SOON - Solana Optimistic Network (Mainnet Arc) (@soon_svm): Building the First zk-Fraud-Proof SVM Rollup: SOON's Journey from Optimistic to Zero-Knowledge Proof

Building the First zk-Fraud-Proof SVM Rollup: SOON's Journey from Optimistic to Zero-Knowledge Proof Building a zero-knowledge rollup for the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) presents unique technical challenges. As the blockchain infrastructure landscape evolves toward ZK-based solutions, teams must navigate complex architectural decisions between competing proof frameworks. OP Succinct and Kailua by @boundless_xyz are two ZK-VM-based proof solutions built on the OP Stack architecture, utilizing core components like op-alloy and kona. OP Succinct, developed by Succinct Labs, leverages the SP1 proof framework, while Kailua, proposed by the RISC Zero team, is built on the RISC0 proof framework. In this article, we'll compare these two approaches and demonstrate how we built SOON-Kailua as the first zk-fraud-proof SVM rollup architecture, providing insights into the technical implementation and design decisions. Kailua(by @RiscZero) vs OP Succinct Operational Architecture and Proving Modes Both OP Succinct and Kailua employ a dual-role architecture consisting of proposers and challengers. The proposer continuously monitors the L2 chain and creates fault dispute games on L1 at regular intervals to ensure state transition validity. The challenger (termed "validator" in Kailua) monitors L1 for these dispute games. In Kailua, after submitting a proposal, it can be resolved if no one challenges within the challenge window (e.g., 24 hours). If there are challengers, you can either prove the validity of your proposal, or others can prove your proposal is faulty/invalid. Succinct offers two approaches: OP Succinct Lite, which runs normally under optimistic assumptions, but if a dispute occurs, a zkSNARK proof of the correct state transition is generated to resolve it, and OP Succinct (full), which is the validity rollup that generates zkSNARK proofs for every state transition or block. Proving Programs and Framework Comparison OP Succinct implements two specialized programs: range proofs for executing state transitions across block ranges, and aggregation proofs for combining multiple range proof results. Kailua employs a stitching client that aggregates composable sub-proofs into recursive receipts, which can be compressed into Groth16 format for efficient on-chain verification. Both solutions leverage mature zkVM implementations based on RISC-V: SP1 and RISC Zero. RISC Zero demonstrates particular strength in engineering aspects such as GPU acceleration and proving clusters, while also supporting on-chain recursive verification features that enable cost-effective Groth16 verification in smart contracts. SOON’s Choice: The Progressive Enhancement Philosophy SOON's selection of Kailua reflects a calculated approach to ZK fraud-proof that prioritizes progressive enhancement over immediate full ZK implementation. Kailua's Hybrid Architecture: The Best of Both Worlds RiscZero's core value proposition lies in its hybrid mode, offering both optimistic and validity proof mechanisms within a single framework. This hybrid approach allows SOON to: Maintain Optimistic Rollup Economics Preserve the cost-efficiency of optimistic rollups Generate ZK proofs only during dispute scenarios Avoid the continuous proof generation overhead that characterizes pure ZK-rollups Accelerate Dispute Resolution Dramatically reduce the traditional 7-day challenge period to mere hours Provide cryptographic finality when operating in full validity mode Recursive Proving RISC Zero's recursive proving enables efficient proof generation by compressing multiple segment proofs into a single constant-size proof that can be verified on-chain, achieving unbounded computation with scalable verification. Soon-Kailua: SVM-Based zk-Praud-Proof Rollup Integration Since SOON is an SVM-based Rollup, integrating with OP Succinct or Kailua requires significant adaptations due to SVM's complexity compared to EVM—including more verification requirements, larger instruction sets, increased transaction payloads, and higher block speeds. Given Kailua's support for recursive proofs and Groth16 verification, we adopted its solution to create Soon-Kailua, a hybrid architecture that maintains SVM's high performance while leveraging ETH and ZK Fraud Proof security, delivering a unified Solana experience with enhanced security guarantees. Technical Implementation of Soon-Kailua To integrate SOON's SVM-based architecture with Kailua's ZK proving system, we developed four key technical components. First, we created a custom SVM Executor that abstracts the differences between EVM and SVM virtual machines, providing unified transaction processing and state transition handling. Second, we implemented a hybrid storage solution that introduces MPT (Merkle Patricia Trie) on top of SVM's direct database storage, enabling ZK proof compatibility while preserving SVM's efficient state access patterns. Third, we adapted Kona's derivation pipeline with SVM-specific modifications, including custom deposit transaction processing, optimized time limits for SOON's flexible block times, and extended AltDA mode support for alternative data availability options. Finally, we re-implemented Kona's data provider interfaces to bridge EVM and SVM architectural differences, creating unified L1/L2 Chain Providers that handle structural differences in block headers, transactions, and state data while reducing code redundancy and improving system maintainability. About SOON SOON is delivering the best on-chain trading experience. SOON’s vision is to realize the Super Adoption Stack (SAS), a framework for driving mass blockchain adoption. SAS is composed of four core products: SOON Mainnet, SOON Stack, InterSOON, and Simpfor.fun. These components work together to provide high-performance, interoperable, and scalable solutions. The integration of LiveTrade and simpfor.fun further reinforces SOON’s vision, creating a super gateway for Web2 users through livestreaming platforms. This strategic expansion ensures that users experience seamless on-chain interactions directly within familiar environments like Twitch and SOOP. | Twitter | Official Website | Simpfor.fun | SOON Bridge | InterSOON |