zkEVM: Exploring a New Era of Ethereum Scaling

With the development of blockchain technology, zkEVM is becoming an important solution for Ethereum scalability. This article will delve into several mainstream zkEVM projects and compare their features and advantages.

zkEVM Overview

zkEVM is a second-layer network technology that enhances the scalability of Ethereum while ensuring security and decentralization through zero-knowledge proofs and EVM compatibility. Depending on the level of EVM compatibility, zkEVM can be classified into different types, ranging from fully equivalent to only partially compatible.

Comparison of Mainstream zkEVM Projects

Polygon zkEVM and Polygon 2.0

Polygon provides two zkEVM solutions:

1. Polygon zkEVM: Type 3 ZK-Rollup, aiming to achieve EVM equivalence. The mainnet was launched in March 2023 and is suitable for handling high-value transactions.

2. Polygon 2.0: The proposal is to upgrade Polygon PoS to zkEVM validium. This will retain the existing ecosystem advantages while providing lower fees and higher throughput, suitable for high-volume applications.

zkSync Era

zkSync Era is a Type 4 zkEVM that uses a custom virtual machine to enhance proof generation speed. It supports multiple programming languages and plans to improve EVM compatibility in the future. Features of zkSync Era include:

• Native support for Ethereum cryptographic primitives
• Improved user experience, including native account abstraction
• Powerful cross-layer messaging system

Linea

Linea is a type 3 zkEVM developed by ConsenSys, with the following features:

• Able to directly execute unmodified EVM bytecode
• Native integration with MetaMask wallet and Truffle development tools
• Plan to upgrade to Type 2 zkEVM in the future, providing higher Ethereum compatibility

Scroll zkEVM

Scroll is currently a type 3 zkEVM, with plans to gradually evolve into type 1. Its characteristics include:

• Prioritize EVM compatibility and decentralization
• The long-term goal is to become a fully EVM-equivalent solution.

Taiko

Taiko is committed to becoming a Type 1 native zkEVM, characterized by:

• Prioritize decentralization from the very beginning.
• Maximize EVM compatibility
• Adopting a development path different from other projects, first achieving decentralization and then increasing speed.

Summary

Each zkEVM project has its unique advantages and challenges. They play a key role in creating an accessible Web3 ecosystem and collectively drive the scaling process of Ethereum. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovations and breakthroughs that will pave the way for large-scale applications of blockchain.