Dogecoin may have started out as a joke, but this upgrade is not just one.
DoGeos, an app layer developed by the Mydoge Wallet team, has submitted a formal proposal to DogeCoin Core, which introduces a new opcode that will allow networks to check Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKPS) natively.
The developer aims to convert the unused portion of the scripting system into a tool that can start with “GROTH16” (a certain type of proof widely used in ZK systems) and validate encrypted proofs that allow for future upgrades.
This allows Dogcoin to support more advanced off-chain applications, such as rollups and smart contracts, while maintaining the speed and simplicity of the main chain.
The proof system is mode selectable and the opcode behavior is strictly opt-in, so the approach is modular by design. If the proof is verified, the script proceeds. Otherwise, it will fail. Older nodes are compatible and treat opcodes as NO-OP. Surprising fork, no bloated VM.
“The OP_Checkzkp proposal took a major technical step for Dogecoin,” the Dogeos team wrote in the proposal. “It extends the Proof of Work Blockchain from a basic payment system to a platform that can support Defi, games, identity and other verifiable on-chain applications.”
Unlike Ethereum’s VM-heavy models, Dogecoin’s vision is minimal and practical. The calculations stay in the chain. Dogecoin just checks your receipt.
“Dogecoin, which gains the ability to integrate with ZK L2S, is a type of interoperability needed to build ecosystem utilities,” said Tim Stebbing, director of the Dogecoin Foundation. “This allows the L1 to focus on being the fastest, best, most enjoyable blockchain and exchange method for all humanity.”
Dogeos also said it is developing an EVM compatible ZKVM. This is a virtual machine that allows Ethereum-Native applications to run directly on the DogeCoin infrastructure.
Still, this is not without a trade-off. It takes 10-20ms to confirm your Groth16 proof. You can’t cram hundreds of proofs into a 1MB block without encountering verification delays.
So, this proposal includes strict limits of one ZKP per script and five ZKP per block, at least at the start. The move has sparked institutional interest in Doge Riles in recent years, with companies like Bit Origin securing up to $500 million in funding to build Dogecoin Treasury.