Buterin Unveils GKR Protocol for ZK-EVM and zk-ML
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has unveiled the GKR protocol to speed up ZK-EVM and zk-ML proofs. The GKR protocol commits only to inputs and outputs, cuts costly intermediate steps and processes large computations in logarithmic time. It supports multi-layer low-degree circuits, repeated functions such as Poseidon hashing and neural network inference, and runs millions of hashes per second on consumer GPUs. For ZK-EVM builders, the GKR protocol promises real-time proof generation on standard hardware. While GKR focuses on succinctness rather than privacy, developers can wrap its proofs in ZK-SNARK or ZK-STARK frameworks to add zero-knowledge features. The GKR protocol aligns with the Lean Ethereum vision, offering quantum-resistant design, faster transaction finality and proof-of-stake scalability. In parallel, Buterin criticized the AI industry’s focus on agentic models and urged the use of open-weight AI systems with greater human oversight to improve safety and editability.
Bullish
By introducing the GKR protocol, Ethereum can achieve near real-time ZK-EVM proofs on standard hardware, which lowers verification costs and boosts transaction throughput. This advancement aligns with Ethereum’s long-term scaling roadmap and enhances Layer 2 performance, likely increasing demand for ETH as gas fees fall and network capacity grows. In the short term, developer interest in GKR-based rollups may drive positive sentiment and trading volume. Over the long term, a more scalable, quantum-resistant, proof-of-stake network strengthens Ethereum’s competitive position, supporting a bullish outlook for ETH.