{
  "type": "failure-mode",
  "name": "Circuit changes after the ceremony",
  "slug": "circuit-changes-after-the-ceremony",
  "section": {
    "id": "ceremony",
    "number": "04",
    "title": "Running or reusing a trusted setup",
    "url": "https://zkpick.com/ceremony/"
  },
  "url": "https://zkpick.com/ceremony/failure-modes/circuit-changes-after-the-ceremony/",
  "markdown": "https://zkpick.com/md/ceremony/failure-modes/circuit-changes-after-the-ceremony.md",
  "detail": "An audit finding, a feature request or a bug fix changes the constraint system after a circuit-specific setup has completed, invalidating the parameters. Under schedule pressure the change ships against stale parameters, or the ceremony is repeated in a rush with whoever is available.",
  "mitigation": "Freeze the circuit and complete the audit before the circuit-specific phase. If a change is unavoidable, repeat the phase properly and treat the timeline slip as the cost of the design choice — or move to a universal setup so this class of event stops being fatal.",
  "relatedOptions": [
    {
      "name": "Avoid the setup entirely: transparent proof systems",
      "url": "https://zkpick.com/ceremony/transparent-proof-systems/"
    }
  ],
  "updated": "2026-09-12",
  "version": "1.3",
  "canonical": "https://zkpick.com/ceremony/failure-modes/circuit-changes-after-the-ceremony/",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "authors": [
    "MarketComp"
  ]
}