How to Build with zkMIPS in 20 Minutes – A Beginner-Friendly Guide

Learn how to get started with zkMIPS 1.0, the zero-knowledge virtual machine built for MIPS-compatible programs.

Introduction:

Zero-knowledge proofs are revolutionizing how we build secure and scalable applications. One powerful tool in this space is zkMIPS ,a MIPS-compatible zkVM that lets you write programs in a familiar low-level format while enabling proof generation through ZK-STARKs.

In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to get started with zkMIPS 1.0 in under 20 minutes ,from cloning the repo to generating your first zero-knowledge proof.

What is zkMIPS?

zkMIPS is a virtual machine that executes MIPS (Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages) instructions and produces zero-knowledge proofs of execution.

In short:
• You write a program in MIPS (or compile from C)
• zkMIPS runs it and produces a ZK proof
• Anyone can verify the result without re-running the program

Why use zkMIPS?
• Supports battle-tested MIPS architecture
• Verifiable computation using ZK-STARKs
• Great for rollups, trustless computation, and verifiable state machines

Step-by-Step: Build with zkMIPS 1.0

Let’s jump in and set up zkMIPS on your system.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have:
• Python 3.x
• GCC (for compiling C to MIPS)
• make and build-essential installed

Install dependencies:

\`\`\`bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential gcc make
pip install -r requirements.txt
\`\`\`

1. Clone the zkMIPS Repo

\`\`\`bash
git clone https://github.com/zkMIPS/zkMIPS
cd zkMIPS
\`\`\`

1. Compile the Hello World Example

zkMIPS provides C programs that get compiled into MIPS assembly.

\`\`\`bash
cd examples
make hello_world
\`\`\`

This creates a binary that can be executed inside zkMIPS.

1. Run Your Program with zkMIPS

Now let’s run the binary and produce a ZK proof of its correct execution.

\`\`\`bash
python3 run.py --program hello_world
\`\`\`

1. Verify the ZK Proof

Use the verifier to confirm the output is correct:

\`\`\`bash
python3 verify.py
\`\`\`

And just like that, you’ve generated and verified a zero-knowledge proof with zkMIPS!

What’s Next?

Now that you’ve built and verified your first zkMIPS proof, here are your next steps:

• Explore more examples in the examples/ directory
• Write your own C or MIPS programs and test them in zkMIPS
• Join the community on Discord: ZKM Discord
• Star the GitHub repo: zkMIPS GitHub

Airdrop Participation

This blog post is part of my contribution to the ZKM Airdrop. You can also earn points by:
• Creating tutorials or YouTube videos
• Building zkMIPS demos
• Reporting bugs or submitting PRs

Contact the ZKM team here for support or to share your work: ZKM Discord

Final Words:

zkMIPS brings the power of zero-knowledge proofs to the familiar MIPS instruction set. Whether you’re building private computation, rollups, or trust-minimized apps, zkMIPS is an exciting tool in the zk space.

Feel free to fork the repo, play around with examples, and share your own creations.

Links:
• Docs: https://docs.zkm.io/
• GitHub: https://github.com/zkMIPS
• Discord: https://discord.com/invite/h8cs3ZHeA7