Ethereum layer-2 scaling protocol Polygon (MATIC) is finishing up efficiency testing of zero-knowledge rollup (zk-Rollups) expertise forward of full integration with its mainnet.
The growth of the expertise, known as Polygon zkEVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), has been ongoing for over three years by the Polygon Hermez group. The group has already confirmed that zero-knowledge proofs are attainable on Ethereum by producing over 12,000 zk-Proofs in a main model of the zkEVM testnet.
David Schwartz, challenge lead of Polygon zkEVM and PolygonID, unpacked the event of the performance in correspondence with Cointelegraph. Layer-2 platforms have continued to evolve and enhance performance which has performed a key position in driving Ethereum’s scalability.
As he defined, zero-knowledge rollups have elevated the pace at which layer-2 platforms can obtain finality whereas guaranteeing safe validation of transactions with zero-knowledge expertise. In blockchain phrases, finality is the purpose at which a block of transactions is taken into account to have been completely and irreversibly added to the blockchain:
“Finally, we have zkEVMs, such as Polygon zkEVM, that offer all the above in addition to the equivalence to Ethereum Virtual Machine with its advanced methods of zk-STARKs and zk-SNARKs.”
According to Schwartz, Polygon zkEVM contains the primary full supply code out there EVM-equivalent zkProver, which passes all Ethereum vector tests at over 99%. He described the completion of validity proofs for typical person transactions as “the most challenging and rewarding effort” since his group started creating its native zkEVM.
Two years in the past, the Polygon group estimated that creating zk-Rollups with EVM compatibility would take as much as ten years. Given the strides made, the group describes zkEVM as the tip recreation, combining advances with layer-2 scalability and quick finality. This affords a myriad of advantages to customers when including better throughput and decrease charges.
Cointelegraph additionally queried the distinction between Polygon zkEVM and fellow Ethereum layer-2 scaling community StarkNet’s proprietary ZK-SNARK and ZK-STARK expertise. As beforehand reported, Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge, or zk-SNARKS, primarily will increase scalability by batching hundreds of transactions with a single proof to verify validity on-chain.
Related: What the Ethereum Merge means for the blockchain’s layer-2 options
Schwartz mentioned the primary distinction between the tasks is that zkEVM focuses on natively scaling the Ethereum ecosystem as an alternative of different zk-Rollups simply scaling transactions and enhancing efficiency in a distinct VM format.
Polygon’s strategy purports to fulfill the classification of a sort 2 zkEVM described by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in August 2022. As per Buterin’s abstract, kind 2 zkEVMs purpose to be absolutely suitable with current purposes, however make minor modifications to Ethereum for simpler growth and sooner proof technology. Schwartz added:
“In contrast, StarkNet is positioned as a Type 4, introducing a new high-level language and requiring transpilers to translate solidity code into their language.”
At the identical time, Schwartz welcomed the chance to have extra benchmarks and supply code out there from different tasks so as to be taught from completely different approaches. Activity on Ethereum layer-2 options continues to develop, with blockchain knowledge exhibiting that transaction quantity Arbitrum and Optimism overshadowed transactions on the Ethereum mainnet going into 2023.
