Lumoz: Decentralized Compute Infrastructure for the Era of AI, ZK & RaaS
Driving the Future of Technology with Distributed Computing
This report, by Tiger Research, examines how Lumoz addresses ZKP challenges with modular infrastructure and advances AI and TEE technologies.
TL;DR
ZKP Promise and Challenges: ZKP is a powerful blockchain technology that solves both privacy and scalability issues. However, it requires intensive computation resources, leading to high computing costs and centralization risks.
The Power of Decentralized Modular Compute Layer: To solve ZKP's problems, Lumoz uses a modular infrastructure to gather network computing power, accelerating ZK tech with ZK - RaaS.
AI & TEE are reshaping the future innovation: Lumoz enables technology adoption beyond ZK. It provides high-performance AI computing and secures AI processes using TEE and DROT. These protected spaces enhance data security and result verification, driving the integration of Web3 and AI.
1. Introduction
Vitalik Buterin's Defensive accelerationism(d/acc) philosophy highlights two key principles. It accelerates technological progress and resists centralized power. It advocates for decentralized development. Blockchain technology aligns with this philosophy. It decentralizes power and prevents centralization.
However, blockchain technology has trade-offs. Decentralized systems operate slower as the network grows. The consensus process limits performance. Data storage increases exponentially and restricts scalability. On-chain transparency ensures accountability but reduces privacy.
Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is an emerging solution to blockchain's privacy challenges. This technology lets users prove something is true without sharing the actual information - like proving you're old enough to vote without revealing your birth date. It's a way to verify facts while keeping sensitive details private.
When used in blockchain, Zero-Knowledge Proofs allow the network to verify that transactions are valid without exposing private details like the amount transferred or who sent it. This lets users keep their information private while still ensuring the system remains trustworthy.
In blockchain, ZKP technology solves two key challenges. The first is privacy. ZKP verifies a transaction's validity without revealing details like the amount or the transactor's identity. The second is scalability. The blockchain can process computations externally and use ZKP to validate the results. This reduces the network's computational load and improves efficiency.
ZKP works well in Layer 2 scaling solutions. Layer 2 processes transactions off-chain and submits the results to the Ethereum mainnet with proof of correct execution. This improves processing speed and scalability while maintaining system integrity. ZKP addresses both privacy and scalability issues. It is a vital tool for advancing decentralized technology in line with Defensive accelerationism.
2. Challenges in ZK Implementation: High Costs and Centralization Risks
Generating proofs with ZKP technology is computationally intensive. It requires complex cryptographic operations and computing power similar to Bitcoin mining or training large AI models.
These high-performance computing requirements are especially evident in layer 2 scaling solutions like ZK-Rollups. For instance, generating a ZKP for a batch of 250 ERC-20 transactions on Polygon zkEVM takes about 2 minutes using a server with AMD 224 vCPUs and 896 GB RAM. The operational cost is approximately $0.32 for 2 minutes or $6,909 monthly. In contrast, a typical web server requires only 4 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM.
These high hardware requirements create two major limitations for ZKP technology. First, only a few high-powered machines can create these proofs, which goes against the goal of spreading out control among many users. This reliance makes it hard to achieve true decentralization. Second, computing resources restrict the size of proof batches that can be processed. This reduces the efficiency and scalability of ZKP technology.
To overcome these limitations, ZKP infrastructure must become more efficient and accessible. Reducing technical complexity and lowering barriers to entry are key to scaling the ZKP ecosystem. Lumoz uses its modular computing infrastructure and decentralized prover network to address these issues. It aims to help solve the blockchain trilemma of decentralization, scalability, and security.
3. Lumoz: Illuminating the Path to zk/acc
Lumoz is a modular computing layer for ZK, AI, and RaaS. It offers robust computing power and verification services for ZK and AI applications across chains with diverse architectures. Network participants share computing power to reduce centralized dependencies and achieve true decentralization. Also, Lumoz's ZK-RaaS platform lowers barriers for ZK-Rollups and accelerates ZK technology through zk/acc.
Lumoz's technology is recognized in the market. More than 20 Layer 2 chains, including Carv, Merlin Chain, ZKFair, Ultiverse, Matr1x, and Uxlink, use Lumoz infrastructure. In early 2024, Lumoz raised $14 million in funding. Leading investors like OKX Ventures, Hashkey Capital, Kucoin Ventures, and Polygon supported the funding.
3.1. Lumoz Chain, ZK Modular Computing Layer
Lumoz Chain will launch its mainnet in Q1 2025. It aims to create a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) for high-performance computational tasks, including ZKP technology. Lumoz offers a 1) modular architecture, 2) a hybrid consensus model, and 3) optimized performance for intensive computation. This should make Zero-Knowledge Proofs more affordable and accessible while helping blockchain networks handle more users without relying on central control.
3.1.1. Modular Architecture
Lumoz is built with a modular design that lets each project customize its setup. Think of it like building with blocks - projects can pick and arrange the pieces they need. Projects can configure their infrastructure based on specific needs. Each module operates independently to ensure efficient system configuration. This approach reduces integration complexity and improves overall system efficiency.
Lumoz's modular structure offers limitless applications. For example, it can function as a Prover Layer to generate proofs for key ZK-Rollups like polygon zkEVM, zkSync, and Scroll. It can also serve as a Compute Layer to handle AI model training and inference. This design ensures flexibility and supports the integration of new technologies and services.
3.1.2. Hybrid Consensus Mechanism
Lumoz uses a hybrid structure to manage the generation and verification of ZKPs. At its core are two components: zkProver, which generates ZKPs, and zkVerifier, which verifies them.
zkProver uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus structure. ZKP generation requires high-performance computation. Any individual or organization with GPU/CPU resources can join. They use their computing power to generate ZKPs and perform other tasks.
zkVerifier operates as a verification network based on Proof of Stake (PoS). It consists of 100k zkVerifier nodes issued through the sale of node licenses. License holders can either run these nodes as dedicated clients or delegate them to others. The zkVerifier ensures the network's trustworthiness by validating the proofs generated by zkProver.
This hybrid structure uses a consensus mechanism suited to each component's role. PoW handles high-performance computations for ZKP generation. PoS manages verification tasks. This approach reduces reliance on centralized, high-performance equipment. It ensures efficient verification through a distributed network of provers. As a result, proof generation and verification, the core elements of ZKP, are handled efficiently in a decentralized manner.
3.1.3. Optimized performance
Lumoz consistently enhances performance through ongoing research and diverse technological advancements. Notably, it has optimized the processes of proof generation and verification.
Lumoz enhances ZKP generation and verification with an aggregator service. This service processes multiple proofs in parallel and combines them into a single proof. Traditional methods handle each proof independently, creating inefficiencies from redundant calculations. Lumoz removes this bottleneck and significantly increases processing speed.
Lumoz also optimizes the verification process. Previously, proving required two separate steps: provers submitted a proof hash with their identity and work information in the first step and their ZKP in the second step. Lumoz simplifies this by combining identity, work information, and ZKP into a single contract. This reduces on-chain transactions by half, cutting gas costs by 50-60% and shortening verification time.
Lumoz further optimized the proof generation process. First, it breaks large tasks into smaller pieces that can be worked on separately. Then, when parts of different calculations are the same, Lumoz saves and reuses the cached results instead of calculating them again. Additionally, when computers in the network aren't busy, they prepare calculations that might be needed soon, rather than waiting for new tasks to arrive. These changes increased proof generation speed by 25%. They also improved cost efficiency and processing performance significantly.
3.2. zk-RaaS Platform
Lumoz offers a RaaS service that helps developers build ZK-Rollup-based layer 2 chains without needing complex infrastructure. This service simplifies the process, much like AWS simplifies cloud computing.
RaaS provides the necessary infrastructure to build and operate chains with rollup technology. Its intuitive interface simplifies development and operations. This improves user convenience and efficiency.
Lumoz's core strength comes from its proprietary network. This network includes a decentralized computing layer, zkProver, and zkVerifier. It is specially designed to handle the complex calculations needed for ZK-Rollups - a way to process many blockchain transactions quickly. This capability distinguishes Lumoz from other RaaS services without dedicated computing networks. The decentralized computing layer serves as a unique moat for Lumoz. It reinforces its competitive advantage in the rollup ecosystem.
Lumoz offers an environment that connects and extends various chains and ZK-Rollup. Developers can build custom chains without dealing with complicated technical setup, making it much simpler to design and run their systems.
Lumos' Rollup Launchbase supports major chains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, and Solana. It also supports zkEVM types such as Polygon zkEVM, zkSync, and Scroll. This wide support makes building ZK-Rollup solutions easier for developers.
Lumoz also enables Native Cross Rollup Communication (NCRC) for efficient crypto transfers and interactions across rollups. This feature uses the Rollup System Contract (RSC) deployed on major chains. The RSC keeps track of information and updates between different rollups, allowing for quick and secure transfers and interactions while keeping all assets safe.
By the first half of 2025, Lumoz plans to support major L1 chains. It will also expand to support EVM-based ZK-Rollups, including Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) and Ton Virtual Machine (TVM). This expansion meets the rising demand for ZK technology and strengthens Lumoz's position as a key provider of ZK infrastructure.
4. Lumoz Boosts Future Vision
Lumoz's network of distributed computers not only handles complex calculations efficiently but also can grow to meet increased demand while staying reliable. While it's currently focused on Zero-Knowledge Proofs, this powerful infrastructure could help develop other advanced technologies in the future.
4.1. ETH 3.0: Make Ethereum Great Again
The vision of Ethereum 3.0 is to enhance the network's scalability, security, and efficiency through Snarkification and Beam Chain. Snarkification speeds up transaction processing and improves data security by introducing ZKP technology into Ethereum's consensus and execution layers.
To achieve this, powerful computing resources are required. Lumoz provides this through its modular computing layer. It uses a hybrid consensus mechanism combining PoW and PoS. PoW delivers the computing power for ZKP generation, while PoS handles verification tasks. This setup enables high-performance computation in a decentralized manner.
This infrastructure helps Lumoz optimize validators and speed up block generation, key goals of BeamChain. The network can improve processing efficiency while maintaining decentralization.By supporting these improvements, Lumoz plays an important role in helping Ethereum grow and advance.
4.2. Build Computing Infrastructure for AI Era
Lumoz will serve as key infrastructure for advancing AI technology. Right now, most AI systems are controlled by large technology companies. Lumoz's distributed network of computers aims to change this by making AI more accessible to everyone. This could help create an AI ecosystem that:
Gives users more control
Makes AI technology easier and cheaper to access
Operates more fairly and openly
This approach could lead to a new kind of AI system that isn't controlled by just a few companies.
Lumoz uses two technologies to make AI systems more secure and trustworthy: Decentralized Root-of-Trust (DROT) using distributed computing and Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). AI agents act autonomously, but most currently operate in untrusted environments, limiting their security and transparency. In these environments, protecting sensitive information and verifying results is difficult, reducing decision reliability.
DROT system keeps important security keys protected in hardware and uses a verification process called remote attestation to ensure everything works as intended. This boosts data security and execution integrity, while improving result verifiability. With these security measures in place, AI agents can work more safely and reliably. This brings together the best of Web3 and AI technologies, helping create a next-generation AI system that is both secure and transparent.
5. Closing Thoughts
Lumoz has already shown significant progress, with its test network drawing over 3 million users and supporting more than 50 major ecosystem projects. It serves over 20 L2 chains and continues expanding its ecosystem through partnerships with UXLINK, CARV, Merlin Chain, Matr1x, Ultiverse, ZKFair, and others.
Lumoz goes beyond its current successes to tackle a fundamental challenge in Web3. By using Zero-Knowledge Proof technology and distributed computing, it makes blockchain networks both faster and more transparent. The platform's work with artificial intelligence opens up new growth opportunities. This approach stays true to Web3's core principle of distributed control while showing how combining ZK technology with AI can help the entire ecosystem advance.
As new technologies like Ethereum's BeamChain require more computing power for Zero-Knowledge Proofs, the demand for processing power is expected to grow dramatically. This increase might be similar to how Bitcoin and Ethereum mining needed more and more powerful computers in their early days. By providing the essential infrastructure to handle these growing computing needs, Lumoz is well-positioned to become a crucial part of both blockchain and AI development.
Lumoz also supports various technical environments, including Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHEs). These tools help build a stronger foundation for the future of blockchain and AI development. Given how Lumoz combines these capabilities with its other features, its growth and impact on the industry will be important to watch.
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This report was partially funded by Lumoz. It was independently produced by our researchers using credible sources. The findings, recommendations, and opinions are based on information available at publication time and may change without notice. We disclaim liability for any losses from using this report or its contents and do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The information may differ from others' views. This report is for informational purposes only and is not legal, business, investment, or tax advice. References to securities or digital assets are for illustration only, not investment advice or offers. This material is not intended for investors.
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