Boundless Integrates RISC Zero Verifiers on Stellar: ZK Proofs Meet Payments
Boundless Brings ZK Power to Stellar with Nethermind’s Help
In September 2025, Boundless, the universal zero-knowledge (ZK) compute protocol from RISC Zero, expanded its reach by deploying RISC Zero verifiers on the Stellar ($XLM) network. This integration, facilitated by blockchain engineering firm Nethermind and cross-chain messaging via Wormhole, lets Stellar users verify zkVM-proven programs on-chain. For crypto beginners, ZK proofs let you prove something is true without revealing details, like showing you’re over 18 without sharing your birthday. Boundless, launched as an incentivized testnet in July 2025 and mainnet in September, creates a decentralized marketplace for these proofs. Now on Stellar, it’s a big step for privacy and verifiable compute in payments.
The Integration: Nethermind Deploys Verifiers for Cross-Chain Proofs
Moreover, Nethermind, experts in Ethereum and Starknet ZK tech, handled the heavy lifting, adding RISC Zero’s zkVM verifier to Stellar’s Soroban smart contract platform. This happened on September 18, 2025. Specifically, it enables ZK-verified cross-chain state sharing. Stellar apps can now pull proofs from Ethereum standards without trust assumptions. Wormhole bridges the messaging, making hybrid flows seamless. As Boundless updates note, this “expands ZK utility beyond EVM chains,” attracting Stellar’s DeFi and RWA projects. Therefore, for developers, it’s easier: Build privacy-preserving payments or auditable remittances on Stellar, verified by RISC Zero’s fast zkVM.
“The Signal” Initiative: Proving Every Chain with Open-Source ZK
Furthermore, this ties into Boundless’s “The Signal”, an industry push to ZK-prove all blockchains, starting with Ethereum finality compressed into one proof. Partners like Wormhole, Base, Linea, Optimism, and now Stellar join the effort. Nethermind’s deployment brings Stellar into this open-source loop, broadcasting proofs for trustless interop. For users, it means secure bridges: Transfer assets or data between Stellar and Ethereum with math-backed guarantees. As Boundless CEO Shiv Shankar said, “We’re making ZK everywhere, one chain at a time.” Additionally, with RISC Zero’s zkVM executing any code privately, Stellar gains quantum-resistant tools and proof-of-validity workflows.
Impact: Privacy for Payments, Growth for DeFi
Equally important, this boosts Stellar’s privacy edge. Soroban now verifies zkVM programs, enabling confidential transfers or RWAs without leaks. In remittances, Stellar’s specialty, users hide amounts while proving validity. For DeFi, it’s composability: Stellar’s low-fee pools tap Ethereum liquidity via proofs. As CoinMarketCap reports, this “drives blockchain analytics” with Nansen support, showing 70% active account growth. Hence, for institutions, it’s compliant scale; for everyday users, safer global money moves.
Boundless’s Vision: Universal ZK for All Chains
Ultimately, Boundless’s Stellar push with Nethermind and RISC Zero isn’t niche – it’s universal ZK scaling payments and DeFi. For $XLM holders, it’s ecosystem fuel. Platforms like Lumexo make trading simple. As “The Signal” grows, watch interop explode. In short, this integration proves ZK’s ready for real-world chains like Stellar.