The Latest from the ZK-L1 Ecosystem Here we track the progress of the leading builders within the ZK-L1 ecosystem, documenting recent significant releases, technical breakthroughs and general updates. Featuring: @AleoHQ/@ProvableHQ, @DuskFoundation, @horizenglobal, @hyli_org, @MinaProtocol/@o1_labs, @nockchain, @PsyProtocol, & @Zcash. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Aleo 🔹 Podcast 🔹 In a recent conversation, team members from @AleoHQ and @HoudiniSwap discussed how programmable privacy and compliant private swaps can prepare crypto for mainstream finance: @1HowardWu, Co-founder of Aleo highlighted advances in ZK infrastructure, private stablecoins and institutional pilots, while HoudiniSwap outlined its role as a market leader in anonymous cross-chain swaps and its focus on simple UX. Both teams stressed that banking-grade privacy, regulatory compliance and better wallet experiences are essential to protect users, enable institutions and scale DeFi. 🔹 Provable 🔹 @ProvableHQ has agreed to acquire @theLeoWallet from @DemoxLabs and will maintain the privacy-focused wallet and its supporting infrastructure on the Aleo network: The project plans to expand features while ensuring uninterrupted service for users, developers, and integrations, including RPC endpoints and support for the Pondo staking protocol. All accounts, assets, and keys remain secure, and no action or compliance changes are required during the transition. 🔹 Explorer Upgrade 🔹 Provable has released an upgraded version of its Explorer, now the default block explorer for the Aleo blockchain: The update introduces a cleaner interface, quicker performance, and simplified navigation. A strengthened API adds detailed endpoints for network activity, validator data, prover metrics, and address insights. The release is intended to make Aleo’s growing dataset easier for developers and users to access and evaluate. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Dusk 🔹 Hedger Alpha 🔹 1/ @DuskFoundation has opened public testing for Hedger Alpha, a privacy tool for EVM transactions: Using ZKPs and homomorphic encryption, it keeps balances and transfer amounts confidential while remaining auditable. The alpha runs on Sepolia and supports shielding, unshielding, and private transfers. Dusk notes the build is early and invites users to test and provide feedback. 2/ Dusk Researcher @xevisalle outlined how private transfers work in Hedger: He explained that users operate with an EVM address for contract interactions and a Hedger address for encrypting balances, with compliance ensured through allowlisting. Transfers rely on ElGamal encryption and additive homomorphism, combined with ZKPs that verify calculations before the network updates account states. 🔹 Rusk Upgrade 🔹 Dusk has deployed a major Rusk upgrade to the DuskDS testnet, moving closer to the DuskEVM testnet launch: The update makes DuskDS function as both a settlement and data-availability layer, introduces 4844-style blob transactions, and significantly improves network speed, stability, and developer experience. New interfaces streamline integration for rollups, app-chains, and indexers, forming an essential step toward full DuskEVM compatibility. 🔹 Partnerships 🔹 The project has announced a partnership with @chainlink to adopt CCIP, DataLink, and Data Streams as part of an initiative with @npex to bring regulated European securities on-chain. The integration combines Dusk’s privacy-preserving, compliance-first blockchain, NPEX’s regulated market infrastructure, and Chainlink’s interoperability and data standards. It establishes a unified framework for compliant asset issuance, secure cross-chain settlement, and real-time market data, enabling regulated digital securities to operate within broader decentralized ecosystems. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Horizen 🔹 Funding 🔹 @horizenglobal and @thriveprotocol announced funding for the next two projects advancing private, verifiable gaming and privacy-preserving loyalty systems on the Horizen network: • @GamblorCasino: A Web3 gaming platform bringing provable fairness and built-in privacy to every game. Using Horizen tools like Digital ID, Gamblor unlocks premium features without invasive verification, ensuring user data stays protected while delivering transparent, trustworthy gameplay: • @GattaRewards: A next-generation loyalty protocol enabling users to store and manage tokenized points across multiple brands in a single wallet. Gatta keeps all interactions private yet verifiable, allowing seamless swapping, redeeming, and AI-driven participation while giving users full control over their on-chain engagement: 🔹 Publications 🔹 Horizen shared an article explaining how institutions face a long-standing trilemma in choosing between liquidity, privacy, and interoperability: Public blockchains expose sensitive data, centralized exchanges limit protocol access, and privacy networks lack liquidity. The article says progress in cryptography and protocol design now enables auditable privacy combined with interoperable systems, allowing institutions to maintain confidentiality while accessing broader markets and liquidity without forced trade-offs. 🔹 Events 🔹 1/ @ZKVProtocol is a major sponsor of Verifying Intelligence 3.0, an event co-hosted by @HouseofZK, @brevis_zk, and @invisiblgarden during @EFDevcon in Buenos Aires, with @HorizenLabs also participating in the program: Representing zkVerify, @aurobindo_arman, Solutions Architect, will speak on two panels: • User Data Privacy - Dignity-Preserving AI by Default • x402 & Agent-to-Agent Payments - The Internet’s Emerging Value Layer Horizen Labs will also be represented at the event, with CTO @zainlabs delivering a keynote and CSO @AndyJBryant joining a fireside chat to share their perspectives. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Hyli 🔹 Events 🔹 The @hyli_org team is currently in Buenos Aires for @EFDevcon: CEO @sylvechv has already taken part in two sessions, speaking at the Oracle Summit on cross-chain interoperability and joining the ZKONNECT panel “From proofs to products: shipping what matters.” @wraitii will take part in two upcoming keynotes - one at the Privacy & Compliance Summit and another at Encryption Day. 🔹 Publications 🔹 @mtteom_ of Hyli published an article covering how x402 could help handle payments by pairing a facilitator model with Hyli’s proof-based architecture: He explains that Hyli apps act as zkRollups and usually rely on an autoprover, but integrating proving into the facilitator could streamline validation and improve flexibility. He adds that Hyli is developing its own prover-enabled facilitator. A release is expected soon. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Mina Protocol & o1Labs 🔹 Mesa Upgrade 🔹 The Mesa upgrade for @MinaProtocol is entering extensive testing to ensure a safe transition to mainnet. Mesa introduces faster 90-second slot times, larger on-chain state, higher action and event limits, and a new automated upgrade mechanism. Testing spans internal validation, a public testnet, a full upgrade rehearsal called Mesa Trail, ecosystem checks, and a final Devnet drill. Node operators, developers, and partners will join each stage to confirm performance, stability, and compatibility. 🔹 Publications 🔹 Mina published an article covering its Rust node, which brings the protocol to browsers, desktops, and mobile devices: The piece explains how Rust enables broader participation, client diversity, and a browser-based node that verifies the chain with minimal resources. It outlines the project’s origins, its alignment with the OCaml implementation, and ongoing work to reach full parity and support block production across platforms. 🔹 Zypherpunk Hackathon 🔹 Mina and @Zcash have launched the Zypherpunk Hackathon, offering more than $20k in MINA prizes as part of a larger $300k pool: The event invites builders to develop cross-chain privacy tools, infrastructure for private applications, and wallet solutions combining both networks. Additional challenges focus on educational content about shared cryptographic technology. The hackathon runs through Dec 1. 🔹 Events 🔹 1/ Mina hosted the rooftop meetup “zkFriends at Sunset”, bringing founders, developers, and ZK builders together for an informal evening during DevConnect Buenos Aires. The event, co-hosted with @SuccinctLabs, @HouseofZK, and @zk_monk, offered a relaxed setting for conversations and connections across the ZK ecosystem. 2/ Mina is also one of the major sponsors of Verifying Intelligence 3.0 at @EFDevcon. During the first panel, “Abundance vs Dystopia,” @o1coby, Head of Program Strategy at o1Labs & Mina Protocol, will join the discussion on the trajectory of AI and the role of ZK in shaping its future. o1Labs 🔹 Progress 🔹 @o1_labs shared their latest development updates: Highlights: • Mesa Upgrade: The first Mesa Testnet is live, producing blocks and transactions, with preparations for public release underway. Runbooks are being updated, and testing documentation is being drafted. • Rust Node: Version 0.18 was released with improvements to CI stability and a fix for a Docker frontend issue. • SDK Team: The team released o1js v2.11 and started testing for compatibility with Mesa. • OCaml Node: An internal network was launched, and work continues on memory optimization. 🔹 Hard-fork Automation 🔹 o1Labs explained its proposal to add an automated hard-fork mechanism to Mina, allowing nodes to prepare ledger migrations and generate fork configurations in advance: The system aims to reduce operator burden, improve decentralization, and make cutovers faster and more predictable. Although not classified as an official MIP, the feature is part of the broader Road to Mesa and is open for community feedback. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹

Zcash 🔹 Zcash Shielded News 🔹 @Zcash shared their latest updates focused on ecosystem development: Highlights include: • The Zcash Foundation officially appointed Alex Bornstein as Executive Director, outlining new strategic priorities for funding, cross-ecosystem coordination, and long-term organizational direction: • ZF launched a redesigned, mobile-first website that improves navigation, clarifies project structure, and enhances transparency for contributors and users. • @Ledger advanced the Shielded ZEC integration after signing revised grant terms, with technical work now moving into assessment of synchronization and proof-generation paths in collaboration with ECC. • @Gemini expanded support for private transactions by enabling Orchard withdrawals, resolving previous UA compatibility issues and becoming the first major exchange to support direct transfers into Zcash’s newest shielded pool. Zcash Foundation 🔹 Zebra 3.0.0 🔹 @ZcashFoundation reported how Zebra 3.0.0 introduces support for the NU6.1 upgrade and adds tools aimed at improving node reliability and setup: The release includes health check endpoints, ARM64 support, faster initial sync, and stronger Docker security. Users gain simpler configuration through environment variables and expanded RPC options, while developers benefit from faster testing and a versioning approach that highlights breaking changes. 🔹 Appointments 🔹 The Zcash Foundation announced two internal promotions, naming Pili Guerra as Head of Engineering and Danika Delano as Chief Operating Officer: • Guerra, previously Engineering Manager, will oversee technical initiatives, drawing on experience from the Tor Project and Red Hat. • Delano, formerly Operations Director, steps into the COO role after years managing operations, grants, and community programs. Electric Coin Co. 🔹 Progress 🔹 @jswihart, CEO of @ElectricCoinCo, shared the latest updates: Key points: • @zashi_app prepared versions 2.4.8 and 2.4.9, adding shielded defaults for swaps, Tor activation before wallet restores, UI fixes, and work on resync and hardware disconnect features. • Designs advanced for transparent address rotation, hardware wallet support, multi-account options, and duress or decoy tools. • Zcash Core progressed on ChainIndex integration, refactoring for transparent scanning, Orchard ZSA review, and quantum-resilience specifications. • The week also included hackathon activity, summit planning, community interviews, and media appearances. 🔹 Roadmap 🔹 Electric Coin Co. released its Q4 2025 roadmap: Highlights include: • Ephemeral transparent addresses for each ZEC swap to limit transaction linkability and strengthen user privacy. • Automatic rotation of transparent addresses after incoming funds to reduce observable patterns. • Disconnect and resync options for Zashi-Keystone users to improve device control and recovery. • P2SH multisig support in Keystone to secure Dev Fund operations and support broader wallet integration. 🔹 Visit for more reports from across the industry 🔹