The Nexus zero-knowledge virtual machine is a modular, extensible, prover-optimized, fully-specified zkVM written in Rust, focused on performance and security.
Nexus zkVM v0.3.4 is the current stable release, implementing the Nexus zkVM 3.0 machine.
Nexus zkVM is a zero-knowledge virtual machine that enables developers to generate succinct proofs for any computation, demonstrating that a program executed every instruction and accessed memory correctly to produce a given output. Built with Rust and focused on performance and security, it provides a robust foundation for building applications.
The Nexus zkVM can generate proofs for any computation. For example, given a Rust program that calculates the Fibonacci sequence:
the zkVM can generate a succinct, efficiently verifiable proof of its correct execution.
To get started with the Nexus zkVM, check out the Getting Started page.
The Nexus zkVM is in an experimental stage and is not currently recommended for production use.
We believe a zkVM must provide an efficient proving mechanism without compromising on security and correctness. A zkVM cannot provide transparency without being transparent itself. Every component of a zkVM should be powered by fully and publicly specified cryptographic components, with careful analysis of security and performance.
The Nexus zkVM features no code obfuscation, no proprietary components, and no closed-source code.
Built with a modular architecture at its core, the Nexus zkVM features independently optimized components that integrate smoothly. The system ships with carefully chosen defaults for the prover and memory model, allowing developers to start building immediately while maintaining confidence in both security and performance across diverse applications.
Furthermore, extensibility is a fundamental design principle of the Nexus zkVM. The codebase and active development by the Nexus team ensures continuous evolution, supporting emerging languages, advanced precompiles, and cutting-edge proving systems as the field progresses—-all without locking developers into proprietary solutions.
The Nexus zkVM enables a wide range of applications:
Ready to start building with Nexus zkVM? Here are your next steps:
Experience the future of verifiable computation with Nexus zkVM - where transparency meets performance.