From centralized to fully decentralized: How the Boundless network reshapes the ZK proof market after Risc Zero shuts down its services

【Crypto World】On December 17th, Risc Zero announced the shutdown of its official managed zero-knowledge proof service. What does this move signify? In simple terms, the Boundless network has officially entered a fully decentralized operation phase, and the entire general ZK proof market is thus embarking on a new path of complete openness and market-driven development.

Let’s review: Risc Zero previously provided an official zero-knowledge proof service, allowing developers to access zero-knowledge computation capabilities without setting up their own hardware. Now, as the functionality and verification capabilities of the Boundless network become increasingly mature, proof requests are handled by independent nodes within the network. This change aligns the proof mechanism perfectly with the characteristics of blockchain—resilience and neutrality—feeling like a shift from reliance on a centralized service provider to true decentralization.

How is Boundless itself designed? It aims to become a universal ZK proof market across multiple chains and applications. Imagine that no matter which chain or application, they can request zero-knowledge proofs from Boundless to enhance their scalability and cross-chain interoperability. The network uses a mechanism called “Verifiable Proof of Work” (PoVW), which rewards participants based on their actual computational input. It sounds like creating a truly competitive environment—proof generators will strive to produce proofs faster and at lower costs to earn more rewards. Who ultimately benefits? All chains and applications that require efficient, user-friendly zero-knowledge proofs.