What is Aligned Layer? How does it improve the efficiency of “verification” and integrate with Ethereum in zero-knowledge proof? Or why are these questions important? This article will briefly introduce the problems and positioning that Aligned Layer wants to solve in the industry.
(This article is not investment advice)
Table of Contents
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What problems does Aligned Layer aim to solve?
The market has a demand for computation and verification of zero-knowledge proof
Ethereum was not initially designed for zero-knowledge proof
Generation has been done, but what about verification?
Introduction to Aligned Layer
Built on top of EigenLayer
Fast verification of SNARK paths
Aligned Layer does not adopt EVM
Potential use cases for Aligned Layer
Various applications such as zk-rollups, zkEVM, and zk coprocessors (zk Coprocessor) continue to emerge, which indeed have the potential to enhance the use cases and efficiency of the Ethereum network. However, due to the limitations of blockchain architecture, these applications cannot be fully utilized. The cost of computing and verifying zero-knowledge proofs is still high.
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Recommended reading:
Introduction to zk Coprocessor: How to improve the user experience of blockchain products through data?
Reason for recommendation: This article explains how coprocessors solve the problem of low efficiency in blockchain data calls and introduces existing projects and architectures including Brevis and Axiom. It helps to understand the new application of zk coprocessors and the context behind the proof submission.
When Ethereum was launched in 2015, it was not designed for ZK. However, as zero-knowledge proof technology becomes increasingly important for the Web3 industry, how to most efficiently incorporate Ethereum into these technologies has received more attention from the community.
The initial design of Ethereum did not consider zero-knowledge proofs or validity proofs, so adding these things now is inefficient.
It is a slow and challenging process to continuously add relevant functionality to the Ethereum protocol to improve the proof system.
This may increase the security risks of the network. The security of the system may be compromised by any verifier in the chain, and the security of the entire system depends on its weakest link. For example, if a pairing-based proof system is involved, maintaining quantum resistance is not feasible.
(What if Ethereum is attacked by quantum? Vitalik: Don’t worry)
Many infrastructure projects that attempt to improve the computation and verification of zero-knowledge proofs on Ethereum have emerged in the market. First, it is important to know that zero-knowledge proofs involve two things: generation and verification. The zk proof aggregation layer (also known as zk shared proof layer) attempts to solve the computational cost of generating zero-knowledge proofs, but the verification cost after submitting the proofs to Ethereum is still slow. Therefore, infrastructure for alternative verification of Ethereum has emerged—the zk verification layer.
Zero-knowledge proofs generated are submitted to the mainnet for verification
(Source)
The goal of Aligned Layer is to provide “individuals or projects that submit zero-knowledge proofs” with another faster verification solution and create a network for the “verification” of the final mile in the field of zero-knowledge proofs to scale.
Recommended reading:
Introduction to zk Shared Proof Layer: Why it becomes an important cornerstone for modular development?
Reason for recommendation: This article clearly explains what the zk shared proof layer is and how it solves the high cost of generating zero-knowledge proofs. It can be used as a reference to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this issue when combined with this article.
Aligned Layer will be an AVS built on top of EigenLayer, using a re-collateralization system to create a verification layer for zero-knowledge proofs.
Recommended reading:
How will EigenLayer change the Web3 infrastructure?
Reason for recommendation: This article comprehensively explains the design concept of EigenLayer, what problems it solves, and its current development status. It helps to quickly understand its innovative product positioning and design architecture, and also helps to better understand the content of this article.
Aligned Layer provides a verification solution that reduces time and cost expenses and allows developers to choose whether to wait for the proofs to be verified on Ethereum or submit the proofs to Aligned Layer for fast soft verification. When Ethereum completes the verification of the single zero-knowledge proof packaged by Aligned Layer on the mainnet, it will obtain final confirmation.
Operating architecture of Aligned Layer
(Source)
The team states that they do not endorse any specific type of zk-SNARK proof and will support any development involving zero-knowledge technology. The goal of Aligned Layer is to make the verification of any SNARK proof as efficient as possible, and the security of the Ethereum verifier will not be limited by its technology in the future.
The goal of the Aligned Layer team is to transform Ethereum into an efficient and cost-effective SNARK verification platform.
In addition, Aligned Layer can also use other Data Availability (DA) layers to further reduce proof storage costs.
The team states that EVM was not designed for ZK verification, so most verifications are expensive. On the other hand, the current EVM cannot handle operations in each block exceeding 30,000,000 Gas.
Therefore, to improve verification efficiency, Aligned Layer will adopt a node-local virtual machine instead of EVM.
The Aligned Layer team believes that by improving efficiency, it is possible to verify proof systems in Ethereum that are not feasible, such as large zero-knowledge proofs.
The team believes that by creating a new settlement layer, Aligned Layer can achieve fast finality (soft verification), which can improve the operation efficiency of many services based on zero-knowledge proofs. For example, application chains (based on zk-rollups), fast cross-chain communication (based on zk proof communication), oracles (based on zk proof communication), coprocessors (based on providing zk proofs).
(Near and EigenLayer create a fast settlement layer SFFL to achieve Layer2 fast communication)
(This article is not investment advice)
Aligned Layer
ZK Coprocessor
Zero-knowledge proof
Further reading
Introduction to zk Shared Proof Layer: Why it becomes an important cornerstone for modular development?
Introduction to zk Coprocessor: How to improve the user experience of blockchain products through data?