An Overview of Layer 2 Roll-ups

Over the past few years, Layer 2 (L2) rollup solutions have come to the forefront as activity on the Ethereum network has grown. Activity and engagement with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) have caused a surge in Layer 1 (L1) blockchain activity. In turn, the demand for blockspace, represented by gas costs, has increased. And the time for transaction finality has risen due to the increased network load. Whilst the Ethereum Merge set the groundwork for future gas fee optimizations; it did not directly reduce transaction gas fees.

In the year between the summer of 2020 and the peak demand in the summer of 2021 gas cost in Gwei on the Ethereum network increased by up to 1300%. The need to make transactions fast and affordable spurred the creation of two primary forms of rollup: Optimistic and Zero-Knowledge (ZK).

Rollups help remove the computational demands on the Ethereum network by moving transaction processing off-chain, converting them into a single piece of data and then submitting back on Ethereum as a batch to reduce the associated cost and time. The big difference between the two is that Optimistic roll-ups utilize fraud proofs, whereas ZK-rollups rely on zero-knowledge proofs to verify changes to the main chain.

Optimistic and ZK-rollups: Fraud Proofs vs Validity Proofs

Fraud proofs bundle transactions off-chain and then repost them to the L1. After a bundle has been submitted on the L1 there is a challenge period, during which anyone can challenge the result of the roll-up by computing a fraud proof. Similarly, zero-knowledge proofs batch transactions off-chain and submit them as a single transaction. Where they differ is rather than assuming the transactions are correct initially, they use a validity proof to instantly prove whether the transactions are valid. Once the transactions have been confirmed as valid they are then submitted to the L1. This is how they derive their respective names - fraud proofs are where the transactions are checked retrospectively to see if there are any fraudulent transactions, whereas validity proofs are completed before the transactions are submitted to the L1.

Whilst there are prominent projects for both, they each come with their own respective benefits and drawbacks. Optimistic roll-ups have the advantage that fraud proofs are only required when there is an issue. This means they require less computational resources and are able to scale well. The trouble lies with the challenge period. A longer challenge period increases the likelihood that any fraudulent transactions are identified, however, it also means that users have to wait longer to withdraw their funds. For leading optimistic rollup solutions, such as Arbitrum and Optimism, this waiting period can last up to a week. Alternatively, ZK-rollups have the advantage of always reflecting a correct L2 state. Their drawback is that proofs are required for all state transitions, rather than solely when they are contested, which limits scalability. This is further compounded by the complex nature and early stage of the technology.

Despite their respective challenges, ZK-rollups are being heralded as the future for roll-ups. This is primarily due to the automatic generation of validity proofs increasing the security of the protocol, the significantly reduced time to withdraw due to there being no challenge period, and that ZK-rollups boast better data compression. For these reasons, we will hone in on the current state of the ZK-rollup space, the latest innovations, and what lies ahead in the future.

The ZK-Rollup Space

As we’ve discussed, ZK-rollups are predominantly in the focal point with players like zkSync, Starknet, Polygon zkEVM, and Scroll all raising large amounts of capital to develop their solutions despite only StarkNet having launched on mainnet ($780MM in total). Each of these projects has taken its own angle, differing primarily across their rollups data availability strategy and their proving algorithm. The data availability strategy determines where the state data of a roll-up is stored, on-chain storage has increased security but it uses up block space on the Ethereum network which reduces transaction throughput.

The proving algorithm is the means of generating a validity proof, which can either be STARK or SNARK. Both of these algorithms help developers to relocate computation and storage off-chain, in turn increasing scalability. They are also able to verify whether a user has sufficient funds and the correct private key without having to access the information itself, thus improving the security. You can read more about the technical differences here. STARKs have the advantage of offering more scalability, security, and transparency compared to SNARKs. But the drawback STARKS have is a larger proof size, which takes longer to verify, and that SNARKs comparatively only use 24% of the gas. Therein for both SNARKS and STARKS we have the tradeoff between speed and cost vs. scalability, security, and transparency.  Whilst many different methods are being explored there is not yet a definitive answer as to the best way to set up a ZK-rollup. Each configuration brings respective benefits and many developers are still exploring the optimal choice or combination for their roll-up designs.

The Hurdles To Overcome

As we’ve discussed, ZK-rollups are still in development and there are various challenges that need to be overcome before blockchain users are able to reap their full benefits. Language compatibility is one such challenge; translating Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-friendly programming languages, such as Solidity, into a custom-built language specifically optimized for ZKP can help boost their efficiency, but it brings with it adoption challenges for developers. For example, StarkNet is looking to solve this with Warp, a Solidity to Cairo (the language of StarkNet’s ZKP) language compiler that looks to automatically convert Solidity into Cairo. Using Warp removes the need for developers to rewrite their code in Cairo, making it a much smoother process.

Other challenges include the secretive nature of projects, with many going against the open-source ethos of crypto due to concerns over first-mover advantage and capturing a sticky userbase. Most ZK-rollups were first launched this year, highlighting the amount of work that is yet to be done in the space.

Lastly, whilst rollups (both optimistic and zero-knowledge) have the benefits of improved speed and cost, it tends to be at the expense of decentralization. This is due to the inherent need for sequencers, the actors batching transactions and committing proofs to the L1. All rollups currently need a centralized sequencer and use upgradeable smart contracts that are managed by a single entity. Because the space is still so early, a central focal point is typically required for quick fixes to bugs in the code. Add to that the projects aren’t open-sourced, creating another hurdle for community members to act as sequencers. Many projects have indicated that they plan to decentralize their sequencer functions in the future, but this will undoubtedly take additional resources and time.

Decentralization Plans

Launching a token and open-sourcing code will be the next steps for many of the projects seeking decentralization. Tokenization of these services to generate activity and decentralize the product is another area where we expect to see a myriad of different solutions cropping up as projects look to create the most scalable, decentralized and active L2 on the market. StarkWare and zkSync are both planning to launch a token and Polygon could potentially use MATIC to support Polygon’s zkEVM initiative. Token engineering on ZK-rollups is an even more nascent space than the optimistic roll-up technology and finding an effective and sustainable model can differentiate and boost adoption.

The Future

zkEVMs are still in their very early stages and the race is on to launch on mainnet. StarkNet has the first-mover advantage but still has challenges with regard to supporting Solidity features due to the use of Cairo, leaving room for competitors to make improvements. The projects that are able to amass significant user bases will attract Decentralized Applications (Dapps) developers, in turn bringing more dapps to their platform and increasing the feature set. ConsenSys’ zkEVM is currently moving to testnet and are focussing specifically on dapp developers for this reason, leveraging tools like MetaMask, Infura and Truffle so that they can deploy and manage applications as if they were directly using Ethereum.

And whilst we have discussed the current players in the zkEVM market, other predominant rollup solutions like Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum still command a significant market share. As zkEVM solutions mature, we may see these projects look to transition to validity proofs or hybrid solutions, leveraging their existing user bases to attract dapp development and maintain their market dominance. In the end, the many rollup solutions (and the increased competition between them) will continue to improve the web3 user experience and introduce platforms for applications to onboard the next generation of users.

Given these threats, we’re not surprised at the secrecy of projects in the space, but we believe the true winner will be able to leverage the efficiency of ZK-rollups and combine it with a seamless developer and user experience to come out on top.

This is a guest post from CoinMarketCap with Consensys and has been edited for style. The original article was published here and was also included in the third Build section of the 2023 CMC Crypto Playbook.

What is CoinMarketCap:

CoinMarketCap is the world's most-referenced price-tracking website for digital assets in the rapidly growing cryptocurrency space. Its mission is to make crypto discoverable and efficient globally by empowering retail users with unbiased, high-quality, and accurate information for drawing their own informed conclusions.

Where to find CoinMarketCap:

Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn |

What is ConsenSys:‍

ConsenSys is a leading Web3 software company. It enables developers, enterprises, and people worldwide to build next-generation applications, launch modern financial infrastructure, and access the decentralized web. The ConsenSys product suite includes Infura, Quorum, Codefi, MetaMask, Truffle, and Diligence.

Where to find ConsenSys:

Website | Twitter | Discord | LinkedIn |

Pi Network Open Source Software License Program

Pi Network debuted its Pi Open Source (PiOS) License program at the hackathon launch to encourage developer collaboration and build its large ecosystem. The initiative enables developers to share their code while building valuable applications on the blockchain.

The protocol’s PiOS license ensures that developers create and utilize open-source applications and tools within the Pi ecosystem. In a press release shared with BSC News, the team stated that the licensing framework would ensure developers collaborate to develop unique applications on Pi Network.

“This unique licensing framework allows community developers to build on the contributions of one another, leveraging crowd wisdom of the large community. By consolidating community developers’ collective knowledge and building efforts, Pi Network aims to facilitate diverse ideations and executions to create a robust ecosystem of apps and utilities for the Pi community members,” the statement read.

The initiative enables developers to build on works created by others. Through the collective effort of developers, Pi Network aims to combine unique ideas to generate a robust ecosystem of valuable applications. One of the founders of Pi Network, Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, also shared his thoughts about the initiative.

“Since Pi’s inception, we have always encouraged cross-collaboration. Through PiOS we hope to enable developers who wish to share their codebase with the community to do so, and also invite contributions to their code from other community developers,” said Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis. “Our hope is that by allowing Pi Community Developers to create open source applications and tools for the Pi Ecosystem, the community will continue to flourish and encourage others to build as well.”

Developers have access to the code repository licensed by other Pi community developers under the PiOS license. Further, developers receive Pi rewards as encouragement for contributing their code to the repository and making their work available to one another.

The Pi hackathon commenced on January 9th and will end on February 28th. The event invites participants to build apps across three themes: Social Media, GameFi/Entertainment, and Consumer Utilities. As of publication, over 4200 participants have registered for the event. BSC News has an article HERE for users interested in building on the blockchain. You can also visit the Pi hackathon page for more information.

What is Pi Network:

Pi Network is a novel cryptocurrency and developer platform that allows mobile users to mine Pi coins without draining the device’s battery. Pi’s blockchain secures economic transactions via a mobile meritocracy system and a full Web 3.0 experience where community developers can build decentralized applications (dApps) for millions of users.

Where to find Pi Network:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram |

Connected 2023 Global Web3 Hackathon

BNB Chain has announced a partnership with CyberConnect to launch a social Web3 hackathon.

The hackathon will take place from Feb 7 - March 13, according to a press release shared with BSC News. Applications to participate will remain open until February 20. The hackathon begins with immediate effect featuring over $50,000 in prizes available, project support, and more.

“Connected 2023 aims to empower a new generation of innovators by helping them bring their Web3 social ideas to life and then to market. With this event, BNB Chain and CyberConnect will empower passionate builders to kick start their journey and grow their hacks into fundable protocols," said Wilson Wei from CyberConnect.

The hackathon will have an array of ways for participants to get involved, ranging from individualized workshops, developer info sessions, team-matching sessions, and more.

The event features cosponsors Notifi, Lit, Livepeer, and XMTP plus mentors and judges from major names like Animoca Brands, Multicoin Capital, StepN, and Binance.

Interested projects can apply here.

BNB Chain is also running a concurrent developer competition called Game Jam. Running during the entire month of February, Game Jam is a healthy competition to develop social games where projects can compete for similar incubation support as the CyberConnect 2023, however, it is more specific to BNB Chain.

What is BNB Chain:

Previously known as the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), BNB Chain is a community-driven, decentralized, and censorship-resistant blockchain that is powered by Binance. It consists of BNB Beacon Chain and BNB Smart Chain, EVM compatible and facilitating a multi-chain ecosystem. Through the concept of MetaFI, BNB Chain aims to build the infrastructure to power the world’s parallel virtual ecosystem.

Find more about BNB Chain here:

Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | GitHub |

What is CyberConnect:

CyberConnect is a decentralized social graph protocol with identity self-sovereignty and network effects. It enables users to create profiles on BNBChain as the anchor of users’ decentralized identities. Profile owners can travel across dApps seamlessly without worrying about recreating their network on every new platform. With CyberConnect, users own their social graph, content, monetization channels, and more social data. Link3.to for example is built on CyberConnect and has more than 1,100 verified organization clients, 23k users’ all-in-on link profiles, and 200k monthly active users issued more than 1m social-related transactions on BNB Chain.

Where to find CyberConnect:

Website | Twitter | Discord | GitHub |

Core DAO Release $CORE Market Information Ahead of Airdrop

The $CORE airdrop is scheduled for February 8th at 12 PM UTC. Ahead of the notable milestone in its development, the team has published details about the airdrop, including important mainnet information for the community.

In preparation for the airdrop, Core DAO published a Twitter thread on February 7th to educate users about the coin. The Satoshi Plus consensus protocol warned users to note illicit $CORE tokens launched on several platforms. The team stated that the airdrop would allow scammers to deceive Core enthusiasts.

Core mainnet is live, and users are urged to visit Core DAO’s official sources for more information about the airdrop to avoid scams.

While the airdrop will create liquidity for $CORE, market volatility is inevitable. To regulate the difficulties in the market, top-tier market makers and exchanges support legitimate early market $CORE formation.

“The liquid $CORE markets will open around the same time as the Feb 8th airdrop. In the coming days, $CORE transactions from Core DAO’s public reserve multi-sig will be executed to get CORE tokens to partner market makers so that liquid markets exist when the airdrop occurs,” Core wrote. “Having legitimate $CORE token markets available when the airdrop occurs will allow for safer, faster, and more accessible trading for Core users.”

Once the airdrop is complete, users can participate in the network’s development by staking. You can learn how to stake on Core DAO HERE. Also, read our article on the benefits of supporting Core’s aspirations through staking.

What is Core DAO:

Core DAO is the official decentralized organization developing the Satoshi Plus ecosystem. It represents an opportunity for miners to access new revenue streams by contributing hash power to the chain. Inspired by the principles of both blockchains, Core displays a deep appreciation for the crypto ecosystem's history and an even greater excitement for Core’s role in its future.

Where to find Core DAO:

Website | Docs | Twitter | Discord

Exposure to Bitcoin in traditional markets is a great way to diversify portfolio investments and bring the big potential of Bitcoin to your portfolio within a regulated environment.

There are a growing number of ways to invest in Bitcoin in the traditional markets and in this article, we will take a quick look at five different investment opportunities available.

Let’s take a look!

Five Bitcoin-Related ETFs

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC):

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is one of the first Bitcoin ETFs available to US investors. It provides exposure to Bitcoin through a publicly traded trust. However, it is also known for its premium pricing, which can make it more expensive than other Bitcoin investment options, and this pricing has also led to some controversies.

GBTC recently traded at $11.80 USD.

Where to find Grayscale:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Bitcoin Trust |

Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC):

BTCC is a Canadian ETF that provides exposure to Bitcoin through a passively managed portfolio of the cryptocurrency. The team at Purpose Investments brings investors a low-cost and efficient vehicle to invest in Bitcoin. Purpose is a technology-driven firm that always aims to change and meet the status quo.

BTCC recently traded at $4.49 CAD.

Where to find Purpose Investments:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn |

Evolve Bitcoin ETF (EBIT):

The second Canadian ETF on the list is from Evolve. The team at Evolve supports investors with exposure to the price movements of the cryptocurrency and also offers liquidity and transparency through a regulated company.

EBIT.TO recently traded at $11.53 CAD.

Where to find Evolve ETFs:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn |

First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF (CRPT):

The First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Industry and Digital Economy ETF is an investment fund from the team at First Trust Portfolio with the objective to provide investors with capital appreciation. The Fund pursues its investment strategy primarily by investing in Bitcoin futures and has exposure to companies like Microstrategy and Coinbase.

CRPT recently traded at $4.98 USD.

Where to find First Trust Portfolios:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn |

3iQ Bitcoin ETF (QBTC):

This is another Canadian-listed ETF with exposure to Bitcoin that invests directly in cryptocurrencies. 3iQ aims to provide investors with simple and efficient ways to invest in Bitcoin while maintaining all the benefits of a regulated environment. 3iQ also offers several other ETFs related to digital assets like Ethereum and more general funds.

QBTC.TO recently traded at $31.59 CAD.

Where to find 3iQ:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn |