In a major leap for zero-knowledge technology, Matter Labs has unveiled Airbender, a next-generation cryptographic prover for its layer-2 network ZKsync. Announced at the Permissionless conference, this breakthrough showcases the ability to generate Ethereum block proofs in just 35 seconds using a single GPU—a milestone that could redefine scalability, accessibility, and real-time interoperability across blockchains.
What Is Airbender and Why It Matters
At the heart of every zero-knowledge (ZK) layer-2 solution lies the prover: a system responsible for generating cryptographic proofs that validate off-chain transactions before they are submitted to Ethereum. These proofs ensure security and trust without requiring full re-execution of transactions on the main chain.
Airbender is not just another prover—it’s a RISC-V-based zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM) designed from the ground up for speed, efficiency, and decentralization. By leveraging the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture, Airbender aligns with a vision championed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin: replacing the legacy Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with a more efficient, future-proof framework.
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This architectural shift enables developers to build ZK applications that are not only faster but also more portable and verifiable across chains—laying the foundation for what Matter Labs calls an “Internet of verifiable, interconnected chains.”
Blazing Speed, Lower Costs
The most immediate impact of Airbender’s 35-second proof generation time is cost reduction. With faster proofs come lower operational expenses, which directly translate into cheaper transaction fees for end users.
“We’re entering fraction-of-a-cent territory,” said Alex Gluchowski, co-founder of Matter Labs. “This is critical for key use cases like micropayments, high-frequency trading, and decentralized social platforms.”
Such low-cost execution opens doors to previously impractical applications:
- Microtransactions in gaming or content monetization
- Real-time financial instruments powered by high-frequency DeFi strategies
- Scalable decentralized identity and social networks
Moreover, fast finality means users experience near-instant confirmation times—bridging the gap between Web2 responsiveness and Web3 security.
Built for Decentralization: Proving Anywhere
One of Airbender’s most transformative aspects is its ability to run on consumer-grade hardware. Unlike previous provers that required large GPU farms or specialized infrastructure, Airbender can operate efficiently on a single GPU.
This shift enables home-based proving, where individuals or small nodes can participate in the verification process without massive capital investment.
Gluchowski emphasized this point:
“Faster proofs unlock faster finality, cheaper apps, and crucially, proofs that can be generated anywhere—not just in massive GPU farms.”
Democratizing access to proving infrastructure strengthens network resilience and reduces centralization risks—core tenets of blockchain philosophy.
RISC-V: The Future of Blockchain Execution?
Airbender’s foundation on RISC-V is more than a technical detail—it represents a strategic pivot toward modular, open, and efficient computing.
RISC-V is an open-standard instruction set architecture (ISA), free from proprietary constraints. Its modularity allows developers to customize processors for specific workloads—ideal for resource-intensive tasks like zero-knowledge proof generation.
Vitalik Buterin has publicly endorsed RISC-V as a potential replacement for the EVM, citing long-term benefits in:
- Computational efficiency
- Hardware-software co-design
- Cross-chain compatibility
Matter Labs’ early adoption of RISC-V in Airbender positions ZKsync at the forefront of this evolution.
“We started building ZKsync Airbender over a year ago because we saw where Ethereum needed to go,” Gluchowski said. “Vitalik’s recent post was a great affirmation of our plans—but this path has been in motion for a while.”
Developer Access and Roadmap
Though still in early rollout, Airbender is already accessible to developers through a dedicated testing application released by Matter Labs. This allows builders to experiment with real-time proof generation, optimize their dApps, and prepare for the upcoming protocol upgrade.
If approved through ZKsync’s governance process, Airbender will be integrated into the mainnet later this summer, marking a pivotal moment for ZK technology adoption.
The team envisions a future where:
- Applications verify state transitions on-the-fly
- Cross-chain interactions feel seamless and instantaneous
- Users interact with multiple chains without noticing boundaries
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FAQ: Your Questions About Airbender Answered
Q: What makes Airbender different from other ZK provers?
A: Airbender stands out due to its RISC-V-based zkVM architecture, single-GPU efficiency, and 35-second proof times. It's optimized for decentralization, enabling home-based proving unlike many industrial-scale alternatives.
Q: Can any developer use Airbender today?
A: Yes—Matter Labs has released a developer app for testing Airbender. While it’s not yet live on mainnet, early access allows builders to prototype and optimize their applications ahead of full deployment.
Q: How does Airbender reduce transaction costs?
A: Faster proof generation reduces computational overhead and cloud resource usage. This efficiency lowers operational costs for operators, which translates into sub-cent transaction fees for users.
Q: Is Airbender replacing the current ZKsync prover?
A: Yes, pending governance approval, Airbender is expected to be included in a protocol upgrade later in 2025, gradually superseding older proving systems within ZKsync.
Q: Why is RISC-V important for blockchain?
A: RISC-V offers an open, modular instruction set that improves computational efficiency and enables hardware-level optimization—key for demanding tasks like ZK proof generation. It also supports long-term innovation beyond the limitations of the EVM.
Q: Does Airbender support EVM-compatible smart contracts?
A: While built on RISC-V, Airbender maintains compatibility with existing ZKsync workflows. Developers can continue building with familiar tools while benefiting from enhanced proving performance under the hood.
Toward a Verifiable Internet
ZKsync Airbender isn’t just about speed—it’s about reimagining what’s possible in a multi-chain world. With real-time proofs, accessible infrastructure, and a forward-looking architecture, it lays the groundwork for an internet where trust is instant, computation is verifiable, and chains interoperate seamlessly.
As zero-knowledge technology matures, projects like Airbender demonstrate that scalability doesn’t have to come at the cost of decentralization. Instead, they show a path where performance and openness go hand in hand.
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Core Keywords: ZKsync, Airbender zkVM, zero-knowledge proofs, RISC-V, Ethereum layer-2, fast proving, decentralized proving, blockchain scalability