Powdr¶

Description¶

An optimizer and compiler infrastructure for LLVM-based provers targeting zkVMs. Sits on top of zkVM backends and optimizes programs before proving. Included in the ECDSA zkVM benchmark (116s prove time, 11.5 MB proof). Verification failed in the benchmark.

Evaluation¶

Criterion	Value
Based on	vmLLVM-based provers, zkVM backends
Easiness	unknown
Fast and short (<1s, <1MB)	no — 116s prove, 11.5 MB proof, verification N/A
Post-quantum	depends on backend
Mobile and web	unknown
Maintained	yes
Open source	yes
Security review	unknown
secp256k1 signature + sha256	unknown

Notes¶

Acts as an optimizer layer rather than a standalone prover. Verification was N/A in the ECDSA benchmark.

Based on¶

vmLLVM, various zkVM backends

Resources¶

Docs:
Blog: