The launch of Boundless’ incentivized testnet marks crypto’s first real stress test for production-ready zero-knowledge infrastructure. With the Ethereum Foundation and EigenLayer as early adopters, the scramble to operationalize ZK proofs across chains has officially begun.
According to a press release shared with crypto.news on July 15, Boundless Network has deployed its Mainnet Beta on Coinbase’s Base blockchain, introducing what it calls the first “universal” zero-knowledge protocol.
Backed by RISC Zero’s zkVM, the incentivized testnet has already drawn participation from major players including the Ethereum Foundation, Wormhole, and EigenLayer—an unusual show of early confidence for a project still in beta.
The rollout also introduces Proof of Verifiable Work, a novel mechanism that rewards participants for generating and validating ZK proofs, effectively creating a decentralized marketplace for computational integrity.
The mechanics behind Boundless’ zero-knowledge gambit
Boundless positions itself as a decentralized marketplace where blockchains, developers, and miners converge to trade verifiable computation. Powered by RISC Zero’s zkVM, the protocol acts as a universal proof layer, allowing any chain to offload complex computations while maintaining cryptographic certainty.
Think of it as a trustless outsourcing hub: instead of every blockchain redundantly verifying the same data, they can now share proofs across networks, slashing costs and latency.
The Boundless beta launch is significant because, for the first time, a ZK system is being tested under real economic conditions. Previous implementations, whether zkEVMs, co-processors, or privacy chains, have operated in isolation. Boundless flips the script by incentivizing a decentralized network of proof generators and validators, creating a live marketplace for zero-knowledge computation.
“Mainnet Beta enables any protocol, on any blockchain, to gain access to best-in-class decentralised ZK infrastructure for proof generation, aggregation, data availability, and settlement, powered by Boundless,” Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless Network, stated.
Proof of Verifiable Work
At the heart of Boundless’ beta is Proof of Verifiable Work, a radical departure from traditional mining. PoVW rewards participants for verifying zero-knowledge proofs within a zkVM. High-performance GPU owners, whether institutional miners or independent operators, can now earn fees by validating computational integrity, not by brute-forcing hashes.
Beyond aligning incentives, this mechanism could reshape crypto’s labor economy. By tying rewards to proof complexity and speed, Boundless creates a meritocratic system where the most efficient miners earn the most.
Early participants will also receive allocations of $ZKC, Boundless’ native token, ahead of its official launch later this year. The exact distribution will depend on the complexity, volume, and speed of completed proofs. According to the press release, the token generation event for $ZKC is scheduled for later in 2025.