Ethereum layer-2 scaling resolution Polygon is sharpening focus on zero-knowledge (ZK) know-how.
Greatest identified for its proof-of-stake sidechain, Polygon launched its zkEVM rollup on Ethereum mainnet in March, and a plan to transition its PoS chain to a validium.
ZK proof-based rollups publish verifiable proofs of transactions to Ethereum, guaranteeing trustworthy execution whereas considerably decreasing prices. And in contrast to different layer-2 options, they’ll theoretically accomplish that whereas allowing a consumer to immediately withdraw funds again to Ethereum’s mainnet, in distinction to optimistic rollups, which require a ready interval.
Learn extra: Polygon’s zkEVM goes live on Ethereum mainnet
“We expect ZK proofs are the future,” Jordi Baylina, co-founder and know-how lead at Polygon advised Blockworks. “The explanation is quick finality and withdrawal instances, in comparison with the week-long delay required by fraud proofs [when there are working fraud proofs].”
Validums are comparable, however they retailer transaction knowledge off-chain, not on Ethereum mainnet, making the blockchain rather more environment friendly.
There is, nevertheless, a draw back to transferring to a validum mannequin. As solely proofs are posted to Ethereum, and never the precise knowledge itself, validums don’t inherit Ethereum safety.
Because of this, Polygon zkEVM Validum could also be extra appropriate for purposes like gaming and social media, relatively than DeFi with its excessive monetary stakes.
The discharge of Polygon CDK
Past transferring its PoS blockchain to a zkEVM Validum, the Polygon group had additionally not too long ago revealed the Polygon chain improvement package (CDK), a software program package that is designed for builders to launch their very own ZK layer-2s.
The CDK follows comparable strikes by the Optimism Collective, Offchain Labs and Matter Labs, who’ve every revealed their very own software program stacks to develop the ecosystems of Optimism, Arbitrum and zkSync respectively.
Polygon’s CDK is designed for builders who need to be half of a layer-2 ecosystem secured by zk-proofs, Baylina mentioned.
“The structure unlocked by Polygon CDK is completely different. It permits computerized entry to shared liquidity by means of the ZK bridge and [interoperability] layer; which means a layer-2 ecosystem secured by working ZK-proofs,” Baylina mentioned.
Polygon CDK permits builders to decide on between launching a blockchain that makes use of the validium framework or launching an app-specific zkEVM blockchain.
On the time of writing, Polygon’s native token MATIC — which will soon be rebranded to POL — is at present buying and selling at $0.56, up 2.1% over the previous 24 hours.
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