The Latest from the ZK-L1 Ecosystem
Here we track the progress of the leading builders within the ZK-L1 ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates.
Featuring: @AleoHQ/@ProvableHQ, @DuskFoundation, @MinaProtocol/@o1_labs, @horizenglobal, @Zcash/@zashi_app, @hyli_org, & @nockchain
Partnerships
@AleoHQ has integrated with @RequestFinance, enabling private, secure crypto payments for businesses: https://aleo.org/post/aleo-request-finance-private-payments-partnership/
The partnership allows companies to pay employees, vendors, and partners confidentially using Aleo’s public/private blockchain state. This addresses a key concern with blockchain payments - transparency that exposes salary data - while ensuring regulatory compliance.
The project has also partnered with @binance Alpha, Binance’s pre-listing discovery program: https://aleo.org/post/aleo-joins-binance-alpha/
This collaboration gives developers and early adopters direct access to Aleo’s privacy-focused blockchain infrastructure through one of the world’s largest crypto ecosystems.
Tech
@ProvableHQ has released Aleo Stack v4.2.0, featuring updates to snarkOS, the Leo programming language, and SDK libraries: https://provable.com/blog/announcing-aleo-stack-v4.2.0
The update reduces base transaction fees by 90% and introduces priority fees, enabling a fee market. Enhancements include new snarkOS endpoints, improved node stability, and expanded developer tools. Leo 3.2.0 adds module support and bug fixes, while snarkVM and SDK updates improve performance and usability across environments.
@DuskFoundation shared an article explaining how public blockchains’ lack of privacy has slowed adoption in regulated finance: https://dusk.network/news/privacy-key-piece/
While transparency enables innovation, businesses and investors cannot risk exposing sensitive data. Dusk proposes a solution using ZKPs, private smart contracts, and selective transparency to balance compliance with confidentiality.
In alignment with Europe’s privacy laws and financial regulations, Dusk aims to provide infrastructure for institutions to issue securities and settle trades securely.
@robviglione, Co-founder and CEO of @HorizenLabs, contributed to the @CoinMarketCap Academy glossary, explaining how the Zero-Knowledge Transport Layer Security (zkTLS) works: https://x.com/HorizenLabs/status/1966173131015598325
He explains how standard TLS encrypts communication, but doesn’t allow later verification of what was communicated. zkTLS adds mathematical proof to that encrypted interaction, enabling verifiable evidence for legal, financial, or blockchain use cases, while protecting sensitive information and preserving privacy.
Full article: https://coinmarketcap.com/academy/glossary/zero-knowledge-transport-layer-security-zktls
Events
Rob will be part of the main panel at the Verifying Intelligence event in Singapore, organized by @HouseofZK & @boundless_xyz in collaboration with @googlecloud.
The full program is now available, including the registration link: https://x.com/HouseofZK/stat
@hyli_org and @KakarotZkEvm have launched FibRace, a mobile game where players compute Fibonacci numbers, generate ZKPs locally with Cairo M, and mint them onchain:https://blog.hyli.org/fibrace-launch/
Available on iOS and Android until late September, FibRace includes leaderboards for proving speed and collection size.
Beyond its entertainment value, it is the first large-scale benchmark of client-side proving, with performance data across devices to be released publicly in October.
Mesa Upgrade
@MinaProtocol is preparing the Mesa Upgrade, a hard fork aimed at improving performance, expanding zkApp functionality, and simplifying future upgrades: https://o1labs.org/blog/mesa-upgrade
Proposed by o1Labs, the upgrade introduces five Mina Improvement Proposals, including reducing block slot times, raising zkApp transaction and account limits, and automating hard fork processes.
Three proposals are already under community review, with the remaining two expected soon, followed by testing, coordination, and on-chain voting.
Later, @o1_labs published an update on the Mesa Upgrade: https://o1labs.org/blog/road-to-mesa
The update explains how first MIP (Slot Reduction) has completed discussion and moved to the Finalization stage. The proposal reduces Mina’s mainnet slot time from 180 to 90 seconds, lowers the block reward to 360 MINA to maintain emission, removes the zkApp soft limit, and adjusts vesting logic.
Next steps include infrastructure preparation and an on-chain vote once the remaining MIPs are ready.
Tech
In addition to the Mesa upgrade, o1Labs also shared a string of other tech updates: https://x.com/o1_labs/status/1967876124731437081
Highlights include:
• OCaml Node: The 3.3.0 release branch has been cut with Devnet expected soon. zkApp State dry runs have increased, and experimental Ubuntu 22.04 support has been added.
• Rust Node: Dependencies were updated to align with OCaml, OCV testing remains the main focus for the Mesa upgrade, and the first Devnet release is in preparation.
• o1js / SDK: The Runtime Table API implementation is complete, fee payer–less signing has been enabled following an ecosystem request, and work on Native Prover integration is underway.
Leadership
o1Labs announced a leadership transition as @zkLawyer_ and @deepthiskumar8 take on co-CEO roles, following @bkase_’s decision to step back into an advisory position: https://o1labs.org/blog/leadership-update
Brandon, a founding engineer and former CEO, will continue guiding Mina, Ensue, and broader partnerships. Farrar and Kumar bring complementary expertise in technology, regulation, and organizational leadership, aiming to strengthen Mina’s ecosystem, advance Ensue’s AI vision, and ensure continuity in o1Labs’ ZK innovation.
@nockchain announced updates to NockApp, moving it to a gRPC interface and replacing its Unix Domain Socket transport with a schema-first RPC system designed for easier composition and cross-language support: https://nockchain.org/nockapp-goes-grpc-schema-first-rpc-parallel-sigs-and-150ms-verification/
The update introduces server/client crates with basic RPCs like ping, peek, and poke, while a typed substrate is in development.
Performance gains include threefold faster multi-signature verification for input-heavy transactions and block verification reduced from 500ms to 150ms, enabling quicker sync and smoother network operation.
@Zcash shared several updates covering developments across the ecosystem: https://zechub.substack.com/p/zcash-shielded-news-vol48
Highlights include:
• Crosslink: A hybrid PoW/PoS system lets users stake ZEC and share rewards while enhancing security.
• PGP for Crypto: ECC resumed events in DC following a $20k grant.
• Zaino/Zallet: @ZingoLabs seeks funding to finalize Zaino, improving wallet performance.
• Red-Bridge: Progress continues on @avax interoperability and threat modeling.
• @ElectricCoinCo Updates: Zashi improvements, Swap-to-ZEC prototype, and growing installs.
• Town Hall: Coinholder grants to be discussed Sep 19.
Zashi
@zashi_app CrossPay now enables shielded ZEC holders to send private payments in any @NEARProtocol-supported cryptocurrency: https://electriccoin.co/blog/private-cross-chain-payments-with-zashi-crosspay/
Built on Zcash’s privacy-focused technology, the feature eliminates exposure of transaction details while allowing recipients to choose their preferred tokens, such as BTC, ETH, SOL, or stablecoins. Users avoid centralized exchanges and public ledgers, with Zashi and NEAR Intents handling conversions seamlessly.
