ZK Compression
A technique using zero-knowledge proofs to compress on-chain state on Solana, enabling up to 1,000x storage cost reduction while maintaining verifiability.
ZK Compression is a state scalability solution for Solana that uses zero-knowledge proofs to store account data off-chain while maintaining on-chain verifiability. Instead of storing full account data in expensive on-chain accounts, ZK Compression stores only a hash (state root) on-chain, with the full data maintained by RPC indexers. This reduces state storage costs by up to 1,000x, making it practical to create billions of on-chain accounts for use cases like airdrops, identity systems, and DePIN networks.
How ZK compression works
Traditional Solana accounts require rent-exempt deposits proportional to the data stored. ZK Compression replaces this with a Merkle tree structure:
- Account data is stored off-chain by specialized RPC providers (e.g., Helius, Triton)
- A compressed Merkle root is maintained on-chain in a state tree account
- When a transaction modifies compressed state, it submits a zero-knowledge proof verifying the state transition
- The on-chain root is updated, and the new data is propagated to indexers
Cost comparison
| Operation | Traditional account | ZK compressed |
|---|---|---|
| Create 1 token account | ~0.002 SOL | ~0.000005 SOL |
| Airdrop to 1M wallets | ~2,000 SOL | ~5 SOL |
| State storage per account | Rent-exempt minimum | Proof verification cost |
Security considerations
ZK Compression introduces new trust assumptions and audit surfaces:
Indexer dependency: Programs relying on compressed state depend on RPC providers to serve correct Merkle proofs. If an indexer returns stale or incorrect proofs, transactions will fail (safe failure), but availability is reduced.
Proof verification costs: Zero-knowledge proof verification consumes compute units. Programs must account for this overhead within Solana's compute budget limits.
State tree management: Merkle trees have finite capacity. Programs must handle tree rotation and ensure that state migration between trees preserves data integrity.
Audit relevance
For security researchers, ZK Compression represents a fundamental shift in how state is managed on Solana. Auditors evaluating protocols that use compressed state must verify proof verification logic, assess the trust model of indexer dependencies, and ensure that compressed-to-uncompressed state transitions are handled atomically.
ZK Compression is a key infrastructure component of Solana's 2026 scalability roadmap and is increasingly adopted by enterprise-grade protocols.
Articles Using This Term
Learn more about ZK Compression in these articles:
Related Terms
SVM (Solana Virtual Machine)
The runtime environment that executes programs on Solana using a parallelized, stateless account model, compiled to Solana Bytecode Format (SBF).
Sealevel
Solana's parallel transaction processing runtime that enables concurrent execution of non-overlapping transactions by requiring upfront account dependency declaration.
Token-2022
Solana token standard (Token Extensions) that adds programmable features like Transfer Hooks, Confidential Transfers, and CPI guards, reintroducing control-flow and reentrancy considerations.
Need expert guidance on ZK Compression?
Our team at Zealynx has deep expertise in blockchain security and DeFi protocols. Whether you need an audit or consultation, we're here to help.
Get a Quote
