill with their own capital. Funds arrive within seconds, while relayers are reimbursed later via UMA’s optimistic oracle after verification. The model avoids multisigs, centralized custody, and idle liquidity, ensuring fast, efficient, and trust-minimized bridging.
Integrations
Across has been integrated by @optimexfi to enable non-custodial swaps between native @Bitcoin and major EVM chains, including @arbitrum, @Optimism, @base, and @BNBCHAIN: https://x.com/AcrossProtocol/status/1953823495021838778
Using multi-party computation for Bitcoin settlement and intent-based relayers for EVM transactions, it offers secure, low-slippage transfers without bridges or wrapped tokens.
@Orbiter_Finance has announced a number of new integrations including:
@katana: Enabled direct swaps from 60+ networks into any token on Katana, expanding cross-chain asset accessibility and creating new earning opportunities for users: https://x.com/Orbiter_Finance/status/1948577630917460457
@tradeparadex: Integrated direct $USDC bridging to Paradex accounts, enabling fast, private trades with deep liquidity: https://x.com/Orbiter_Finance/status/1949752371275546893
@HyperliquidX: Enabled $USDC deposits directly into Hyperliquid accounts via Orbiter, streamlining trading access with multiple bridging routes: https://x.com/Orbiter_Finance/status/1948774834554765521
@cytonic_com: Connected to Cytonic EVM Testnet, a multi-VM L1 for instant Web3 app deployment, supporting $ETH bridging from @arbitrum and Sepolia: https://x.com/Orbiter_Finance/status/1952417439251411353
@pharos_network: Integrated bridging to Pharos testnet, an EVM-compatible L1 optimized for RWAs and cross-chain liquidity, with $ETH transfers from Arbitrum and Sepolia: https://x.com/Orbiter_Finance/status/1953117028132503920
@zkLink_Official has announced two new partnerships:
@arpaofficial: Integrated ARPA’s Randcast verifiable randomness into the zkLink Nova L3 zkEVM Rollup network to enable fair, transparent, and tamper-proof random number generation for DApps.
This empowers developers to build secure GameFi mechanics, NFT minting, lotteries, and other applications that require unbiased randomness: https://arpa.medium.com/arpa-network-zklink-partner-to-power-interoperable-layer-3-dapps-with-verifiable-randomness-3de80da6e20a
@W3X_NW: Partnered with leading Web3 incubator and investment fund W3X to expand adoption in the APAC region, onboard visionary projects, and strengthen engagement with the Asian Web3 developer community: https://x.com/zkLink_Official/status/1950478646571130915
