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Jordi Baylina’s new project, Zisk, emerges as a pivotal force in zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM) technology following Polygon Foundation’s strategic pivot away from its costly zkEVM chain.
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By spinning out from Polygon, Baylina’s team gains full independence, aiming to innovate with a low-latency, open-source zkVM that addresses the limitations of previous implementations.
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According to COINOTAG, Baylina emphasized that Zisk will maintain a permissionless codebase, fostering transparency and community-driven development in the zkVM space.
Zisk’s launch marks a new chapter in zero-knowledge technology, focusing on low-latency zkVMs and open-source innovation after Polygon’s zkEVM shutdown.
The Zisk Initiative: Advancing Low-Latency zkVMs Beyond Polygon’s Legacy
Following Polygon’s decision to discontinue its zkEVM project due to high operational costs exceeding $1 million annually, Jordi Baylina and his core development team have strategically spun out Zisk as an independent entity. This move allows the team to shed legacy constraints and focus on optimizing zero-knowledge virtual machine technology with a fresh architectural approach. Unlike Polygon’s zkEVM, which prioritized Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, Zisk targets low-latency proof generation—a critical factor for latency-sensitive applications such as decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and blockchain gaming.
Zisk’s architecture reportedly achieves a 40–60% reduction in verification times compared to existing zkVM solutions, positioning it as a promising contender in the zero-knowledge ecosystem. By transferring all intellectual property to SilentSig GmbH, a Swiss-based entity owned by Baylina, Zisk ensures legal and operational independence while preserving the open-source ethos that underpinned Polygon’s zkEVM initiative.
Implications of Polygon’s zkEVM Shutdown on Zero-Knowledge Technology Development
Polygon’s pivot away from zkEVM, driven by new leadership under co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, reflects a broader strategic realignment towards Polygon PoS and interoperability protocols like AggLayer. This shift has significant implications for the zero-knowledge technology landscape, signaling a potential deprioritization of zkEVM-based scalability solutions within major blockchain ecosystems.
Blockchain analyst Lorenz Lehmann highlighted the quiet discontinuation of Polygon’s zkEVM development despite substantial investment, underscoring the challenges of sustaining high-cost zk projects without clear product-market fit. Zisk’s emergence can be seen as a direct response to these challenges, aiming to deliver a more efficient and scalable zkVM that could reinvigorate developer interest and adoption.
Zisk’s Open-Source Commitment and Future Outlook in zkVM Innovation
Maintaining a permissionless codebase is central to Zisk’s strategy, ensuring that the project remains accessible and transparent to developers and stakeholders. This approach aligns with the broader ethos of decentralization and community collaboration that drives innovation in blockchain technology.
Early benchmarks and technical disclosures suggest that Zisk’s low-latency zkVM could enable new use cases previously hindered by slower proof times, such as real-time decentralized exchanges and interactive gaming environments. However, independent audits and further testing will be essential to validate these performance claims and build confidence among enterprise and developer communities.
Conclusion
Zisk’s formation represents a significant evolution in zero-knowledge virtual machine technology, born from the strategic realignment of Polygon’s zkEVM project. By focusing on low-latency proof generation and maintaining an open-source framework, Zisk aims to overcome previous limitations and catalyze broader adoption of zkVMs in practical blockchain applications. As the project progresses, its success will depend on rigorous validation, community engagement, and its ability to deliver tangible performance improvements in a competitive and rapidly evolving sector.
