Polygon makes new sidechain developer stack opensource, supporting ZK-powered Layer 2s on Ethereum

by Jeremy

The Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem may welcome a wide range of new layer 2 (L2) protocols constructed on Polygon’s newly open sourced codebase Chain Improvement Equipment, which harnesses zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proof) know-how to make sure safety and quick finality.

Jordi Baylina, technical lead of Polygon Hermez zkEVM, spoke to Cointelegraph completely concerning the new device set which is publicly out there on a Github repository:

“The motivating concept is easy: it must be simple and seamless for builders to launch a ZK-powered Layer 2 on Ethereum, tailor-made to the necessities of their venture.”

Baylina added {that a} key facet is that Polygon CDK allows automated entry to liquidity throughout all of Polygon’s chains in addition to the broader Ethereum ecosystem, offering “on-demand scale, with out fragmenting liquidity”.

The Ethereum developer pointed to numerous totally different tasks constructing CDK-powered chains throughout a wide range of use instances, together with from payment-specific L2s, DeFi, gaming, social-specific platforms, and creator or NFT platforms.

Associated: Are ZK-proofs the reply to Bitcoin’s Ordinal and BRC-20 downside?

Baylina additionally highlighted the customizability of CDK for various appchains, that includes customizations for rollup or validium mode, zkEVM or one other ZK-powered execution surroundings, varied information availability options, native token and fuel token customization, centralized or decentralized sequencer mode in addition to permissioned networks with granular allowlists.

The significance of ZK-proof know-how is one other issue that Baylina burdened, highlighting Polygon Labs’ perception that zero-knowledge is the way forward for scaling Ethereum. Because the Hermez zkEVM lead explains, chains launched with Polygon CDK are routinely related to a shared ZK bridge and plugged into an “interop layer,” which is a cross-chain communication protocol.

“Suppose there are 1000s of chains within the Polygon ecosystem. It’s inefficient for every of those to submit their proofs on to Ethereum. As a substitute, the interop layer will obtain proofs from chains and submit a single ZK proof that proves the state of all Polygon chains.”

Baylina stated the know-how unlocks sub-minute cross-chain transactions and creates the notion of a single chain surroundings.

Cointelegraph additionally queried the important thing variations between CDK and different Ethereum ecosystem programming languages like Zk-proof pioneers StarkWare’s Cairo codebase.

Baylina explains that the structure unlocked by Polygon CDK is totally different in that it allows automated entry to shared liquidity by a ZK bridge and interop layer of an L2 ecosystem secured by working ZK-proofs.

He completed by reaffirming the idea in ZK-proofs as the way forward for Ethereum scalability given its quick finality and withdrawal instances, when in comparison with week-long delay by fraud proofs that characteristic in Optimistic rollup L2 options.

“ZK makes higher bridges, but additionally secures chains by rigorous math, with no want for social-economic parts required by fraud proofs.”

Cointelegraph beforehand explored the Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem, unpacking the fundamentals of Ethereum rollups and the totally different approaches to scaling the good contract blockchain.

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