mlsanityData to 14 Oct 2026

Scaling up Multi-Turn Off-Policy RL and Multi-Agent Tree Search for LLM Step-Provers

arXiv 2509.06493 ↗First posted 8 Sep 2025cs.AIcited by 28

On the map: LLM reasoning → Mathematical reasoning

also in 1 more
Abstract (arXiv)

The integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into automated theorem proving has shown immense promise, yet is fundamentally constrained by challenges in scaling up both training-time reinforcement learning (RL) and inference-time compute. This paper introduces textttBFS-Prover-V2, a system designed to address this dual scaling problem. We present two primary innovations. The first is a novel multi-turn off-policy RL framework for continually improving the performance of LLM step-prover at training time. This framework, inspired by the principles of AlphaZero, utilizes a multi-stage expert iteration pipeline featuring adaptive tactic-level data filtering and periodic retraining to surmount the performance plateaus that typically curtail long-term RL in LLM-based agents. The second innovation is a planner-enhanced multi-agent search architecture that scales reasoning capabilities at inference time. This architecture employs a general reasoning model as a high-level planner to iteratively decompose complex theorems into a sequence of simpler subgoals. This hierarchical approach substantially reduces the search space, enabling a team of parallel prover agents to collaborate efficiently by leveraging a shared proof cache. We demonstrate that this dual approach to scaling yields state-of-the-art results on established formal mathematics benchmarks. textttBFS-Prover-V2 achieves 95.08% and 41.4% on the MiniF2F and ProofNet test sets respectively. While demonstrated in the domain of formal mathematics, the RL and inference techniques presented in this work are of broader interest and may be applied to other domains requiring long-horizon multi-turn reasoning and complex search.

Key facts. Cited by 28 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Placed in Mathematical reasoning, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning. Builds on 32 of its 44 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 8 Sep 2025.

Builds on

32 of 44 references.

Closest ancestors · 8

Same direction, newest first

  1. 2025Seed-Prover: Deep and Broad Reasoning for Automated Theorem Proving31 Jul
  2. 2025Solving Formal Math Problems by Decomposition and Iterative Reflection21 Jul
  3. 2025Reviving DSP for Advanced Theorem Proving in the Era of Reasoning Models13 Jun
  4. 2025DeepSeek-Prover-V2: Advancing Formal Mathematical Reasoning via Reinforcement Learning for Subgoal Decomposition30 Apr
  5. 2025Kimina-Prover Preview: Towards Large Formal Reasoning Models with Reinforcement Learning15 Apr
  6. 2024HunyuanProver: A Scalable Data Synthesis Framework and Guided Tree Search for Automated Theorem Proving30 Dec
  7. 2024Formal Mathematical Reasoning: A New Frontier in AI20 Dec
  8. 2024LEAN-GitHub: Compiling GitHub LEAN repositories for a versatile LEAN prover24 Jul

Other references · 24

  1. 2023GPT-4 Technical Reportcited by 18,396
  2. 2025DeepSeek-R1: Incentivizing Reasoning Capability in LLMs via Reinforcement Learningcited by 6,330
  3. 2025Gemini 2.5: Pushing the Frontier with Advanced Reasoning, Multimodality, Long Context, and Next Generation Agentic Capabilitiescited by 3,796
  4. 2025DAPO: An Open-Source LLM Reinforcement Learning System at Scalecited by 2,810
  5. 2025Kimi k1.5: Scaling Reinforcement Learning with LLMscited by 1,210
  6. 2024Qwen2.5-Math Technical Report: Toward Mathematical Expert Model via Self-Improvementcited by 1,090
  7. 2023LeanDojo: Theorem Proving with Retrieval-Augmented Language Modelscited by 427
  8. 2022Draft, Sketch, and Prove: Guiding Formal Theorem Provers with Informal Proofscited by 291
  9. 2025VAPO: Efficient and Reliable Reinforcement Learning for Advanced Reasoning Taskscited by 285
  10. 2017Thinking Fast and Slow with Deep Learning and Tree Searchcited by 252
  11. 2024DeepSeek-Prover: Advancing Theorem Proving in LLMs through Large-Scale Synthetic Datacited by 234
  12. 2022HyperTree Proof Search for Neural Theorem Provingcited by 197
12 more
  1. 2024DeepSeek-Prover-V1.5: Harnessing Proof Assistant Feedback for Reinforcement Learning and Monte-Carlo Tree Searchcited by 197
  2. 2025ProRL: Prolonged Reinforcement Learning Expands Reasoning Boundaries in Large Language Modelscited by 194
  3. 2025Seed1.5-Thinking: Advancing Superb Reasoning Models with Reinforcement Learningcited by 161
  4. 2025Goedel-Prover-V2: Scaling Formal Theorem Proving with Scaffolded Data Synthesis and Self-Correctioncited by 154
  5. 2022Formal Mathematics Statement Curriculum Learningcited by 142
  6. 2025Goedel-Prover: A Frontier Model for Open-Source Automated Theorem Provingcited by 133
  7. 2021Proof Artifact Co-training for Theorem Proving with Language Modelscited by 132
  8. 2024Lean Workbook: A large-scale Lean problem set formalized from natural language math problemscited by 122
  9. 2025BFS-Prover: Scalable Best-First Tree Search for LLM-based Automatic Theorem Provingcited by 84
  10. 2023LLMSTEP: LLM proofstep suggestions in Leancited by 32
  11. 2025Prover Agent: An Agent-Based Framework for Formal Mathematical Proofscited by 31
  12. 2025MPS-Prover: Advancing Stepwise Theorem Proving by Multi-Perspective Search and Data Curationcited by 10

Built on by

Cited by year (2026 to 14 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2025: 6; 2026: 22.

28 papers.

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By area:

  1. 2025Tree Search for LLM Agent Reinforcement Learningcited by 79
  2. 2025Hilbert: Recursively Building Formal Proofs with Informal Reasoningcited by 60
  3. 2025Seed-Prover 1.5: Mastering Undergraduate-Level Theorem Proving via Learning from Experiencecited by 44
  4. 2025Adaptation of Agentic AI: A Survey of Post-Training, Memory, and Skillscited by 22
  5. 2026Goedel-Code-Prover: Hierarchical Proof Search for Open State-of-the-Art Code Verificationcited by 11
  6. 2026LongCat-Flash-Prover: Advancing Native Formal Reasoning via Agentic Tool-Integrated Reinforcement Learningcited by 7
  7. 2026TaoBench: Do Automated Theorem Prover LLMs Generalize Beyond MathLib?cited by 6
  8. 2026Think Fast and Slow: Step-Level Cognitive Depth Adaptation for LLM Agentscited by 5
  9. 2026DreamProver: Evolving Transferable Lemma Libraries via a Wake-Sleep Theorem-Proving Agentcited by 5
  10. 2026Not All Turns Are Equally Hard: Adaptive Thinking Budgets For Efficient Multi-Turn Reasoning in Agentscited by 4
  11. 2026Theory-Level Autoformalization: From Isolated Statements to Unified Formal Knowledge Basescited by 3
  12. 2026The Problem Is the Problem: Towards Scalable Mathematical Discoverycited by 2
16 more
  1. 2025Spark-Prover-X1: Formal Theorem Proving Through Diverse Data Trainingcited by 1
  2. 2025G"odel's Poetrycited by 1
  3. 2026TheoremForge: Scaling up Formal Data Synthesis with Low-Budget Agentic Workflowcited by 1
  4. 2026Scaling Reasoning Tokens via RL and Parallel Thinking: Evidence From Competitive Programmingcited by 1
  5. 2026OptProver: Bridging Olympiad and Optimization through Continual Training in Formal Theorem Provingcited by 1
  6. 2026A Theoretical Framework for Self-Play Theorem Proving Algorithmscited by 1
  7. 2026From Solvers to Research: Large Language Model-Driven Formal Mathematics at the Research Frontiercited by 1
  8. 2026ReasFlow: Assisting Reasoning-Centric Scientific Discovery in Applied Mathematics via a Knowledge-Based Multi-Agent Systemcited by 1
  9. 2026Lectures on AI for Mathematicscited by 0
  10. 2026Rethinking Supervision Granularity: Segment-Level Learning for LLM-Based Theorem Provingcited by 0
  11. 2026Automating Formal Verification with Agent-Guided Tree Searchcited by 0
  12. 2026Position: Certified Correctness in Neural Constraint Reasoning Requires Symbolic Integrationcited by 0
  13. 2026ProofEvolve: Neuro-Symbolic Evolution for Formal Automated Theorem Provingcited by 0
  14. 2026When Does Structured Knowledge Help Neural Theorem Proving?cited by 0
  15. 2026TCSAlgBench: Benchmarking Automated Proving for Research-Level Theoretical Computer Sciencecited by 0
  16. 2026NanoProof: Open and Efficient Automated Theorem Proving in Lean 4cited by 0

Similar, not cited

Close in wording, no citation either way

  1. 2025Leanabell-Prover-V2: Verifier-integrated Reasoning for Formal Theorem Proving via Reinforcement Learning
  2. 2026On Reasoning-Centric LLM-based Automated Theorem Proving
  3. 2025EconProver: Towards More Economical Test-Time Scaling for Automated Theorem Proving
  4. 2025LLM-based Automated Theorem Proving Hinges on Scalable Synthetic Data Generation
  5. 2025Scaling Up RL: Unlocking Diverse Reasoning in LLMs via Prolonged Training
  6. 2026Can RL Teach Long-Horizon Reasoning to LLMs? Expressiveness Is Key
  7. 2025Theorem Prover as a Judge for Synthetic Data Generation
  8. 2025DeepTheorem: Advancing LLM Reasoning for Theorem Proving Through Natural Language and Reinforcement Learning