Understanding ZKsync: Why ZK Rollups Are Gaining Attention in the Ethereum Scaling Wars

In a Nutshell

ZKsync is a Layer 2 that speeds up Ethereum using a mathematical trick called “zero-knowledge proofs.” By batching transactions off-chain and submitting only the proof to the chain, it slashes gas fees to less than 1/100 while maintaining security. It drew attention with the ZK token airdrop in June 2024, and its current TVL exceeds $760 million.

What Does the Machine Do?

The Traditional Ethereum Problem:

• All transactions are processed on the main chain → congestion → skyrocketing gas fees
• The limit is about 15 transactions per second (TPS)

ZKsync’s Approach:

1. Off-chain Processing – Thousands of transactions are computed off-chain at once
2. Zero-Knowledge Proof Generation – A mathematical proof is created that “all transactions are valid” without revealing detailed data
3. On-chain Verification – Only the proof is recorded on the Ethereum mainnet (data size is less than 1/100 of the original)

This enables up to 100,000 TPS. From a user’s perspective, it’s dramatically faster and cheaper than before.

Real Numbers

ZKsync is strong in throughput, but Base leads in TVL thanks to Coinbase’s financial backing.

What Happened with the ZKsync Airdrop

• Distribution date: June 2024
• Eligible users: Users who used ZKsync as of the March 24, 2024 snapshot (695,232 wallets)
• Allocation: 89% to active users, 11% to ecosystem contributors
• Claim amount: 450–100,000 ZK tokens per wallet (wide range to prevent botting)
• ZK token price: Hit an all-time high of $0.321 on June 17, 2024; market cap surpassed $743 million
• Claim window: June 16, 2024 to January 3, 2025

Within a week of announcement, 45% of the distributed tokens had already been claimed, showing high awareness.

ZK Rollups vs. Optimistic Rollups: What’s the Difference?

ZKsync (ZK Rollup)

• Pros: Fast transaction finality (a few hours), strong security
• Cons: Zero-knowledge proof computation is complex and costly; implementation is challenging

Optimistic Rollups (Base, Optimism, etc.)

• Pros: Simple to implement, easy initial development
• Cons: Up to 1-week delay due to challenge period, vulnerable to censorship attacks

In short: ZKsync “earns trust by showing proof,” while Optimistic assumes validity upfront and only addresses issues if challenged.

Current Challenges

1. Technical Complexity – Advanced cryptography requires specialized developer knowledge
2. Liquidity Fragmentation – Too many Layer 2s dilute liquidity across platforms
3. Early-stage Instability – Being in early development, there’s risk of unexpected bugs
4. Not Fully EVM Compatible – Some complex smart contracts may not work

Future Potential

If Ethereum 2.0 sharding combines with ZKsync rollups, even greater scalability can be expected. Real adoption on dApps like Mute.io, SpaceFi, and EraLend is also a positive sign.

Summary: ZKsync is a key player in the Ethereum scaling race. The technology is complex, but the advantages of ZK rollups—low gas fees and fast finality—are clear. The airdrop brought attention, but its true value lies in whether it can become indispensable infrastructure.