# Shipping an L1 zkEVM #2: The Security Foundations

DevFeed: [Shipping an L1 zkEVM #2: The Security Foundations](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/shipping-an-l1-zkevm-2-the-security-foundations-17201.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ethereum.org/en/2025/12/18/zkevm-security-foundations>)

Author: George Kadianakis

Published: 2025-12-18T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Ethereum Foundation Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ethereum-foundation-blog.md>)

Topics: [Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/security.md>), [Cryptography](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cryptography.md>), [Provable security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/provable-security.md>), [Ethereum](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ethereum.md>), [P2P](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/p2p.md>), [Tool](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tool.md>)

Tags: [cryptography](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cryptography.md>), [ethereum](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ethereum.md>), [p2p](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/p2p.md>), [provable-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/provable-security.md>), [research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/research.md>), [research-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/research-development.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [tool](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tool.md>)

## AI overview

The Ethereum Foundation outlines security foundations for building a mainnet-grade L1 zkEVM after major improvements in real-time proving. It argues for provable security at a 128-bit target, describes the tension between security and proof size, and introduces soundcalc for consistent zkVM security assessments.

## Source excerpt

Thanks to Arantxa Zapico, Benedikt Wagner, and Dmitry Khovratovich from the EF cryptography team for their contributions, and to Ladislaus, Kev, Alex, and Marius for the careful review and feedback. The zkEVM ecosystem has been sprinting for a year. And it worked! We crossed the finish line for real-time...