In a bid to improve throughput and reduce costs, zkSync Era, an Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, has introduced Boojum, a new STARK-based proof system. Boojum aims to run efficiently on consumer-grade GPU systems, making it accessible to regular users.
zkSync Era is among the few Ethereum scaling protocols employing zero-knowledge rollups (ZK-rollup) to enhance capacity and speed while minimizing fees. ZK-rollups primarily rely on two well-known proof systems, namely zk-STARK and zk-SNARK. The recently launched Boojum proof system builds upon a Rust-based cryptographic library from zkSync, implementing an upgraded version of arithmetic circuits for zkSync Era and its ZK developer stack.
Significantly, Boojum enables everyday personal computers with just 16 GB of GPU RAM to execute the proof system, eliminating the need for powerful hardware or servers. This development facilitates broader participation in network activities by regular users. In comparison, zkSync currently operates using a cluster of 100 GPUs, each equipped with 80 GB of RAM. Prior to Boojum, zkSync relied mainly on zk-SNARK proof systems, which were effective but less transparent than the zk-STARK-based systems. While the previous system processed approximately 100 transactions per second, Boojum promises superior processing capabilities.
The final stage of implementation involves wrapping the STARK proofs with a non-transparent pairing-based SNARK. This upgraded version of the existing SNARK-based proof system requires less storage and offers cheaper verification, resulting in reduced transaction costs.
Boojum is currently live on the zkSync Era mainnet, where developers are testing ‘shadow proofs’ using real production data. This testing phase ensures a smooth transition and broader adoption, without requiring any regenesis.
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