Midweek with Max: The Push Toward ZK and a Rust-Native Hemi
Apr 15, 2026
AMA
Midweek With Max
Video
This week’s Midweek with Max focused on steady engineering momentum across several core initiatives, with particular emphasis on ZK provability, infrastructure upgrades, and upcoming releases.
Progress on ZK provability continues to move forward, supported by optimizations to Oxygen and broader system improvements. The op-reth transition has evolved beyond its initial scope as well, with what began as a minimal implementation for ZK compatibility now requiring a fully featured execution client capable of replacing op-geth in production. This expanded scope reflects a broader push toward a more independent and optimized stack, with long-term plans to move away from reliance on the Optimism framework entirely in favor of custom Hemi-native components.
On the MinerFi front, development is advancing alongside improvements to Continuum, the daemon responsible for coordinating threshold signature participants. Final testing is underway, including integration with Hemi’s ZK proving system, positioning MinerFi as a key component of the network’s evolving economic and security model.
Work is also progressing on the ZK Prover Marketplace, with a developer-facing demo expected in the near future. While no release date has been confirmed, early access for beta testers is planned, with incentives for participation and feedback.
From a roadmap perspective, Hemi’s architecture continues to differentiate itself through its approach to Bitcoin programmability. The HVM enables direct interaction with Bitcoin data within smart contracts, removing reliance on external proofs or limited relay systems. Combined with ongoing work in ZK provability and decentralized infrastructure, this positions Hemi as both a competitive EVM environment and a fundamentally new framework for Bitcoin-integrated DeFi.
Looking ahead, an Engineering AMA is scheduled for next week on April 22 at 6 AM PDT (9 AM EDT), streaming live on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The team will dive deeper into the Rust transition and MinerFi, with additional updates on ZK systems and infrastructure expected as development milestones are reached. Be sure to submit any questions for the team ahead of the show.
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