Introduction

ZEROBASE is a modular infrastructure stack for building real-time, privacy-preserving zero-knowledge applications. Its composable zkApp framework simplifies deploying scalable Web3 experiences by integrating identity, proof generation, and secure compute. 

Its architecture is built around reusable modules, including proving networks, DSL Circuits and standardized ZK Products, each optimized for interoperability and performance.

As adoption of its products grew, Zerobase faced scalability challenges in real-time proof generation. To meet these demands, the team integrated ICICLE, Ingonyama’s hardware-accelerated high speed cryptography library, resulting in significantly faster proving times, reduced infrastructure overhead and improved user experience across its applications.

Real-Time Proofs at Scale for Consumer-Facing ZK Apps

ZEROBASE’s key offerings targets mainstream usage where latency and reliability matter:

  • Solana SIM: Global eSIM with seamless Internet access, which uses ZKPs to verify identity or session continuity without revealing metadata.
  • Tako Protocol: Modular decentralized social layer, which leverages ZKPs for content validation and moderation transparency.
  • Firefly: Web3-native social aggregator, which uses ZKPs to aggregate and rank content in a censorship-resistant way.
  • Staking Network: Zerobase's staking network leverages real-time ZK proofs to ensure all funds remain in risk-neutral, overcollateralized arbitrage positions. This design enforces capital efficiency and on-chain verifiability. Think of it as a zk-native version of Ethena, optimized for transparency and trust-minimized yield.
  • AnySearch: Privacy-preserving search for Telegram, which relies on ZKPs to verify queries are untampered and anonymous.
  • zkLogin: Enables seamless, passwordless authentication by proving control over Web2 accounts (like Google or Apple) using Zero-Knowledge Proofs. It offers a smooth onboarding experience without compromising user privacy, ideal for bringing mainstream users into ZK-powered apps.

Key Constraints

  • Sub-second proof times required
  • Varying circuit sizes and proving systems
  • Users span mobile, edge, and desktop devices
  • Need for scalable GPU infrastructure without in-house low-level engineering

Solution: Integrating ICICLE for Fast, Flexible ZK Acceleration

The Zerobase engineering team embedded ICICLE into the proof generation pipeline powering these products.

Integration highlights:

  • Plug-and-play GPU proving across multiple zk backends (e.g., Groth16 for Solana SIM)
  • Integration with Zerobase’s web backends and real-time mobile gateways, enabling seamless support for trusted setups and identity primitives like zkPassports.
  • No need for manual CUDA tuning, lower level PTX tuning as well; all handled by ICICLE

Support from Ingonyama included:

  • Custom circuit profiling and tuning
  • Multi-GPU orchestration help
  • Continuous performance optimization

Results: Real-Time Proving Achieved at Scale

Thanks to ICICLE, Zerobase now powers production-grade real-time ZK use cases across its suite:

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‍Solana SIM:

With ICICLE, proof generation for identity/session verification now fits within a single Solana block — enabling seamless real-time onboarding with minimal delay.

zkLogin:

zkLogin experienced a 40% latency reduction, dropping from ~400ms to just 250ms. This sub-400ms threshold is critical for creating responsive, privacy-preserving authentication flows based on Web2 credentials.

Staking Network:

The staking engine saw a 25% speed-up, reducing proving latency while maintaining capital efficiency. This enables timely execution of risk-neutral arbitrage in volatile market conditions.

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‍“ICICLE gave us the proving power to make our real-time ZK vision possible. Our apps now run faster, cheaper, and at global scale.”  – Mirror, CEO, ZEROBASE 

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ICICLE Dev Docs

‍Future Plans

The Zerobase team plans to deepen its integration of ICICLE across new and upcoming products, with a focus on real-world utility, privacy preservation, and user income generation.

  • zkPCDN: A peer-to-peer content delivery network that leverages ZKPs to fix identity leakage issues while rewarding users for sharing bandwidth — targeting up to $1/day per user.
  • Support for Larger Circuits: Enabling more complex applications with high-throughput proving.
  • Cosnarks (as they mature): Integration planned for decentralized, recursive ZK workflows.
  • Next-Gen SNARK/STARK Compatibility: Continued expansion into emerging proof systems to maintain interoperability and future-proof performance.

About Zerobase

Zerobase envisions zero-knowledge technology as a tool to empower users in the developing world by building robust, censorship-resistant systems that serve not only as financial rails but also as full-fledged decentralized databases. Learn more at zerobase.pro

About Ingonyama

Ingonyama is the leader in high-speed cryptography acceleration, building the infrastructure and libraries needed to scale Fancy Cryptography. ICICLE is its flagship open-source proving engine, optimized for throughput, developer ergonomics, and hardware abstraction. Learn more at ingonyama.com