This changelog outlines updates across three core areas: the trading interface and infrastructure powering the Exchange, improvements to the broader OS and quest systems, and new tooling for developers working with the zkVM.
The exchange
Since the initial release of the Nexus Exchange, we’ve been gathering feedback from early testers. Based on that input, we’re building a more performant storage layer to improve reliability and scale. Once that work is in place, we’ll open up the alpha to more users. We’re taking this step deliberately so that when we expand access, the experience is solid for everyone.
Nexus OS: Node Rush begins
On the infrastructure side, we’ve implemented new configuration hooks that allow us to better tune quest eligibility and control cache strike payouts.
These upgrades set the stage for a more dynamic reward system, including the upcoming introduction of hourly epic reward chances for node operators. Token processing pipelines have also been made more robust, with safer shutdown logic to ensure stability in production environments.
Together, these updates continue the evolution of Nexus OS as a unified surface for proving, trading, and mission tracking. As part of this, Node Runners Season 2 is now in motion, bringing increased orchestrator rewards and new challenges for participants across the network.
zkVM
Version 0.3.6 of the zkVM introduces several behind-the-scenes upgrades focused on development tooling, build compatibility, and runtime correctness.
Most notably, this release resolves a transitive dependency issue involving serde_json and zmij that previously caused CI failures under older toolchain versions. The Rust version has been updated to nightly-2025-04-06, aligning the build process with Rust 1.88.0 and enabling support for new features like std::hint::select_unpredictable.
While this release is developer-facing, it lays critical groundwork for the continued performance, correctness, and composability of the zkVM as a core part of the Nexus protocol.
Looking ahead, the Nexus Exchange will continue to evolve with new features and markets, the OS will deepen its role as a proving and coordination layer, and the zkVM will serve as the foundation for a more scalable, verifiable finance system.
