The Promise of Bringing ZK Everywhere, Starting with Ethereum

Sep 26, 2025

Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless Network and zero-knowledge tech expert, dives into the transformative potential of ZK. He explains how ZK can enhance Ethereum's scalability and security, addressing quantum risks and improving user experiences in DeFi. Shiv highlights the significance of ZKVMs for existing chains, allowing developers to integrate ZK with ease. He also discusses Boundless’s mission for a decentralized ZK protocol and the upcoming mainnet beta launch, marking exciting advancements for cross-chain interoperability.

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ANECDOTE

How RISC Zero Made ZK Accessible

RISC Zero founders built a ZK VM to let Rust developers write ZK programs instead of handcrafting circuits.
That DevX leaplet turned a niche 200-person craft into a scalable developer platform.

INSIGHT

ZK's Two Core Properties

Zero-knowledge proves computation without revealing inputs, enabling client-side privacy for sensitive data.
Succinctness means huge computations produce tiny proofs that fit on-chain and unlock massive off-chain compute.

INSIGHT

ZKVMs Unlock Developer Scale

ZKVMs let engineers reuse familiar languages like Rust to express proofs, unlocking thousands of developers.
This generality accelerates experimentation and brings ZK performance close to handwritten circuits.

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Shiv Shankar is the CEO at Boundless Network.

In this episode, we dive into the rise of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technology, exploring how ZK can transform blockchains like Ethereum and beyond. From quantum-proof security to a universal ZK protocol, learn why so many builders in DeFi and Web3 believe ZK is key to the next era of scalability, privacy, and interoperability.

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Timestamps

0:00 - Intro
7:41 - RISC Zero and Boundless origin story
14:47 - Why you should care about ZK
19:26 - Transformational potential of ZK in existing chains
25:06 - Sponsor break
26:16 - How ZK can address future risk of quantum computing
31:20 - ZK spreading to other industries
38:31 - Boundless Mainnet and its significance
42:25 - The world’s 1st full Ethereum consensus proofs
49:14 - Sponsor break
50:39 - How ZK can improve the DeFi UX
55:10 - Urgency for ZK adoption in Ethereum’s roadmap
1:05:08 - Competitive landscape in ZK
1:09:02 - Introducing Signal, starting with Ethereum
1:11:35 - What's the moat around this open source work?
1:19:35 - Boundless network powered by ZKC token
1:20:45 - Closing

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🔗 Guest Links 🔗

► Boundless website: https://boundless.network/
► RISC Zero website: https://risczero.com/
► Boundless on X: https://x.com/boundless_xyz
► RISC Zero on X: https://x.com/risczero
► Shiv on X: https://x.com/ssh_nkar

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All opinions expressed by hosts and podcast guests are solely their own opinions. Podcast guests and hosts may have positions in the assets or other matters discussed in this podcast. DeFi Dad invested in RISC Zero in 2023. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Do your own research. This is not a recommendation or endorsement to buy any token(s) related to any platform(s) discussed.