Aligned's Proof Aggregation Service: now live on the Ethereum Holesky Testnet
Verifying zero-knowledge proofs on Ethereum is expensive.
With Aggregation Mode, Aligned introduces a scalable solution: compressing multiple proofs into one using recursion, drastically reducing verification costs while maintaining Ethereum-level security. This is our second major product, following the Proof Verification Layer, and is designed to give developers flexible, cost-efficient infrastructure for proving systems.
Aggregation Mode allows developers to submit individual ZK proofs to Aligned’s Verification Layer; the ones that can be aggregated are then batched and passed to the Aggregation Service. The service generates a single recursive proof that attests to the validity of these proofs. This final proof is then submitted and verified on Ethereum. By aggregating many proofs into one, the cost of on-chain verification is amortized across the batch—developers effectively pay a fraction of the full price, plus a small aggregation fee.
The system is powered by recursive proving. In simple terms, the aggregation process proves that the verification of multiple proofs was correctly executed. This meta-proof is cryptographically valid and can be verified on Ethereum just like any standard ZK proof.
This process creates a compact final proof.
Aligned’s Proof Aggregation Service currently supports proofs from Succinct’s SP1 and RiscZero's R0VM zkVMs, broadening compatibility across proving systems. For now, only proofs submitted via Aligned’s Verification Layer are eligible for aggregation.
Here’s how Aggregation Mode works with RiscZero. Click here to see an example batch on the Aligned Explorer, corresponding to this Fast Mode batch.
- Proofs created with SP1 or R0VM
- Sent to the Aligned Proof Verification Layer (“Fast Mode”)
- Verified in Aligned’s AVS
- Aggregated using recursion
- Settled on Ethereum
Efficient, secure, transparent ✅
While Aggregation Mode introduces some latency due to the recursive steps, it is ideal for applications like rollups and DA layers that prioritize security and cost efficiency over instant finality. It can be used as a standalone service or combined with Fast Mode to offer developers more control over latency vs. cost trade-offs.
The MVP (Minimal Viable Product) and testnet deployment are done. The next steps include integrating additional proving systems, improving the payment rails to support higher throughput, and improving the SDKs to make both Aggregation and Fast Mode easily accessible to developers.
Aligned Aggregation Mode is a major step toward practical, scalable ZK verification on Ethereum—bringing down costs without compromising security.
If you’d like to understand more about aggregation mode in simpler terms, check out our 5W1H content!
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