Is DOGE expected to become a public chain? Developers propose the DogeOS draft framework, introducing zk-SNARKs.

Dogecoin, known for its humorous memes, is recently facing an opportunity for a technological transformation. A developer has proposed a new architectural draft named Doge OS, aimed at integrating Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology into the DOGE mainchain. If this concept is adopted, it could make DOGE one of the first public chains to support ZKP functionality on a Proof-of-Work blockchain, allowing this meme coin, long regarded as an entertainment token, to upgrade and develop more application scenarios.

Motivation for DOGE Upgrade

The scripting language of DOGE currently cannot effectively verify general computation, which limits its ability to support complex contracts or trustless scaling solutions. The zero-knowledge proof system (zk-SNARK) provides a concise way to prove the correctness of arbitrary off-chain computations and can be verified quickly on-chain. By adding native zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) verification opcodes, DOGE can enable zk-rollups and other Layer-2 protocols, significantly increasing throughput without adding on-chain load.

Another motivation is to achieve trustless scalability. The goal of DOGE is to achieve high throughput (for example, 1 minute per Block). However, scaling using simple methods (such as large Blocks or on-chain computation) may lead to centralization or the emergence of orphaned Blocks. zk-SNARKs (ZKP) achieve scalability by moving computation off-chain, while each transaction on-chain only requires a constant amount of work (verifying succinct proofs). This means DOGE can handle more activities (DeFi, gaming, etc.) while minimizing the impact on node performance.

DogeOS allows DOGE to be more than just a meme.

According to the draft proposal submitted by developers (Dogecoin Improvement Proposal #3869), DogeOS will center around the new opcode OP_CHECKZKP, which will directly enable on-chain verification of zk-SNARKs in the DOGE scripting language. This opcode is expected to redefine the currently unused OP_NOP10 (number 185), initially supporting Groth16 proofs based on the BLS12-381 elliptic curve, and in the future, it has the potential to expand support for other zk systems such as PLONK.

One of the main goals of this initiative is to enable DOGE to verify the results of any off-chain computation, thereby opening up the possibilities for zk-rollup, Verifiable Computation, and more complex smart contract applications. Developers point out that this can effectively increase network throughput while avoiding centralization risks and bottlenecks in scalability, such as excessive node load.

Small changes, great flexibility

Unlike the radical transformation of DOGE by introducing general-purpose virtual machines (like EVM) or Turing-complete scripts, DogeOS adopts a more conservative technical approach. Its design philosophy is to maintain the simplicity and auditability of consensus rules, delegating heavy computational tasks to off-chain solutions, while only performing concise proof verification on-chain.

It is worth noting that the introduction of this ZKP feature can be achieved through a soft fork, meaning that there is minimal disruption to existing nodes. At the same time, because the new opcode is compatible with the existing OP_NOP structure, non-upgraded nodes will ignore this instruction, while upgraded nodes can perform the actual ZKP verification.

zk-SNARKs have sparked new expectations in the community.

The DOGE development community has gradually shown its ambition for technological evolution in recent years. This time, the DogeOS architecture and the OP_CHECKZKP proposal demonstrate its potential in Layer-2 scaling, DeFi applications, and on-chain privacy. The draft also references a similar concept previously proposed by the QED community, formalizing and expanding it, proving that this is not a fantasy, but a feasible path with experimental foundations.

Currently, the proposal is still in the early discussion stage and has not yet entered implementation or mainnet deployment. However, regardless of whether it is ultimately realized, the proposal of DogeOS signifies that DOGE is attempting to transform from a "meme coin" into a public chain with practical applications and innovations.

This article discusses whether DOGE is expected to become a mainchain. Developers have proposed a DogeOS draft structure, introducing zk-SNARKs, which first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.