Shiv Srivastava, CEO of Boundless, is on a mission to make cryptographic breakthroughs usable in everyday life. As the head of a decentralized marketplace for trustless zero-knowledge (ZK) compute—powered by RISC Zero—Shiv is leading the charge to enable scalable interoperability and verifiable infrastructure across all blockchains.
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With leadership experience at Microsoft, Lyft, Coinbase, and Avalanche, Shiv bridges deep Web2 expertise with a Web3-first vision: build systems that empower everyone, not just the few. In this conversation, he shares insights on Ethereum’s evolving strategy, the role of ZK in scaling, and how Boundless fits into a more usable, scalable crypto future.
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Q: Thoughts on EF’s shift to “Protocol” and its new strategic goals?
A: Ethereum Foundation’s move to reframe its core R&D group as “Protocol” is both timely and important. The focus on scaling Layer 1, expanding blob capacity, and improving user experience reflects a clear shift toward product-driven execution, and that’s where the ecosystem needs to go.
What’s encouraging is the broader recognition that delivering high-utility infrastructure matters more than launching yet another experimental project. There’s a real distinction between long-term research and building systems that people can rely on. I see this shift as Ethereum stepping into a more mature phase, one where outcomes are prioritized.
“In this space, it’s easy to stick with what’s familiar or already accepted. But real progress often comes from trying new things and being willing to take smart risks. The goal is to help move the whole ecosystem forward.”
Shiv Srivastava, CEO of Boundless
I also think it’s worth acknowledging that many technically strong projects don’t succeed because they’re missing operational leadership. Experience in building and scaling systems matters, and it’s important to bring that to the forefront if we want to build durable infrastructure.
Q: The evolving role of ZK infrastructure with Ethereum’s scaling and UX focus?
A: ZK infrastructure is continuing to be the foundation of Ethereum’s scaling roadmap, and the Ethereum Foundation’s renewed focus on zkEVMs makes that crystal clear. ZK rollups are delivering real throughput, near-instant finality, and lower fees, making UX smoother and more intuitive.
At Boundless, we’ve been building toward this moment: enabling developers to offload compute-heavy tasks offchain and prove the result on-chain using zero-knowledge proofs. This approach allows blockchains to verify complex computations without re-executing them, unlocking new levels of scalability and efficiency.
Q: Why cross-chain verifiable compute is critical to Ethereum’s future?
A: Cross-chain verifiable compute extends Ethereum’s security and utility across the ecosystem. It allows one chain’s computations or data (e.g., a Celestia blob or Solana compute) to be trusted and used by Ethereum via ZK proofs. This is crucial for a multi-chain future, as it means Ethereum apps can safely tap into external resources, and vice versa, unifying the ecosystem.
Q: How Boundless contributes to scaling L1 and scaling blobs?
A: Boundless directly contributes to Ethereum’s scaling. Boundless is built to extend Ethereum’s limits, both in compute and data. We provide a decentralized proving layer that shifts execution-heavy workloads off-chain while preserving Ethereum’s security guarantees. Instead of every node redoing all the computation, Boundless generates a single proof that can be verified quickly and cheaply, which fundamentally expands Ethereum’s execution capacity.
On the blob side, Boundless enables verifiable connections between Ethereum and modular data availability layers like Celestia. By allowing blob data to be ZK-proven across chains and aggregating proofs efficiently, we help reduce costs and increase throughput for rollups and applications.
Q: How ZK technology can enhance user experience across L1s and rollups?
A: At Boundless, we build infrastructure that enables users to interact with dApps instantly at low costs and benefit from high security, while decentralized provers handle the heavy computation behind the scenes.
For developers, Boundless offers a straightforward interface: write in Rust, define a request, and deploy. There’s no need to manage complex proof systems or infrastructure, as Boundless handles proof orchestration, verification, and delivery.
Provers can participate in a decentralized marketplace where they are incentivized to generate and deliver proofs. Unlike traditional Proof-of-Work systems, where only one miner earns rewards, Boundless’s Proof-of-Verifiable-Work (PoVW) model allows multiple provers to earn based on useful computational work. This open market encourages competition, ensuring efficient and reliable proof generation.
Q: Impact of improved blob efficiency on rollup adoption and developer tooling?
A: Improved blob efficiency is a game-changer for rollups. Blobs let rollups post large amounts of data cheaply, slashing L2 fees by up to 10x. As compression, encoding, and ZK verification improve, those costs drop further, unlocking higher throughput and richer app experiences.
For rollup builders, this means they can explore more complex architectures without hitting data limits or cost walls. For developers, blobs open up an entire tooling layer, and services are designed around efficient blob usage. As blobs get cheaper, rollup adoption will accelerate.
Q: View on the EF’s restructuring around accountability and strategy?
A: The EF’s restructuring is a much-needed shift toward clarity and ownership. By naming leads for core areas like L1 scaling, blob infrastructure, and UX, they’ve made it easier for the rest of the ecosystem to align and collaborate. No more ambiguity—now we know who’s responsible for what, and that creates real momentum.
It’s also encouraging to see a focus on measurable outcomes. This move signals a more agile, product-driven mindset from the Foundation, and it’s exactly what’s needed to get scaling efforts into users’ hands faster.
Q: What’s next for Boundless as the ecosystem prioritizes scalable, verifiable compute?
A: Boundless is making strong progress toward launching its verifiable compute network to the public. We look forward to sharing more details soon.
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Final Thoughts
As Ethereum matures and the demand for seamless, scalable infrastructure intensifies, Boundless is positioning itself at the heart of the transformation. Shiv Srivastava and his team are building far more than developer tools—they’re laying the foundation for a trustless, verifiable future where powerful cryptographic systems are accessible to all.
