About

Nexus is a Layer 1 blockchain protocol designed to enable scalable, secure, and verifiable computation through its custom zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM). The protocol allows developers to deploy smart contracts using Ethereum-compatible tools, while supporting advanced privacy and computation logic through zero-knowledge proofs. Participants are encouraged to run nodes to earn NEX Points that later convert to the network’s native token.

Nexus’s zkVM supports verifiable application logic for a range of use cases, from computation-heavy applications to privacy-focused systems. Its Layer 1 design combines modularity and Ethereum interoperability, which simplifies app deployment and broadens developer access.

History

In 2022, Nexus raised $2.2M in a seed round led by Dragonfly Capital, with Alliance, SV Angel, and Blockchain Builders Fund participating. Furthermore, the project received an additional funding of $25M led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Pantera Capital, bringing the total funding to $27.5M as of June 2024.

In July 2024, Nexus Labs announced the Nexus 2.0 zkVM – a major leap from last month’s 1.0 release. By September 2024, the team established partnerships with QED Protocolas part of a broader effort to introduce upgrades that enabled DOGE to compete in the smart-contract realm with the likes of Ethereum and Solana, and with Polyhedra Network to build a next-gen hyper-parallel zkVM powered by the GKR protocol.

By October 2024, the team launched Testnet 0 the Nexus network beta recorded over 70,000 people from 91% of the world’s countries as users.

In March 2025, the team announced the Nexus zkVM 3.0 - a major upgrade of the zk virtual machine, featuring a complete rewrite, formal specifications, and a redesigned architecture optimized for performance and extensibility.

By May 2025, the Verifiable Intelligence Alliance (VIA) was introduced. It was launched by Nexus, aimed at unifying cryptography, AI, and economics to embed verifiability into intelligent systems.

In June, the Nexus Storage Layer was also introduced which is a key component of the Nexus L1 blockchain, designed to address the high costs and scalability issues of onchain data storage, especially for AI applications. Additionally in June 2025, Nexus launched Testnet III globally, marking a significant step toward its mainnet release. The phased rollout over the next few hours aimed to ensure stability, address bugs, and optimize infrastructure. Early contributors, including bug-hunters and validators, have played a vital role in testing the network’s robustness.

In September 2025, Nexus Labs partnered with Avail - a scalable data availability (DA) layer designed for rollups and appchains, marking a significant step in the modular blockchain era. Additionally, the team also announced a partnership with Newfoundation to advance open, decentralized AI development through their product, newOS and with Nubila Network to develop a verifiable physical perception layer for AI, emphasizing real-world, on-chain data.

In November 2025, the team introduced the Nexus DEX Alpha - a decentralized exchange designed to combine the speed and liquidity of traditional finance with blockchain transparency and security.