Mina Protocol is on the verge of a transformative leap with its highly anticipated Berkeley upgrade, set for June 2025. This milestone event will unlock advanced zero-knowledge (ZK) programmability on the mainnet, paving the way for zkApps, layer 2 solutions, cross-chain bridges, and a new era of privacy-first decentralized applications. Designed to serve as a universal proof layer, Mina is redefining how blockchains verify data—efficiently, scalably, and with minimal resource demands.
Unlike traditional blockchains that grow heavier over time, Mina maintains a constant size of just 22 kilobytes—small enough to run on a smartphone or even inside a web browser. This lightweight design is powered by recursive zk-SNARKs, allowing the entire blockchain history to be represented in a single, verifiable proof. The upcoming upgrade enhances this architecture by enabling off-chain smart contract execution with on-chain verification, solving persistent Web3 challenges like high gas fees, limited scalability, and data bloat.
👉 Discover how Mina’s ZK-powered infrastructure is shaping the future of decentralized apps.
Why the Berkeley Upgrade Matters Now
Since its mainnet launch in 2021, Mina has pioneered ZK-native blockchain technology. While zero-knowledge proofs offer immense potential—especially for privacy and scalability—their complexity has historically hindered widespread developer adoption. The Berkeley upgrade addresses this head-on by streamlining development tools and expanding programmability.
Central to this evolution is o1js, a TypeScript-based framework that abstracts cryptographic complexity, making it easier than ever to build zkApps. Paired with Protokit, which offers a development experience similar to Solidity on Ethereum, Mina is lowering the barrier to entry for Web2 and Web3 developers alike.
The timing is critical. As digital trust becomes paramount, users and developers need a system where information validity can be proven without exposing raw data. Mina’s upgraded protocol will act as a universal settlement layer for proofs—aggregating verifications from both Web2 and Web3 systems onto a single, lightweight chain. This positions Mina not just as a blockchain, but as a foundational proof layer for the internet.
Key Features of the Berkeley Upgrade
Driven by community governance through on-chain voting, the Berkeley upgrade introduces three core improvements: MIP1, MIP3, and MIP4. These changes collectively enhance security, scalability, and fairness across the network.
1. Enhanced zkApp Programmability
With o1js now fully integrated into the mainnet, developers can write ZK smart contracts using familiar JavaScript/TypeScript syntax. This means faster development cycles, fewer bugs, and broader accessibility—enabling even non-cryptographers to contribute to the ecosystem.
2. A More Powerful Proof System: Kimchi
The upgrade implements Kimchi, Mina’s next-generation proving system. Kimchi improves security, reduces proof generation time, and supports more complex computations. It’s optimized specifically for recursive proofs, ensuring that zkApps remain efficient and scalable even as they grow in functionality.
3. Removal of Supercharged Rewards
Originally introduced to incentivize early staking participation, Supercharged Rewards provided higher yields for certain delegators. With broad network adoption achieved, this mechanism is being phased out to ensure equal staking rewards for all participants. This move reduces inflationary pressure and promotes long-term economic sustainability.
Ecosystem contributors like o1Labs have played a vital role in implementing these upgrades, particularly in refining Kimchi and enabling seamless protocol-level integrations.
What This Means for Developers
The Berkeley upgrade unlocks unprecedented capabilities for builders. By moving computation off-chain and keeping only verification on-chain, Mina enables:
- Unlimited computation without gas fees: Unlike Ethereum, where every operation incurs gas costs, zkApps perform heavy computation client-side—users pay only for final verification.
- Built-in privacy: Inputs can remain private within proofs, enabling applications like anonymous voting, confidential DeFi transactions, or KYC-compliant services without exposing personal data.
- Modular and composable proofs: Developers can combine multiple ZK proofs into one recursive proof, allowing apps to verify complex workflows across chains or services efficiently.
These features open doors to innovative use cases:
- Private DeFi: DEXs that require proof of eligibility (e.g., accredited investor status) without revealing identity.
- ZK NFTs: Dynamic NFTs that evolve based on private user actions.
- Digital Identity: Self-sovereign identity systems where users prove attributes (age, citizenship) without disclosing underlying documents.
- ZK Gaming: Games that validate player achievements off-chain while maintaining fairness and transparency.
👉 See how developers are leveraging Mina’s ZK tools to build the next generation of web apps.
How the Upgrade Will Roll Out
The Berkeley upgrade requires careful coordination across the Mina ecosystem. To ensure a smooth transition:
- A series of testnets—including Devnet and the UMT (Upgrade Mechanism Testnet)—have already undergone successful end-to-end simulations.
- Block producers must adopt the new software; if less than 50% of active stake runs the upgraded node before initiation, the process will restart automatically.
- During the upgrade window, the network will experience approximately 15 hours of downtime, starting when transactions are paused until the first Berkeley-compliant block is produced.
End users holding MINA tokens do not need to take any action. However, transactions will be unavailable during the downtime. Exchange users should monitor platform announcements for potential service interruptions.
Technical details and real-time updates are available through official channels, ensuring transparency throughout the process.
What Comes After the Upgrade?
Post-upgrade, the focus shifts to performance optimization and ecosystem growth. Key developments to watch include:
- Introduction of token standards for creating and managing fungible and non-fungible tokens on Mina.
- Increased transactions per second (TPS) through ongoing protocol refinements.
- Improved developer tooling and documentation to accelerate project deployment.
While mainnet won’t reach peak performance immediately, continuous improvements are expected. Developers can continue building using dedicated environments:
- Devnet: A long-lived public testnet ideal for staging zkApps.
- Lightnet: A local sandbox maintained by o1Labs for rapid iteration.
- Layer 2 frameworks like ProtoKit and Zeko: Designed for high-performance application logic.
Monthly Illuminate Town Halls, launching in May 2025, will bring together community builders to share progress, demo projects, and collaborate on future innovations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the Mina Berkeley upgrade happening?
A: The upgrade is scheduled for June 2025. Exact timing will be confirmed closer to the date based on network readiness.
Q: Do I need to upgrade my wallet or take any action as a user?
A: No action is required for MINA holders. Your funds will remain safe, though transactions will be paused during the 15-hour downtime window.
Q: What are zkApps?
A: zkApps are zero-knowledge smart contracts that allow private, scalable computation off-chain while maintaining on-chain verifiability—unique to Mina’s architecture.
Q: Will there be inflation changes after the upgrade?
A: Yes. The removal of Supercharged Rewards will reduce staking yield disparities and lower overall inflation, promoting fairer distribution.
Q: Can I start building zkApps today?
A: Absolutely. Use Devnet and Lightnet with o1js to develop and test applications before mainnet deployment.
Q: How does Mina stay only 22KB?
A: Through recursive zk-SNARKs, Mina compresses the entire blockchain state into a single small proof that gets updated with each block—without storing full transaction history.
👉 Start building on Mina today and join the forefront of ZK innovation.
Core Keywords
Mina Protocol, Berkeley upgrade, zkApps, zero-knowledge proofs, ZK smart contracts, recursive zk-SNARKs, off-chain computation, proof layer