Here we report on the progress of the leading builders in the Privacy ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
Featuring @zksync, @StarkWareLtd/@Starknet, @Scroll_ZKP, @aztecnetwork, @taikoxyz, @0xPolygon, @ZircuitL2, & @kroma_network
@zksync has introduced Airbender, a high-speed open-source zkVM based on RISC-V: https://zksync.mirror.xyz/ZgRmbYA_EE3wfGcXWv81m-xcED-ppNKkRzkleS6YZRc
Benchmark tests show Airbender delivers sub-second ZKsync block proofs and proves @ethereum blocks in under 35 seconds using a single GPU - dramatically outperforming existing systems that require dozens more. It also cuts proving costs by over 10x and supports consumer-grade hardware.
Designed for integration across the Elastic Network, it replaces the Boojum prover and enables near real-time cross-chain interoperability. Though still in beta, Airbender is available now for developers to build and test.
S-two
@StarkWareLtd announced their S-two prover is at the core of LuminAIR, @gizatechxyz’s new open-source framework for verifiable machine learning: https://starkware.co/blog/giza-x-s-two-powering-verifiable-ml-with-luminair/
LuminAIR translates ML models into Algebraic Intermediate Representations, enabling cryptographic proofs of correctness using STARKs. Developers can prove and verify computations efficiently, with applications in DeFi agents and transparent AI systems.
A three-phase roadmap includes core operators, fused compilers, a Python SDK, on-chain verification, and GPU acceleration.
S-two is also powering @NexusLabs’s zkVM 3.0 - a modular, scalable zero-knowledge virtual machine designed for real-world usability.
Supporting Rust and C via RISC-V, it enables developers to generate proofs without changing existing workflows. With a clean AIR-based architecture, local proving support, and plans for distributed proof generation, zkVM 3.0 brings verifiable computation closer to everyday development: https://starkware.co/blog/nexus-stwo-zkvm-scalable-verifiable-computation/
Launches
@Starknet launched v0.13.6 on Testnet on June 30, with Mainnet release scheduled for July 8. The update introduces resource counting for builtins, disables Cairo Native on Testnet, and reduces the block size to 4B L2 gas. Transactions exceeding the new block limits are now rejected, though current usage remains within bounds.
These changes lay the groundwork for integrating S-Two, @StarkWareLtd’s next-gen prover, in future updates: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1937788462351945846
Also, @kasarLabs has launched Cairo Coder v0.1.0, a tool for generating @CairoLang programs and smart contracts compatible with Starknet Foundry, Scarb, and more. It uses a high-performance RAG system based on official Cairo documentation. Open source and free, it integrates with IDEs like VS Code and supports both agents and custom model modes: https://x.com/kasarLabs/status/1934583431972679683
Integrations
Starknet will become the new home for @extendedapp - a decentralized exchange set to begin its migration from StarkEx in July 2025.
This move enables the integration of perpetual, spot, and lending markets under a unified margin system. Users won’t need a Starknet wallet, and access across six EVM-compatible chains will remain. An EVM-compatible financial environment is planned long-term: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1934621429464453158
Staking
Lastly, Starknet has completed its staking migration, reactivating staking with key new features: Block Attestation and Commission Adjustment.
Validators must now attest to random blocks each epoch and can change commissions under strict rules. Delegators gain tools to assess validator performance. This upgrade boosts transparency and sets the stage for full decentralization by year’s end: https://x.com/Starknet/status/1934940865627124162
Launches
@Scroll_ZKP has launched the Scroll Audit Marketplace on Areta Market, giving developers a quicker, clearer route to smart-contract security reviews: https://scroll.io/blog/scroll-audit-marketplace
Builders submit their scope once and receive six to eight competitively priced proposals, cutting typical wait times from weeks to days and lowering fees by up to 30 percent.
All participating auditors - @hackenclub, @immunefi, @spearbit, @NethermindEth, @sherlockdefi, @zellic_io, @CertoraInc, @hexensio, and @rv_inc - have been vetted by Areta, ensuring standardized terms, transparent pricing, and greater confidence before deployment for teams on mainnet.
Integrations
Scroll also is now supported by @zkp2p, enabling users to onramp through familiar apps like Revolut, Venmo, Cash App, and Wise. This provides global access with local convenience, moving closer to a truly open economy: https://x.com/Scroll_ZKP/status/1935684525411238205
@aztecnetwork has integrated @ZKPassport into its Testnet to help combat Sybil attacks by verifying user humanity without compromising privacy: https://azt3c-st.webflow.io/blog/zkpassport-case-study-a-look-into-online-identity-verification
Using ZKPs, users prove they hold a valid ID without sharing personal data. This enables more legitimate node operators to join the validator set, increasing decentralization.
ZKPassport runs entirely on users’ devices, ensuring privacy, security, and permissionless participation in the Web3 ecosystem.
@taikoxyz has announced a partnership with security firm @Hashlock_ to enhance its Taiko Takeoff program, a community-driven initiative supporting early-stage projects on Taiko’s decentralized ZK Rollup: https://x.com/taikoxyz/status/1935276396827619634
Participating projects will receive a 10% discount on audit fees, a month of free bug bounty coverage post-audit, and marketing support. The collaboration aims to strengthen the security and visibility of projects building within the Taiko ecosystem.
In addition, @HotcoinGlobal has joined Taiko as a strategic partner in the Taiko Takeoff Program. With over $1.5 million in grants and 45+ partners, the program offers funding, mentorship, technical support, and user exposure to help teams scale more efficiently and build securely on Taiko: https://x.com/taikoxyz/status/1935910482764075412
Polygon has released plans to scale to 100,000 transactions per second by 2026, aiming to support real-world payments and tokenized assets: https://polygon.technology/blog/polygons-gigagas-roadmap-to-100k-tps-move-your-money-faster-across-the-globe
A July upgrade will deliver 1,000 TPS and 5-second finality, rising to 5,000 TPS via @Agglayer by year-end.
Backed by active institutional use and strong stablecoin velocity, Polygon combines low fees, speed, and interoperability to become a key blockchain for onchain finance and global economic infrastructure.
@ZircuitL2 is integrating with @SindriLabs after months of planning and testing: https://x.com/ZircuitL2/status/1938683623504519450
Sindri provides scalable infrastructure for cryptographic workloads, supporting SP1 zkVM by @SuccinctLabs and Jolt zkVM by @a16zcrypto.
Zircuit engineers have updated Kona for Sequencer Level Security and optimized OP-Succinct with Sindri’s cloud provers. Internal testnets using SP1 zkVMs are nearly ready for public launch, ahead of a mainnet release.
@kroma_network has shifted from being a traditional L2 blockchain to becoming an “Intelligence Layer”, focusing on Operations Per Second (OPS) over speed: https://medium.com/@kroma-network/kroma-reborn-the-dawn-of-autonomous-agents-and-scalable-attention-b7792d0ac490
Its new protocol, RaidQuest, uses autonomous onchain agents to execute campaigns, quests, and bounties across chains without human input. These agents evolve, act as digital extensions, and aim to turn online attention into measurable, actionable, and reward-driven outcomes.
