Matter Labs, the lead developer of Ethereum layer 2 solution zkSync Era, has launched a new proof system called Boojum.
zkSync Launches New Era Protocol Update Boojum
Boojum is a STARK-powered proof system that runs on consumer-grade GPU hardware and provides superior performance compared to previous systems.
The proof system developed by zkSync is based on a Rust-based cryptographic library and powers the upgraded zero-knowledge (ZK) circuits of zkSync Era and ZK Stack.
Previously, zkSync Era was based on a proof system that used a type of zero-knowledge proof called SNARK, enabling layer 2 sequencers to process over 100 transactions per second (TPS).
The team hopes to achieve significantly higher yields through Boojum using STARK.
The notable feature of Boojum is its compatibility with consumer-grade GPUs, requiring only 16GB of GPU RAM.
This accessibility allows users with modest hardware to contribute, encouraging wider participation in the network.
The Boojum upgrade is currently in an experimental phase on the zkSync Era mainnet. During this testing period, real production data is used to create and verify “shadow proofs”.
This process is designed to fine-tune the system, detect potential issues, and reduce risk before a full migration.