In the rapidly evolving blockchain technology landscape, the introduction of zero-knowledge rollups (zk rollups) has been a significant development aimed at addressing scalability issues. Recently, Michael Sutton, a noted figure in blockchain technology, tweeted about what could be the next big leap: “inclusion-time proving.”

Understanding Inclusion-Time Proving

Zero-knowledge rollups are a layer 2 scaling solution that batch multiple transactions into a single transaction processed on Layer 1, significantly reducing the load and gas fees. However, one of the persistent challenges has been the coordination and dependency among these transactions, particularly when involving multiple zk rollups or what Sutton refers to as ‘logic-zones’:

At first glance, inclusion-time proving seems crucial for enabling atomic composability between multiple based zk rollups/logic-zones. It solves the dependency problem in one shot: we either all collaborate to create a collective proof—attached directly to the transaction—or we…

— Michael Sutton (@michaelsuttonil) May 22, 2025

The Impact of Inclusion-Time Proving

The concept of inclusion-time proving as referenced by Sutton, involves:

• Atomic Composability: Transactions are bundled together with their proofs, ensuring that the entire set of operations either succeeds or fails together, leading to true composability across multiple systems.
• Reduced Dependency: By having a collective proof, the interdependencies between different rollups are managed more effectively, reducing the risk of transaction failures due to incomplete or missing dependencies.
• Scalability: This approach can potentially lead to higher throughput by optimizing the transaction verification process on the layer 1 blockchain, thereby enhancing overall scalability.

Community Reaction

The tweet from Michael Sutton sparked a vibrant discussion within the blockchain community:

• Rapid Adoption Enthusiasts: Many commentators expressed optimism regarding the rapid adoption of inclusion-time proving, citing it as a breakthrough in blockchain scalability and composability. Enthusiasts believe this could pave the way for more complex decentralized financial systems.
• Skeptics and Clarifications: Some skeptical users voiced concerns about the practical implementation, the scalability in real-world conditions, and the potential security vulnerabilities. They requested further details on how this method would handle errors or discrepancies in proofs.
• Technical Discussions: There were in-depth debates on the cryptographic mechanisms involved, how this differs from existing proof systems, and the expected impact on existing zk rollup implementations.

Future Prospects

If implemented successfully, inclusion-time proving could:

• Streamline transaction processes in applications requiring high-speed and real-time transaction confirmations.
• Encourage the development of larger, more interconnected blockchain ecosystems.
• Potentially reduce the complexity and cost associated with cross-rollup interactions.