RISC Zero Raises $40 Million Series A to Power the Future of Trustless Computing with Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machine Technology

RISC Zero Raises $40 Million Series A to Power the Future of Trustless Computing with Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machine Technology

RISC Zero, the pioneering developer of cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) virtual machine technology, has successfully raised $40 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Blockchain Capital and backed by Bain Capital Crypto, the lead investor in the seed round. Prominent investors such as Galaxy Digital, IOSG, RockawayX, Maven 11, Fenbushi Capital, Delphi Digital, Aglaé Ventures, IOBC, Tribute Labs’ Zero Dao, Figment Capital, and Alchemy Ventures also participated, underscoring the industry’s strong belief in RISC Zero’s transformative potential.

At the core of RISC Zero’s vision is the mission to empower developers and infrastructure providers with novel cryptographic tools, fueling the next generation of trustless, scalable, and decentralized computation both on and off-chain. Their innovative system aims to challenge prevailing assumptions about the capabilities of blockchains and other federated and cooperative computing systems. By ensuring computational integrity and delivering indisputable receipts of accurate program execution, RISC Zero allows users to confidently assume control of their digital realms while eliminating concerns over data privacy, security, and trust.

Bart Stephens, Founder and Managing Partner at Blockchain Capital, expressed his excitement about the promise of zero-knowledge computing: “Imagine a world where data privacy, security, and trust are no longer concerns, where software supply chains are transparent and verifiable, and where a new generation of applications can harness the power of zero-knowledge computing to solve some of the most pressing challenges of the digital age. This is the promise of zero-knowledge computing and the reason we are investing in RISC Zero.”

RISC Zero’s ZK Virtual Machine (zkVM) is a game-changing platform that enables developers to create ZK-powered applications using familiar programming languages such as Rust and C++. The zkVM leverages advanced features like continuations, allowing it to run programs of unprecedented complexity and scope while leveraging readily available computing platforms—a groundbreaking achievement in the blockchain industry.

Brian Retford, CEO & Co-founder of RISC Zero, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of their esteemed capital partners and visionary leaders: “We’re honored to be supported by all of our incredible capital partners and the visionary leaders and teams that have signed on to help us build this revolution in computing capability. We’re excited to play our part in building a more open and trusted foundation for the future of the internet.”

With the infusion of funds from the Series A round, RISC Zero is set to unveil its Bonsai computing platform. Bonsai will facilitate rapid application development and deployment in both cloud and decentralized environments, freeing developers from the complexities of proof orchestration and server infrastructure. Offering massively parallel ZK-proving functionality to developers across various programming languages and chains, Bonsai will become a catalyst for innovation and progress in the field of trustless computing.

Joining forces with an exceptionally diverse and talented global team, RISC Zero remains steadfast in its commitment to explore the frontiers of computing. To be a part of this groundbreaking journey, interested individuals can explore career opportunities at jobs.lever.co/risczero.com.