Polygon has established itself as a significant player in the Web3 space, continuously expanding its rollups, protocols, and infrastructure suite. With over 2 billion transactions processed since its inception, Polygon's primary goal is to enhance Ethereum's capabilities, making transactions faster and cheaper.
A key component in this mission is zero-knowledge (ZK) technology, particularly through the development of Polygon zkEVM. This blog post delves into what Polygon zkEVM and Polygon 2.0 are, how they function, and their contributions to improving Ethereum's scalability.
What is Polygon zkEVM?
Polygon zkEVM integrates zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) into Polygon's Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) environment. ZKPs allow numerous transactions to be processed off-chain and then bundled together for verification on-chain in a single batch.
This approach significantly increases transaction throughput and reduces gas fees since fewer data are stored on-chain. The main advantage of Polygon zkEVM is its compatibility with Ethereum, enabling developers to deploy Ethereum-based applications without modifying their code.
Benefits for Developers
Reduced Gas Fees: Lower costs due to off-chain transaction processing.
Higher Throughput: The ability to handle more transactions simultaneously.
EVM Compatibility: Seamless transition for developers familiar with Ethereum's ecosystem.
Enhanced Security: ZKPs ensure transaction integrity and security, even with off-chain computations.
Introducing Polygon 2.0
Polygon 2.0 is a visionary framework designed to enhance Ethereum scaling further. It introduces a network of ZK-powered Layer 2 chains interconnected via a cross-chain coordination protocol, creating a seamless experience as if users were interacting with a single chain.
Key Features
Unified Experience: A cohesive network feels despite multiple chains.
Infinite Scalability: Support for numerous chains and instant, secure cross-chain interactions.
Value Layer Concept: Positioned as the Value Layer of the Internet, offering scalable and accessible value.
Technical Architecture
Staking Layer: Decentralizes participating chains using MATIC, Polygon's native token.
Interop Layer: Facilitates seamless cross-chain communication and shared access to Ethereum assets.
Execution Layer: Manages the production of sequenced transaction batches.
Proving Layer: A flexible ZK proving protocol verifying transactions across the network.
Validium: The Key to Scaling Polygon 2.0
Polygon zkEVM validium is an advanced Layer 2 solution combining zk-rollups and validium's off-chain data storage. This integration offers Ethereum compatibility and scalability, maintaining high throughput and data availability without burdening the main chain.
How Does It Work?
Data Availability: Stores transaction data off-chain, avoiding Ethereum mainnet congestion.
ZK-Rollup: Aggregates multiple transactions, reducing on-chain footprint and gas fees.
Validiums: Ensures transaction data is verifiable and accessible off-chain.
Polygon zkEVM Rollup vs. Polygon 2.0 Validium
Feature | zkEVM Rollup | Validium |
Scalability | Lower, requires on-chain data | Higher, uses off-chain data |
Fees | Higher, consumes more Ethereum block space | Lower, no on-chain data storage |
Data Availability | Relies on Ethereum mainnet | Depends on data availability managers |
Security | Lower data availability risks | Higher risks due to off-chain data aggregation |
Conclusion: The Future of Ethereum Scalability
Polygon's dual networks, Polygon PoS, and Polygon zkEVM, will coexist to cater to different application needs. While zkEVM focuses on security for high-value applications like DeFi, Polygon PoS offers scalability and lower fees, ideal for gaming and social media platforms. Polygon's advancements are crucial in alleviating Ethereum's scalability issues, enhancing overall efficiency, and fostering diverse applications.
Through continuous innovation, Polygon aims to establish itself as the value layer of the internet, driving the future of blockchain technology.
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