Union and NodeKit Partner to Build a Fast Lane for IBC

Stephen Gee

NodeKit x Union

Union is partnering with NodeKit to build a fast lane for zkIBC. By combining NodeKit’s Javelin superbuilder with Union’s Galois prover, users will be able to transact across Union-connected chains in a single block, unlocking speed for performance upgrades without sacrificing the security of consensus verification.

This integration will further Union and NodeKit’s commitment to a composable and modular ecosystem, where interacting across multiple chains feels like transacting on a single chain. The integration is planned for Q2 2025, after the launch of Union’s mainnet.

Faster Proving for Rapid Atomic Transactions

Interoperability through Union is already fast due to zk-powered consensus verification. As soon as consensus is reached, the Union light client quickly and efficiently verifies consensus and generates a ZK proof. This process takes less than 6 seconds, often far less.

But the Union core team is never satisfied with merely “fast”. The goal is to make Union hyper-efficient and hyper-scalable across every metric. So the question becomes, how can interoperability through Union be even faster?

Enter NodeKit’s Javelin superbuilder.

Javelin is a shared block-making machine that operates across chains. One of its key features is its ability to purchase the combined slot for both chains in which a transaction is included and execute it immediately.

By leveraging Javelin, Union’s Galois prover can immediately begin proof generation before the block has gone through consensus, reducing the time necessary to generate the ZKP while maintaining all security guarantees of consensus verification—Galois is just starting the computation sooner, thanks to Javelin.

Long-term, the combination of Javelin and Galois could lead to real-time ZK, for unrivaled transaction speed across chains.

For updates on Union and NodeKit’s integration, follow @union_build.