Key Highlights
- LayerZero introduced Akita on September 9 as a polynomial commitment scheme designed to provide post-quantum security for zero-knowledge proving systems.
- LayerZero describes Akita as the first production-ready primitive of its kind and says it can be integrated into different proof systems.
- Akita’s first major deployment will be inside Jolt, the zero-knowledge proving system developed with a16z crypto and used by the Zero blockchain.
LayerZero, an omnichain interoperability, introduced Akita, a polynomial commitment scheme, on September 9, designed to provide quantum-resistant security for zero-knowledge proving systems. The company described Akita as the first production-ready primitive of its type. It delivers post-quantum security with proof sizes that are two to eight times smaller than those produced by existing post-quantum alternatives.
According to an official announcement, Akita is a standalone primitive that can be adopted by any proof system seeking post-quantum security. Its first major deployment will occur inside Jolt, the zero-knowledge proving system developed in partnership with a16z crypto.
Jolt underpins the Zero blockchain. With the integration, Jolt becomes a production-grade zero-knowledge virtual machine that incorporates quantum resistance while producing smaller proofs. A full technical paper and the Akita implementation are available on GitHub.
Functioning model of Akita
A polynomial commitment scheme forms the foundational component of a zero-knowledge proving system. It commits to a computation trace and proves the correctness of that computation. Replacing this component with a quantum-secure alternative secures the full proving stack, as the remaining elements are information-theoretically secure.
Akita uses a lattice-based architecture. Lattice-based cryptography is the class of mathematics standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for post-quantum encryption and signatures.
Performance characteristics outlined by LayerZero
According to LayerZero, Akita’s performance differs from existing post-quantum approaches that rely on hash-based schemes. Hash-based systems typically generate proofs of 200 kilobytes or larger. Akita generates proofs measuring 65 to 80 kilobytes.
Proving time with Akita is two to three times faster than the current performance of Jolt. Memory usage is reduced by approximately half. Beyond storage of the polynomial itself, Akita employs sub-linear memory for commitment and proving operations.
Two primary approaches exist for post-quantum proving systems: hash-based schemes and lattice-based schemes. Lattice-based methods offer reductions in proof size, performance gains on sparse workloads, and simpler alignment with broader post-quantum internet standards. Akita is the first commitment scheme to apply lattice-based security within a production-ready zero-knowledge proving system.
LayerZero described Akita as open-source. Its initial deployment inside Jolt enables the zkVM to provide post-quantum security while reducing proof size and increasing prover speed by a factor of two to three. The combination positions Jolt with post-quantum capability, reduced proof size among post-quantum solutions, and lower prover time and memory requirements.
Broader industry context
Other organizations have also addressed post-quantum cryptography. The Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol cluster outlined a longer-term roadmap for the network’s next major upgrade, Hegotá.
In a post published September 7, the cluster stated it is targeting December 2029 for Ethereum Layer 1 to achieve resistance to quantum attacks across its execution, consensus, and data layers. The network is currently in the scoping phase for Hegotá while the Glamsterdam upgrade continues toward its planned mainnet launch.
Bitcoin advocate and JAN3 CEO Samson Mow has called for a cautious approach. In an X post, Mow stated that developers should avoid premature protocol changes driven solely by concerns over future quantum threats. He argued that Bitcoin’s development should remain conservative and prioritize proven security.
In July, Galaxy Digital launched an initiative focused on protecting Bitcoin from future quantum computing threats. The firm committed up to $5 million toward developer grants and assembled a group of academic experts to guide research. Galaxy stated that waiting until quantum computers become capable of attacking Bitcoin would leave insufficient time for the network to respond.
LayerZero stated that Akita constitutes the first significant step toward a fully quantum-secure zero stack. Additional development work is planned as the project approaches mainnet.
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