ZkCloud, formerly known as Gevulot, is entering a new phase with its rebranding and the launch of the Deluge Testnet. This article provides an overview of ZkCloud, its latest developments, and our role as a validator.
What is ZkCloud?
ZkCloud, which was formerly known as Gevulot, represents a new stage in decentralized physical infrastructure development, maximizing the cost efficiency of zero-knowledge (ZK) proving technology. This transition signifies an important shift aimed at streamlining prover and verifier deployments, offering Pay-as-you-go Proof Generation, and scaling their universal prover Layer-1 with thousands of GPUs.
Key Features of ZkCloud:
- Optimized Proving: The new L1 provides sub-second computing on bespoke hardware servers optimized for ZK.
- Improved Scalability: It is designed to scale to thousands of prover nodes, handling both CPU and GPU workloads. As new hardware becomes available, it will incorporate VPUs, ASICs, and FPGAs.
- Seamless Deployments: Users can generate proofs using one of the pre-deployed provers—such as Risc0, SP1, Nexus, Aztec, ZKsync, Starkware, Linea, Scroll, and Polygon—or deploy their own.
The project has officially transitioned from Gevulot to ZkCloud, marking a strategic shift in its development. This rebranding signifies an enhanced focus on scalability, cost reduction, and global ZK coverage. Gevulot moves to the back as the “Labs” entity behind ZkCloud, continuing its role in research and development. Additionally, the Gevulot Firestarter will continue serving users as normal, ensuring continuity in its services.
Deluge Testnet and the Road to Mainnet
The Deluge Testnet serves as a crucial phase in the development of ZkCloud, allowing developers and validators to test the network under real-world conditions. This test environment helps refine network stability and performance while ensuring a seamless transition to the mainnet. The Deluge Testnet shares core architectural features with the upcoming mainnet, making it an essential step in preparing for the final deployment.
The ZkCloud mainnet will launch in Q1 2025, bringing enhanced zero-knowledge proving, Layer-1 consensus security, and expanded validator and prover node participation. The testnet phase ensures that developers and validators are well-prepared, making the transition to the mainnet as smooth as possible.
The Role of Everstake
Everstake is actively engaged in the development of the ZkCloud ecosystem, taking on a key role as a validator. By running a validator node on both the Deluge Testnet and the upcoming mainnet, we contribute to the stability and security of the infrastructure. Additionally, we actively participate in Firestarter, ZkCloud’s production-ready universal proving network, further contributing to the expansion and security of the ZkCloud ecosystem.
Beyond validation, Everstake is closely collaborating with ZkCloud to support its growth and adoption. This partnership strengthens the ecosystem and makes the network stay decentralized, efficient, and secure for all participants. As the mainnet launch approaches, Everstake continues to play an important role in fostering a scalable environment for all users.
Bottom Line
ZkCloud’s transition from Gevulot marks a significant step in advancing decentralized computation with ZK technology. With the Deluge Testnet in full swing and the mainnet launch on the horizon, this is an exciting time for developers, validators, and the broader blockchain community.
Everstake is proud to be part of this journey, ensuring network stability and contributing to its decentralization. Let’s build the future of ZK computing together!
