ZK Rollup Solution: The Future Path of Ethereum Scalability

Ethereum, as the world’s largest decentralized application platform, has brought profound changes to finance and other fields. However, with increasing network congestion, transaction costs and processing speeds have become bottlenecks. The current Ethereum 2.0 upgrade is gradually progressing, which can alleviate some pressure, but the true savior is Layer 2 solutions—among which zk rollup technology is the most attention-grabbing. It promises to significantly improve throughput through cryptographic proofs and off-chain batching while ensuring security.

Core Mechanism of zk rollup

zk rollup belongs to second-layer scaling technology, compressing multiple transactions and using zero-knowledge proofs to verify their validity. In simple terms, this system is like a city’s ring road—efficiently processing transactions off-chain while ensuring each transaction is verifiable on the mainnet.

The magic of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) lies in: proving the validity of a set of transactions using cryptographic tools without revealing any specific information. These proofs are extremely concise, greatly reducing the data burden on the mainnet and enabling super-fast settlement. ZKP possesses three main attributes: integrity, correctness, and zero leakage, forming the security foundation of the entire system.

Operation process of zk rollup:

Smart contracts on the mainnet set the rules. Off-chain virtual machines execute transactions, significantly reducing costs and increasing speed. The system generates cryptographic proofs to verify the correctness of the entire batch of transactions without exposing individual operation details. Finally, this proof is sent back to the mainnet for validators to confirm, ensuring the integrity of off-chain operations. This architecture greatly increases network throughput, reduces the burden on the mainnet, and significantly lowers gas fees.

Comparison of zk rollup with other Layer 2 solutions

Optimistic Rollup adopts a “assume valid first, challenge later” logic, verifying only when disputes arise. In contrast, zk rollup performs cryptographic validation for each transaction. This brings three key advantages:

Stronger security: zk rollup achieves instant finality, whereas Optimistic Rollup has a challenge period window.

No trust assumptions: zk rollup relies on mathematical proofs, not on the honesty of validators.

Privacy protection: transaction details are hidden within proofs, providing higher privacy levels.

Although more complex to implement, zk rollup offers a more robust scaling solution.

Mainstream zk rollup projects in the market

Starknet: The Next Generation Zero-Knowledge Proof Standard

Circulating Market Cap: $396.83M | Launch Date: February 2022 | Native Token: STRK

Starknet uses STARK technology (Scalable Transparent ARguments of Knowledge), a new form of zero-knowledge proof. Unlike zk-SNARKs, STARKs do not require trusted setup and are inherently resistant to quantum computing.

After processing off-chain transactions, the network publishes STARK proofs to Ethereum for verification. Supporting general computation allows developers to deploy any smart contract. STARKs’ quantum resistance is particularly prominent—Starknet is prepared for future quantum threats.

zkSync Era: EVM-compatible Efficiency Benchmark

Circulating Market Cap: $555M | Launch Date: March 2023 | Native Token: ZKS

Developed by Matter Labs, zkSync Era adopts zkRollup technology, emphasizing user experience and Ethereum compatibility. It generates a single proof after off-chain batching and sends it back to the mainnet, ensuring security through zero-knowledge proofs.

The key feature is EVM compatibility—developers can deploy Ethereum smart contracts directly without rewriting code. This makes migration to Layer 2 almost cost-free for projects.

Manta Network: Pioneer of Privacy DeFi

Circulating Market Cap: $33.90M | Launch Date: September 2023 | Native Token: MANTA

Manta Pacific is Manta Network’s Layer 2 on Ethereum, implementing transaction privacy with zk-SNARKs. Users can conduct transactions and asset swaps anonymously, with transaction details encrypted but verifiable.

Less than a year since launch, it has become Ethereum’s fourth-largest Layer 2 (by TVL), surpassing Coinbase’s Base. Manta’s differentiator is privacy—a feature missing in traditional DeFi platforms and a major growth driver.

Linea: Simple and Efficient Scaling Solution

Circulating Market Cap: $107.28M | Launch Date: August 2023 | Native Token: LINEA

Linea uses zk-SNARKs to compress transactions, grouping off-chain operations before sending them to the mainnet. The project emphasizes developer friendliness, enabling engineers to quickly build and deploy applications.

In January 2024, Linea announced an airdrop of its native token, though its use has not yet been disclosed. Its main selling points are high throughput and low costs, providing a competitive option for high-volume transaction applications.

zkSync Era vs Manta vs Linea: The Top Three Compared

zkSync Era excels in EVM compatibility and maturity, ideal for seamless migration within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Manta Network dominates the privacy track, attracting users concerned with DeFi’s implicit risks.

Linea focuses on developer experience and cost optimization, suitable for high-frequency trading scenarios.

Polygon zkEVM: The Expansion Arm of the Ecosystem

Launch Date: March 2023 | Native Token: MATIC

As part of the Polygon ecosystem, zkEVM offers an EVM-compatible zk rollup. It executes transactions off-chain within an EVM-compatible virtual machine and confirms them on-chain with ZK proofs.

Benefiting from Polygon’s network effects and ecosystem integration, zkEVM provides developers with multiple options. Its main advantage is seamless integration with Ethereum tools and contracts.

Scroll: Practical High-Throughput Player

Launch Date: October 2023 | Token Status: Not yet available

Scroll uses zk-SNARKs, emphasizing high throughput and low latency. Transactions are executed off-chain, aggregated into a single zk-SNARK proof, and sent back to the mainnet for verification.

The project highlights EVM compatibility, making it easy to migrate existing Ethereum applications. Its goal is to provide an efficient alternative for DeFi and high-frequency trading applications.

Aztec Protocol: Pioneer of Programmable Privacy

Launch Date: 2017 | Token Status: No native token yet

Aztec employs a hybrid public-private zk rollup—supporting both public and private execution paths. Its innovative Noir programming language simplifies zero-knowledge circuit development, making it easier for dApp creators to integrate ZK features.

Aztec commits to full decentralization at mainnet launch, upholding the open-source, censorship-resistant, permissionless spirit of Ethereum. Use cases include private transactions and anonymous voting.

ZKFair: DEX for Reverse Front-Running

Launch Date: December 2023 | Native Token: ZKF | Market Cap: $163M

ZKFair is a decentralized exchange built on zk rollup, focusing on fair trading execution. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to prevent front-running (transaction ordering manipulation), providing users with a more honest trading environment.

This feature is highly attractive to users concerned with trading fairness—traditional DEXs are vulnerable to miner extractable value (MEV) attacks, which are mitigated here.

ZetaChain: Hub for Cross-Chain Interoperability

Circulating Market Cap: $80.86M | Launch Date: February 2021 | Native Token: ZETA

ZetaChain uses zk-SNARKs to build a cross-chain “universal bridge,” verifying transaction validity without exposing private data. This mechanism enables seamless movement of assets and data across different chains.

Its unique “ZetaML” technology supports off-chain smart contract execution. The advantage is cross-chain interoperability—dApps can directly use assets and data from multiple chains, eliminating the complexity of traditional bridging.

DeGate V1: Low-Slippage Decentralized Exchange

Launch Date: September 2022 | Native Token: DG | Market Cap: $21.14M

DeGate V1 is built on zk rollup, designed for decentralized trading. It batches off-chain transactions with zero-knowledge proofs, reducing costs while maintaining security.

Its key feature is minimal slippage for large trades—especially attractive to institutions and high-frequency traders.

Taiko: Innovator of Decentralized Sequencing

Launch Date: January 2024 (Testnet) | Funding: $37M

Taiko uses ZK-EVM and zk rollup technology to build Layer 2, fully compatible with Ethereum, allowing existing dApps to migrate seamlessly. It has received two rounds of funding to support development.

Its innovation lies in the “base sequencing” architecture—transaction ordering is controlled by Layer 1 blockchain rather than centralized entities, similar to air traffic control but handled by the underlying chain. This addresses single points of failure and censorship risks in traditional rollups, simplifying trust models and lowering development barriers.

Practical Challenges of zk rollup technology

Despite promising prospects, zk rollup still faces practical challenges:

Technical complexity: Cryptographic implementation is difficult, with high maintenance costs.

Limited functionality: Efficiency for certain transaction types has a ceiling, restricting application scope.

Data availability: Proper management of on-chain data corresponding to rollup transactions is necessary.

Proof efficiency: Generating cryptographic proofs is resource-intensive and may become a bottleneck.

Ecosystem adoption: Sufficient user base and infrastructure support are needed to realize its value.

Governance complexity: Protocol upgrades and parameter adjustments require effective decentralized decision-making.

Economic feasibility: Although promising cost reductions, operational expenses may weaken this advantage.

Future directions of zk rollup ecosystem

Future improvements are gradually becoming clearer. R&D is focused on simplifying technical complexity and innovating solutions to liquidity fragmentation. With ongoing ecosystem collaborations and user growth, zk rollup has the potential to revolutionize Ethereum’s scaling landscape, ushering in a new era of high-speed, low-cost, and highly secure blockchain applications.

Overall outlook

zk rollup represents a significant breakthrough in blockchain scaling. By processing transactions off-chain while maintaining on-chain security guarantees, this solution opens the door for large-scale applications on Ethereum. Its ability to address current limitations indicates that blockchain technology’s widespread adoption is imminent, bringing users a new interactive experience and transforming how we engage with the digital world.