ZKsync endeavors to cultivate an interconnected ecosystem of Layer 2 rollups that are founded on the ZK Stack.
Following the deployment of its 3.0 upgrade last month, ZKsync is the most recent Ethereum scaling solution to implement a multi-chain architecture.
On July 2, ZKsync disclosed its vision for “Elastic Chain,” an ecosystem of interconnected Layer 2 rollups that capitalize on ZKsync’s technology stack, ZK Stack.
The ZKsync 3.0 protocol upgrade, which entered into effect on June 7, enabled Elastic Chain. This upgrade reconfigured ZKsync’s Layer 1 bridge into “a shared router contract to support the expanding network of interoperable ZK Chains.”
According to ZKsync, Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap was successful in reducing transaction fees; however, it fragmented liquidity and user experience. “The recent ZKsync 3.0 upgrade resolves this issue by facilitating native, trustless, low-cost interoperability between the chains that are powered by ZK Stack.” Consequently, ZKsync 3.0 undergoes a transformation from a singular Ethereum L2 to The Elastic Chain.
ZKsync stated that its ZKsync Era network is the initial chain in the ecosystem and will be shortly supplemented by over 20 new ZK Stack-based chains that are scheduled to launch in 2024.
The announcement is timely, as several of Ethereum’s most prominent scaling solutions are currently exploring the possibility of establishing interconnected ecosystems of Layer 2 networks that utilize shared infrastructure, rather than isolated L2 architectures.
These initiatives aim to address the obstacles associated with liquidity fragmentation that Ethereum faces, which results in the splintering of assets and users across an ever-expanding network of Layer 2 and Layer 3 scaling solutions. As per L2beat, the total value of 20 Ethereum L2s is presently over $100 million, or value locked.
Optimism’s Bedrock upgrade in June 2023, which laid the groundwork for an ecosystem of interconnected chains constructed using the OP Stack and labeled the “Superchain,” arguably set it apart from the pack.
ZKsync responded by shipping the ZK Stack just a few weeks later, thereby enabling the project to actualize its vision for “Hyperchain” scalability, which was initially articulated during the October 2022 SmartCon conference.
Polygon also entered the fray in January 2024 with the introduction of its AggLayer bridge, which was a component of the Polygon 2.0 roadmap. The bridge enables developers to establish a connection between any Layer 1 or Layer 2 chain and Polygon’s AggLayer ecosystem, commencing with the Polygon ZkEVM network.
ZKsync stated that Ethereum-aligned rollups have achieved a remarkable cumulative throughput capacity. However, this progress was accompanied by a significant decline in network integrity, capital efficiency, and user experience.
