A16z Crypto, the cryptocurrency-focused arm of venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, has unveiled Jolt, a zero-knowledge solution termed as a “zkVM,” with the goal of enhancing and expediting blockchain scaling processes.
Central to Jolt is the incorporation of a form of zero-knowledge proof known as SNARKs (Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge), which facilitate scalable ZK-rollups within the Layer 2 domain.
Described as an innovative approach to constructing virtual machines validated through SNARKs, Jolt has the potential to empower developers to craft rapid SNARK-based Layer 2 solutions, as highlighted by the firm.
According to the team, Jolt boasts a performance enhancement of “up to 2X faster” compared to existing zkVMs.
“Moreover, due to its novel design paradigm, Jolt not only improves speed but also offers greater extensibility for developers and enhanced auditability, thereby bolstering security,” noted the firm.
Jolt harnesses the power of SNARKs, enabling blockchains to delegate a significant portion of computational tasks. This technology ensures swift compression and verification of computations, eliminating the need for verifiers to perform computations themselves.
In tandem with Lasso, which employs a “lookup argument,” Jolt facilitates a swift prover system for rollups. This mechanism plays a pivotal role in boosting the scalability of blockchain applications, enabling the execution of intricate operations off-chain while ensuring on-chain verification. This capability extends to various domains such as Layer 2 blockchains, cross-chain bridges, and other areas where efficient and verifiable computing is imperative.
