Ethereum Layer 2 scaling protocol Polygon (MATIC) is undergoing performance testing of its Zero-Knowledge Rollups (zk-Rollups) technology prior to full integration with mainnet.
Called Polygon zkEVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), the development of this technology has been ongoing for over three years by the Polygon Hermez team. The team has already confirmed that zero-knowledge proofs are possible on Ethereum by generating over 12,000 zk-Proofs on the primary version of the zkEVM testnet.
David Schwartz, Project Lead for Polygon zkEVM and PolygonID, revealed the development of features for Cointelegraph. Layer 2 platforms have continued to evolve and improve their capabilities. It has played a key role in facilitating Ethereum’s scalability.
As he explained, zero-knowledge rollups have increased the speed at which layer 2 platforms can achieve finality while ensuring secure validation of transactions using zero-knowledge techniques. In blockchain terminology, finality is the point at which a block of transactions is considered permanently and irreversibly added to the blockchain.
Finally, there are zkEVMs such as Polygon zkEVM, which offer all of the above in addition to being on par with the Ethereum virtual machine with advanced methods of zk-STARK and zk-SNARK.
According to Schwartz, Polygon zkEVM contains the first full source code available for an EVM-equivalent zkProver that passes all Ethereum vector tests with >99%. He described completing validation proofs for his transactions with traditional users as “the most challenging and rewarding undertaking” since his team began developing native zkEVM.

Two years ago, the Polygon team estimated that developing EVM-compatible zk-Rollups would take up to 10 years. Given the progress so far, the team describes zkEVM as an endgame, combining progress with layer 2 scalability and fast finality. Add in increased throughput and reduced fees, and this provides users with a myriad of benefits.
Cointelegraph also asked about the differences between Polygon zkEVM and fellow Ethereum Layer 2 scaling network StarkNet’s proprietary ZK-SNARK and ZK-STARK technologies. As previously reported, Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge (zk-SNARKS) primarily achieves scalability by batching thousands of transactions with a single proof of on-chain validity. Improve.
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According to Schwartz, the main difference between the projects is that zkEVM focuses on scaling the Ethereum ecosystem natively, rather than other zk-Rollup that just scales transactions and improves performance on different VM formats. is placed.
Polygon’s approach claims to satisfy the type 2 zkEVM classification explained As per Buterin’s summary, type 2 zkEVM aims to be fully compatible with existing applications, while making minor changes to Ethereum to ease development and speed up evidence generation. Schwartz added:
By contrast, StarkNet is positioned as a Type 4, requiring the introduction of a new high-level language and a transpiler to translate robust code into that language.
At the same time, Schwartz welcomed the opportunity to get more benchmarks and source code from other projects to learn from different approaches. Activity on the Ethereum Layer 2 Solution Continues to Grow, Blockchain Data Shows Arbitrum and Optimism Transaction Volume Overshadows Ethereum Mainnet Transactions Heading into 2023 I’m here.