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: @AcrossProtocol, @Agglayer, @EspressoSys, @hyperbridge, @PolyhedraZK, @union_build, & @ZekoLabs.
Tech
@AcrossProtocol has launched the Swap API, enabling developers to add crosschain swaps through a single contract call: https://across.to/blog/swap-api
The API abstracts bridges and DEXs, returning ready-to-execute calldata and supporting multiple routing paths. It integrates with @0xProject, @Uniswap, and @lifiprotocol for efficient aggregation. Already adopted by @LC and @infinex, it reduces developer overhead and improves user experience, offering seamless swaps across @ethereum, L2s, and other compatible networks.
Integrations
Across has launched support for HyperEVM, the EVM-compatible chain within the @HyperliquidX ecosystem: https://across.to/blog/across-is-live-on-hyperevm
Users can now bridge USDC and USDT between HyperEVM and other supported chains, including Ethereum, @solana, and @BNBCHAIN, in about two seconds. The integration gives traders faster, cheaper, and more flexible access to Hyperliquid, while developers can use APIs to integrate crosschain functionality. Across’s intent-based architecture and UMA provide added security.
@Agglayer shared an article covering the challenges fintechs face when seeking blockchain interoperability: https://x.com/Agglayer/status/1968702276136218940
Current options like third-party bridges and infrastructure lock-ins create trade-offs, limiting access to liquidity and governance flexibility. Agglayer aims to solve fragmentation by connecting sovereign blockchains through its protocol layer, offering distribution, privacy, and compliance.
With CDK Enterprise, chains gain speed, scalability, and enterprise controls, while Agglayer ensures seamless connectivity across existing and future networks.
@EspressoSys has integrated with @t3rn_io, an @arbitrum Orbit L3 rollup designed for crosschain execution, to enable faster and more reliable settlement: https://medium.com/@espressosys/t3rn-integrates-with-espresso-for-faster-crosschain-execution-3ac3b72cd362
By using Espresso’s base layer, t3rn can reduce finality from minutes to seconds, improving efficiency and user experience. The integration also provides t3rn with Espresso Nodes, allowing near real-time state reading and sharing across chains, boosting transparency and capital efficiency in crosschain operations.
Intent Gateway
@hyperbridge has launched Intent Gateway, a new cross-chain protocol that removes the need for wrapped tokens and trusted intermediaries: https://blog.hyperbridge.network/sovereign-intents/
Users set intents for transfers, and liquidity providers instantly fulfill them with native assets. Settlement is secured through cryptographic proofs rather than oracles or multisig.
Initially offering zero-fee transfers funded by token incentives, the system emphasizes decentralization, speed, and user control while addressing security risks in legacy bridges.
Publications
Hyperbridge shared an article explaining how its incentive system supports a decentralized network of relayers and collators:https://blog.hyperbridge.network/relayer-and-collator-incentives/
Consensus relayers secure blockchains by submitting verified proofs, earning tokens, while messaging relayers deliver user requests across chains, funded by user fees and protocol rewards. Over time, proven relayers can advance to collators, who produce blocks and secure the network, ensuring economic sustainability and long-term alignment with Hyperbridge’s ecosystem.
@PolyhedraZK reported infrastructure improvements centered on Expander, emphasizing advances in multi-GPU performance and proof aggregation: https://x.com/PolyhedraZK/status/1968721748662325313
• Completed multi-GPU acceleration for polynomial evaluation using NCCL, increasing throughput and scalability in proof workloads.
• Began integrating proof aggregation in a multi-GPU MPI environment to coordinate distributed provers, merge partial results, and reduce proof size.
The project also highlighted development progress in zkML with several updates to optimization, testing, and code structure: https://x.com/PolyhedraZK/status/1968646256659677207
• Enabled batching PCS as the default configuration, lowering proving and verification costs.
• Continued memory optimization with MobileNet benchmarks to cut costs while ensuring stability.
• Advanced recursion circuit testing, fixing soundness issues and completing end-to-end pipeline validation.
• Added support for computation graph hints, reducing witnesses and improving performance.
• Deprecated GKR Square, simplifying the codebase and lowering computational overhead.
Mainnet
@union_build launched its mainnet with validators now producing blocks on union-1: https://union.build/blog/mainnet
The network builds on three years of development and community involvement, aiming to provide scalable, ZK-based interoperability. Over $145 million in assets were transferred during the alpha phase, demonstrating its capacity. The mainnet sets the stage for adding more chains, expanding applications, and bringing new users into the Union ecosystem.
Publications
Union published a post explaining how its ZK engine, Galois, underpins consensus verification across the network: https://x.com/union_build/status/1966238769121734864
The system emphasizes speed, low cost, and decentralization in every transaction. Each process involves sending a packet, generating a ZKP, and updating the counterparty.
Integrations
The project announced two new integrations:
@Tower: Joined the Tower Rush 2.0 Testnet as a partner, supporting the launch of Tower 2.0 DEX on @babylonlabs_io EVM. The U/USDC pool went live, and the Union community actively stress-tested the platform to enhance stability and performance: https://x.com/union_build/status/1968683554235367868
@SeiNetwork: Added Sei to its mainnet through a ZK-secured, trustless bridge. This integration enabled direct transfers between Sei and other chains in the BTCFi ecosystem - including Babylon, @ethereum, Union, and more - combining Sei’s high-speed execution with seamless interoperability: https://x.com/union_build/status/1968376664574017923
@ZekoLabs and @MinaProtocol are applying ZK blockchains to strengthen the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard for linking AI systems with external tools: https://medium.com/zekolabs/zkmcp-revolutionizing-mcp-and-ai-agent-infrastructure-with-zero-knowledge-blockchains-5e9e262de549
While MCP faces challenges around payments, authentication, and service discovery, zkMCP introduces decentralized identity, verifiable registries, and micropayments.
Mina provides a lightweight blockchain foundation, and Zeko adds scalable zkRollups, together enabling autonomous AI agents to operate securely, privately, and efficiently within a decentralized digital economy.
