The blockchain landscape is undergoing a transformative shift as scalability, interoperability, and real-time performance become critical for mainstream adoption. In a groundbreaking move, Fabric and Polygon Labs have joined forces to supercharge the future of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology through hardware-accelerated innovation. This strategic collaboration centers on advancing the AggLayer—a unified network protocol for blockchains—by leveraging Fabric’s cutting-edge Verifiable Processing Units (VPUs) to enable faster, more efficient ZK proof generation.
This partnership isn’t just about incremental improvements—it’s about redefining what’s possible in decentralized systems by bridging the gap between high-performance cryptography and scalable infrastructure.
👉 Discover how next-gen blockchain performance is being built today.
The Fragmentation Challenge in Blockchain
Today’s multi-chain ecosystem suffers from fragmentation. Users navigate a complex web of isolated networks, each with its own liquidity pools, security models, and user experiences. This siloed structure leads to:
- Inefficient cross-chain bridging
- Poor capital efficiency
- Confusing user journeys across chains
- Increased attack surfaces due to trust assumptions
Sound familiar? It’s reminiscent of the pre-TCP/IP era of the internet—before standardized protocols enabled seamless communication between disparate networks.
Polygon Labs’ AggLayer aims to solve this by creating a unified, interoperable layer that makes interacting with multiple blockchains feel like using a single, high-performance network. At its core, the AggLayer aggregates cryptographic proofs from connected chains, enabling secure, near-instant cross-chain transactions while preserving each chain’s sovereignty.
But for this vision to scale, one bottleneck remains: the speed and cost of generating zero-knowledge proofs.
Why Zero-Knowledge Proofs Matter
Zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs are foundational to secure, trustless interoperability. They allow one blockchain to verify the validity of transactions on another without exposing sensitive data—ensuring privacy, integrity, and decentralization.
Moreover, ZK proofs compress vast amounts of transaction data into succinct cryptographic attestations. This enables efficient bridging, reduces reliance on centralized validators, and minimizes vulnerabilities in cross-chain communication.
Yet despite their promise, ZK proofs are computationally expensive. Generating them at scale using traditional CPUs or GPUs is slow and costly—hindering widespread adoption.
Polygon Labs has already pushed the boundaries with Plonky2 and the modular Plonky3, achieving over 100x performance gains in ZK proving. These frameworks power major projects like Polygon zkEVM, Polygon Miden, and various CDK-based rollups.
But software alone isn’t enough.
👉 See how hardware acceleration is unlocking the next phase of ZK innovation.
Introducing the Verifiable Processing Unit (VPU)
To overcome the limitations of general-purpose computing, Fabric has developed the Verifiable Processing Unit (VPU)—a purpose-built processor designed specifically for advanced cryptography.
Unlike fixed-function ASICs or repurposed GPUs, the VPU is a fully programmable system-on-chip optimized for end-to-end ZK proof systems and general-purpose cryptographic workloads. Here’s what sets it apart:
Unmatched Performance
By integrating GPU-like reconfigurable logic with ASIC-grade coprocessors—all driven by a cryptography-native instruction set—the VPU delivers orders-of-magnitude faster proof generation compared to conventional hardware.
General-Purpose Flexibility
The VPU supports multiple prime fields, elliptic curves, and hash functions, making it adaptable across different ZK proof systems and cryptographic standards.
Easy Programmability
With a full compiler stack and intermediate representation (IR), developers can efficiently program and optimize for evolving ZK frameworks like Plonky2 and Plonky3.
Scalable Architecture
Designed for mass deployment, the VPU enables parallelization across chips, server cards, and data centers—critical for supporting large-scale blockchain ecosystems.
This means faster finality, lower costs, and broader accessibility for ZK-powered applications.
Powering the AggLayer: A Shared Vision
The collaboration between Fabric and Polygon Labs is focused on accelerating ZK proof generation for the AggLayer and its ecosystem of ZK-native projects. Key outcomes include:
- Near real-time finality: Cross-chain transactions finalized in seconds instead of minutes or hours.
- Radically reduced costs: Making ZK-based interactions economically viable at scale.
- Massive scalability: Supporting thousands of interconnected chains without performance degradation.
Together, the teams are optimizing:
- ZK "pessimistic proofs" and proof aggregation for the AggLayer
- Proof generation for Polygon zkEVM
- Proving layers for Polygon Miden
- Infrastructure for Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK) projects
This synergy between hardware and protocol-level innovation positions the AggLayer as a true “TCP/IP for blockchains”—a foundational layer for a unified Web3 experience.
Co-Design: Where Hardware Meets Protocol
This isn’t just a vendor-supplier relationship—it’s deep technical co-design. The collaboration integrates three key elements:
1. Software Optimization
Full-stack support for Plonky2 and Plonky3 libraries, fine-tuned for VPU architecture to maximize throughput and efficiency.
2. Hardware-Software Feedback Loops
Since early 2025, Fabric and Polygon Labs have worked side-by-side to shape the VPU’s instruction set architecture (ISA) to natively support Plonky2 and Plonky3. These iterative loops ensure compatibility with current and future proof systems.
3. Transparent Performance Metrics
Upcoming technical reports and case studies will provide detailed benchmarks on VPU performance within real-world ZK workflows—offering developers clear insights into latency, cost, and scalability gains.
This co-evolution mirrors how early internet pioneers invested in specialized routing hardware to support emerging protocols—a decision that shaped the high-speed internet we rely on today.
What’s Next: The Roadmap Ahead
The immediate goal? Deliver a fully functional prototype that runs Plonky2 and Plonky3 end-to-end on the VPU within 6–12 months. Success means slashing proof generation times from minutes to seconds—and reducing operational costs by orders of magnitude.
Beyond the AggLayer, this technology has far-reaching implications:
- Rollups of all kinds—ZK, optimistic, hybrid—can integrate real-time proving
- Developers gain access to affordable, high-throughput ZK infrastructure
- End users enjoy seamless, secure cross-chain experiences without complexity
We’re entering an era where blockchain performance is no longer limited by software alone—but amplified by purpose-built hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the AggLayer?
The AggLayer is a decentralized protocol developed by Polygon Labs that connects multiple blockchains into a unified network. It uses aggregated zero-knowledge proofs to enable secure, instant cross-chain communication while preserving individual chain sovereignty.
How do VPUs improve ZK proof generation?
Verifiable Processing Units are custom chips optimized for cryptographic operations. They dramatically accelerate ZK proof creation—making it faster and cheaper—by combining specialized hardware with programmable flexibility.
Why is hardware acceleration important for blockchain?
As blockchain applications demand higher throughput and lower latency, general-purpose computing hits physical limits. Hardware like VPUs enables scalable, energy-efficient cryptography essential for mass adoption.
Will this benefit non-Polygon chains?
Yes. The AggLayer is designed to be chain-agnostic. Any blockchain can connect and benefit from unified liquidity, faster finality, and reduced bridging risks through aggregated proofs.
When will VPU-powered systems be live?
A working prototype integrating Plonky2/Plonky3 with VPUs is expected within 6–12 months. Ongoing technical reports will track progress and performance metrics.
Can developers build on this infrastructure now?
While hardware deployment is underway, developers can already engage with Polygon’s ZK stack (zkEVM, Miden, CDK). Future SDKs will support VPU-optimized workflows.
The future of Web3 isn’t just about more chains—it’s about better connectivity. By combining Polygon’s leading ZK software with Fabric’s revolutionary VPU hardware, this collaboration lays the foundation for a truly scalable, interoperable, and accelerated blockchain ecosystem.
👉 Be part of the next leap in blockchain performance—explore what’s possible.
The future of Web3 is not just aggregated—it's accelerated.