Space and Time, the Verifiable Compute Layer designed for Web3, has announced the open-source availability of Blitzar, the GPU acceleration framework driving Proof of SQL. Space and Time has chosen to make Blitzar open-source to offer the Web3 community an enhanced and efficient framework for constructing GPU-accelerated zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. The primary repository is accessible now.
In the past year, ZK proofs have experienced substantial growth within Web3, marked by the introduction of Polygon zkEVM, zkSync Era, and other eagerly awaited ZK projects. Space and Time has solidified its position as a frontrunner in the ZK domain with the introduction of Proof of SQL. This innovative ZK proof enables smart contracts to inquire about data from their own chain, other chains, or off-chain sources in a verifiable manner. The alpha release took place in August.
Enabling the Next Generation of ZK Proofs
Blitzar serves as the GPU acceleration framework powering Proof of SQL. Given the computational intensity of ZK proofs, leveraging hardware acceleration frameworks becomes crucial for optimization. Blitzar is intricately crafted for GPUs, a hardware type well-matched for demanding computational tasks, particularly in ZK proof generation. Additionally, GPUs provide an efficient memory structure, essential for handling sizable datasets, a key requirement for advanced ZK proofs like Proof of SQL.
In the year 2022, Space and Time unveiled a collaboration with NVIDIA to enhance Proof of SQL using NVIDIA GPUs. During the development of the Proof of SQL protocol, Space and Time encountered challenges in locating an open-source GPU acceleration framework capable of meeting the computational demands of Proof of SQL. Consequently, they opted to build Blitzar from scratch.
Jay White, Co-Founder and Head of Research at Space and Time, said, “ZK proofs are the future of Web3, and we believe that every protocol can benefit from rapid GPU acceleration. Blitzar is already a very high-performance open-source GPU acceleration framework, and we’re excited to collaborate with the broader Web3 community to continue to improve Blitzar’s performance and enable the next generation of ZK proofs.”
Facilitating the Broader Adoption within Web3
Through the open-sourcing of Proof of SQL’s GPU acceleration framework, Space and Time anticipates that ZK proofs will experience increased speed, resilience, and broader adoption within Web3. This, in turn, is expected to facilitate the emergence of a new wave of protocols, decentralized applications (dApps), and businesses fueled by verifiable compute. Blitzar stands as the inaugural open-source project introduced by the core team at Space and Time.
Space and Time is the pioneering AI-driven decentralized data warehouse that integrates tamper-proof on-chain and off-chain data to cater to enterprise use cases within smart contracts. The platform introduces a groundbreaking cryptographic solution known as Proof of SQL, enabling developers to establish direct connections between analytics and smart contracts.
This innovation unlocks a myriad of potent use cases and business logic within blockchain technology. Space and Time is purpose-built as a versatile multichain data platform, catering to developers in diverse sectors such as financial services, gaming, DeFi, and any project necessitating verifiable data across enterprise, blockchain, and AI.
