Bitcoin validation experiment achieves 27ms verification but full-chain proof remains years away

Bitcoin validation speeds up for early blocks but full proof still incomplete

A research project called Hazync has verified the first 1,789 blocks of Bitcoin in just 27 milliseconds. This was done using a technology called zero-knowledge proofs, which creates a small cryptographic receipt that proves the blocks are valid without needing to check each transaction again.

The project used a 1.7 MB standalone verifier to check a 226,434-byte receipt. However, this fast verification only covers a small part of Bitcoin’s history. The full proof from the very first block to the current one is still not finished.

Key details about the experiment

• The first 1,789 Bitcoin blocks were verified in 27 milliseconds using a cryptographic receipt.
• The receipt is 226,434 bytes in size, much smaller than the full blockchain data.
• Completing the proof for the entire Bitcoin chain is estimated to take about 17 GPU-years of computing power.
• Six Nvidia L40S GPUs would be needed to keep up with new blocks as they are created.
• The project reuses parts of Bitcoin’s official software to reduce errors in the validation process.

How the technology works

Hazync uses a zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM) to run Bitcoin’s validation rules. This creates a receipt that proves the blocks are valid. The receipt can be checked quickly by anyone, but creating it requires a lot of computing power.

The project splits the work into two parts: provers, who create the receipts using powerful computers, and verifiers, who check the receipts quickly. This makes it easier for more people to verify Bitcoin’s history without running a full node.

What is still uncertain

• The full-chain proof from the first Bitcoin block to the current one is not yet complete.
• The 17 GPU-year estimate is based on benchmarks, not a full measurement of every Bitcoin era.
• Changes to the software could erase completed work, requiring the process to restart.
• A professional audit of the code has not yet been completed.
• The project relies on archive operators to store the full blockchain data, which is still needed for future proofs.

Why this experiment matters

If successful, this technology could make it faster and easier for new users to verify Bitcoin’s history. Instead of downloading and checking the entire blockchain, which can take days, users could verify a small receipt in milliseconds.

However, the project is still in the research phase. The fast verification only covers a small part of Bitcoin’s history, and the full proof remains unfinished. The technology also depends on stable code, sufficient computing power, and external audits to ensure accuracy.

Sources

• CryptoSlate