> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.boundless.network/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What is Boundless?

> Boundless is a universal protocol that brings ZK to every chain.

## Overview

Using Boundless, developers can create expressive, high-throughput applications that bypass traditional block size/gas limits.

Developers submit proof requests and provers compete to fulfill them, earning direct rewards and protocol-level incentives through proof of verifiable work.

By abstracting away the complexity of proof generation, aggregation, and onchain settlement, Boundless allows developers to build without worrying about underlying infrastructure, while provers provide strong liveness guarantees, censorship-resistance, and continuously improve the cost curve driven by open market dynamics.

This architecture decouples execution from consensus and introduces a new paradigm for verifiable computing. As the number of Boundless prover nodes grows, the total capacity of the protocol increases, scaling compute across every chain.

## Next Steps

Choose the path that fits what you’re building:

* Building a rollup? Get fast finality and stronger security with ZK proofs with [Kailua](https://github.com/boundless-xyz/kailua)
* Building an app? Offload your execution to bypass gas limits with [Steel](/developers/steel/what-is-steel)
* Building something custom? [Submit a request](/developers/tutorials/request) and let Boundless handle the proving.
* Want to run a [prover node](/provers/quick-start)? Turn your hardware into income.