feat(runtime)!: import the Groth16 host function so proofs verify natively; nodes older than 0.4.0 cannot import spec 19 (zk-verifier 3.3.0, pallet-zk-verifier 0.18.0)

[nol4lej]

Summary

Spec 19 imports bn254_groth16_verify: Groth16 proof verification runs natively in the node instead of in Wasm (verify_proof 2.43 → 0.61 ms). The host function has been registered (register_only) since node 0.4.0, which is live with spec 18.

Versions

Crate	From	To
orbinum-zk-verifier	3.2.0	3.3.0
pallet-zk-verifier	0.17.1	0.18.0
orbinum-runtime / orbinum-node	0.5.0	0.5.0 (spec 19, unreleased)

Changes

Crate	Change
orbinum-zk-verifier	#[version(1, register_only)] → #[version(1)]. Symbol and behaviour unchanged
pallet-zk-verifier	New feature groth16-native: do_verify calls the host function; without it, verify_prepared in Wasm as before
orbinum-runtime	Feature groth16-native-runtime (in default); build.rs enables it for the Wasm, except try-runtime builds
Tests	the_runtime_does_not_import_the_groth16_host_function_yet → the_runtime_imports_the_groth16_host_function
CI	test.yml no_std matrix also checks orbinum-zk-verifier with and without groth16-native
Docs	CHANGELOGs of both crates; RUNTIME_VERSIONS.md spec 19 § 4 "Groth16 host function"

Both paths run the same function (verify_prepared), so verification results and consensus do not change. Weights are unchanged: they were measured in Wasm, so they overcharge; re-benchmarking can lower fees later.

⚠️ Rollout requirement

A node without the host function cannot instantiate this runtime and stops importing at the upgrade block. Before setCode:

1. Every node — validators, RPC, archive, bootnodes, indexer nodes — runs ≥ 0.4.0.
2. On testnet, all 14 Aura authorities declare a version (today 13/14 do; Aura index 5, validator 0x747bd58e…4205, does not and must upgrade).
3. setMinAuthorVersion cannot be used as a guard on spec 18: the author-identification bug fixed in spec 19 leaves its quorum unreachable. Set the minimum after the upgrade.

Test plan

• cargo test -p orbinum-zk-verifier --lib
• cargo test -p pallet-zk-verifier --features groth16-native
• cargo check -p pallet-zk-verifier --features groth16-native,runtime-benchmarks,skip-proof-verification
• cargo test --release -p orbinum-runtime --lib (Wasm built; import test runs)
• cargo test -p orbinum-node service (node registers the function)
• cargo check -p orbinum-zk-verifier --no-default-features [--features groth16-native]