Polyhedra Network has officially released the first set of benchmarks on Proof Arena, a cutting-edge platform designed to compare zero-knowledge provers. This release marks a significant milestone in advancing zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, which is essential for enhancing security and efficiency in decentralized applications. For a detailed look at the benchmarks, visit the Polyhedra blog.
What is Proof Arena?
Proof Arena is an innovative benchmarking platform that empowers developers to test and compare various zero-knowledge prover implementations. By evaluating critical metrics such as proof generation time, verification time, peak memory usage, and proof size, the platform provides valuable insights into the performance of different provers across various scenarios. These metrics help developers make informed decisions about the most suitable prover for their needs, whether for real-time applications, resource-constrained environments, or high-throughput systems.
Key Adoption and Collaboration
Since its launch, Proof Arena has gained rapid traction, with major industry players like Polygon, Linea, and StarkWare submitting solutions for the Plonky3, GNARK, and Stwo provers. Leading academics, including Stanford Professor Dan Boneh and UC Berkeley Professor Dawn Song, have praised the platform for its dynamic and comprehensive benchmarking capabilities.
“Proof Arena offers a long-awaited tool for comparing ZK provers across different tasks,” said Professor Boneh. “The platform updates with each new prover version, and new provers can easily be added, ensuring that the comparisons stay current with the latest advancements in the field."
As a public good, Proof Arena is committed to being an unbiased platform for ZKP benchmarking, welcoming contributions and feedback from universities, research institutions, and industry participants to enhance its capabilities.
First Benchmark Results
The initial benchmarks focus on a computational problem involving Keccak256 hashes, a widely-used cryptographic function in blockchain development. Among the notable results, Polyhedra’s Expander prover excelled in proof generation time and peak memory usage, while Plonky3 stood out for its verification speed. GNARK produced the smallest proof sizes, making it ideal for data-intensive applications.
Why This Matters for Developers
With real-time performance data now available, developers can optimize their applications for better user experience, faster processing, and lower costs. Proof Arena fosters collaboration, driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of ZKP technology across the web3 ecosystem.