The Future of Union Beyond Mainnet: What Does it Look Like?

Union, a zero-knowledge interoperability Layer 1 blockchain, has outlined plans that extend beyond its upcoming mainnet launch, focusing on technical upgrades in areas such as proof generation, decentralized finance tools, and chain integrations

Released on August 18, 2025, the roadmap outlines milestones in seven categories, including zero-knowledge architecture, decentralized finance components, the Union Layer 1 core, Bitcoin Supercharged Networks infrastructure, governance, new chain integrations, and ecosystem expansion

This research examines these milestones, revealing what users can anticipate from the protocol as it continues to evolve in the blockchain industry. Most importantly, these critical upgrades and milestones will occur even after the mainnet is launched

Overview of the Union Roadmap Beyond Mainnet

The roadmap is the first version of the protocol’s evolving plan for what it intends to become in the crypto space. According to the X announcement, it covers major milestones that are achievable in the next few years. However, it is subject to more expansion as more teams build on the Union ecosystem. Here’s the breakdown:

Advancements in Zero-Knowledge Architecture

A key section of the roadmap focuses on zero-knowledge architecture, aiming to refine the proving system for both speed and security. One milestone involves optimizing proof generation for graphics processing units and application-specific integrated circuits to reach sub-second performance, specifically under 100 milliseconds. This would support real-time cross-chain operations.

Another plan separates proof construction from relayers, using aggregated proofs with latency-aware fee markets. Integration with proving markets from entities like Boundless, Succinct, and Cysic is included, along with the development of application programming interfaces for external proving networks.

Client-side proving features lightweight zero-knowledge software development kits for browser-based generation via WebGPU. For long-term security, the roadmap includes selecting and benchmarking quantum-resistant cryptographic schemes. New proof types, such as membership proofs and modular frameworks for pluggable formats, are also targeted.

Developments in Decentralized Finance Components

The DeFi section focuses on tools to address liquidity fragmentation. A solver aggregator would create a routing engine for trades across protocols, minimizing slippage and latency through aggregated pricing from multiple sources.

Plans include designing custom automated market maker contracts with low gas fees and zero-knowledge-based privacy for swaps. Cross-chain token onboarding would implement unified wallet layers, ensuring consistent addresses and seamless bridging across chains.

These components aim to support optimized trading, though Union has yet to provide specific timelines.

Enhancements to the Union Layer 1 Blockchain

Perhaps one of the notable changes will be improvements to the Union Layer 1, including virtual machine updates, such as introducing permissioned contract deployments for initial project verification. Sustainability efforts aim to shift validators and operations to renewable energy, with 80% renewable by the end of 2025 and 100% by the end of 2026.

To increase bandwidth, the roadmap calls for redesigning Merkle trees to facilitate faster proofs and higher transaction throughput. Peer-to-peer networking upgrades aim for block times of 200 milliseconds.

Bitcoin Supercharged Networks Infrastructure

Bitcoin Supercharged Networks, or BSNs, are set for expansion to handle shared security and payments. Integration with Babylon would add staking modules, while contract templates enable general message passing and inflationary payments.

Fast asset routing within BSNs involves collaboration with Plume for rollup deployments and AltLayer for native security in rollups.

Governance Transition and Decentralization

Governance plans commence with a developer council for protocol upgrades, which is currently 25% complete, with the council itself at 50% complete. The transition moves toward full decentralized autonomous organization control over time.

Token-based governance would allow voting across integrated Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks, using stake-weighted proposal systems. This phased approach spans years, promoting cross-chain decision-making.

Integration of New Chains and Ecosystem Growth

The roadmap features connecting additional chains to broaden interoperability. Support for ecosystems like BNB Chain, where a light client was completed in June 2025, and Osmosis, with ongoing governance proposals, is highlighted.

Ecosystem expansion involves partnerships with protocols such as Pyth Network for oracles, Zama for confidential smart contracts, and Boundless for verifiable computing. Other objectives include infinite scaling through zero-knowledge interoperability, confidential oracles, private stablecoins, and real-time fee pricing. Support for Bitcoin finance cycles, such as bridging, staking, and liquidity provision, is planned with partners like Escher for chain-abstracted liquid staking.

A business-to-assets model would enable the issuance of canonical assets on Union's infrastructure, potentially increasing the total value locked and influencing other chain roadmaps. Union positions zero-knowledge as a method for trustless interoperability, avoiding multisignatures or oracles.

When Mainnet?

Union has not specified an exact date for its public mainnet launch, but project updates indicate it is slated for summer 2025. A blog post from June 9, 2025, stated that the full mainnet launch and token generation event are planned for this summer, following the completion of a Groth16 trusted setup ceremony

Earlier announcements, such as one from April 8, 2024, also referenced a summer timeline, though the project has progressed through multiple testnets since then Testnet 9, described as the final testnet before mainnet, went live on February 14, 2025. In the meantime, the project continues to emphasize preparations, including cross-chain governance and ecosystem integrations, as precursors to the launch.

Conclusion

Union's roadmap outlines capabilities in zero-knowledge proof optimization, decentralized finance routing, Layer 1 bandwidth increases, Bitcoin network integrations, governance decentralization, and chain expansions

These elements provide a structure for cross-chain security and liquidity, with progress tracked publicly and tied to specific technical milestones. In the meantime, users can track the protocol’s progress in achieving the roadmap milestones

Resources:

• Track Union Roadmap:
• Union Website:
• Union Ecosystem: ecosystem
• Final Testnet Before Mainnet: blog/union-testnet-9-live