ZK Rollup on Ethereum: Which Project Should You Follow in 2025?

Ethereum revolutionized decentralized finance but brought a problem that grew along with its popularity: network congestion and astronomical fees. As more users migrate to the platform, transactions become slow and expensive — a bottleneck that needs to be solved for mass adoption.

The answer to this dilemma came from Layer 2 networks, scalability solutions that process transactions off the mainnet, reducing load without compromising security. Among these alternatives, ZK Rollups (Zero-Knowledge Rollups) emerge as the most promising technology, offering unparalleled cryptographic efficiency.

How Do ZK Rollups Solve Scalability Issues?

Imagine Ethereum as a city with congested streets. ZK Rollups work like parallel expressways: they bundle dozens of transactions into one, processed off-chain and cryptographically validated on the mainnet.

The magic lies in zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). This cryptographic tool allows proving that an entire batch of transactions is valid without revealing individual details — data is compressed, lightweight, and verifiable. The result? Fees are drastically reduced, speed is exponentially increased, and security is guaranteed.

The process occurs in four steps:

1. Smart contracts on the mainnet define the rules of the game
2. Transactions run off-chain on separate virtual machines (significantly reducing costs)
3. A cryptographic proof is generated to validate the entire batch
4. This proof returns to the mainnet and is verified by validators, confirming integrity

Advantages Explaining the ZK Rollups Hype

Real scalability: Multiple transactions processed as one, keeping gas fees low.

Instant security: Unlike other Layer 2 solutions (like Optimistic Rollups), there is no challenge period. Finalization is immediate.

Built-in privacy: Individual transaction details are encrypted within the proof, offering superior privacy.

Ethereum compatibility: Many ZK Rollups support EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), allowing dApps to migrate without rewriting code.

Environmental efficiency: Less processing on the mainnet means less energy consumption — a sustainable blockchain.

Top ZK Rollup Projects for 2025

Manta Network (Manta Pacific) — The Privacy Champion

Price: $0.07 | 24h Change: +0.62% | Market Cap: $33.72M

Manta Pacific surpassed Coinbase’s (Base) to become the fourth-largest Layer 2 network of Ethereum by TVL of $851 millions since its launch in September 2023. Its differentiator? Fully private DeFi transactions using zk-SNARKs.

The project enables users to perform encrypted swaps and trades — assets and values remain hidden but verifiable. While most DeFi platforms operate transparently, Manta carved a niche for those prioritizing privacy.

The MANTA token governs the network, funds staking, and pays fees. The architecture also aims to create a privacy layer for all DeFi applications across different blockchains.

Linea — Speed First

Price: $0.01 | 24h Change: +1.28% | Market Cap: $107.59M

Launched in August 2023, Linea focuses entirely on two metrics: speed and accessibility. With TVL of $202 millions, it operates by aggregating off-chain transactions and submitting them to Ethereum via zk-SNARKs.

Linea’s strength is its intuitive developer interface. Any dev familiar with Ethereum can deploy applications on Linea with minimal friction. The network prepared an airdrop of the LINEA (utility token not yet revealed), energizing the community.

Polygon zkEVM — The Bridge Between Worlds

TVL: $115 millions | Launch: March 2023

Polygon zkEVM is Polygon’s answer to zero-knowledge scalability. It executes transactions in an EVM-compatible environment off-chain and then proves their validity on the mainnet using ZK proofs.

Its killer advantage? Full compatibility with Ethereum tools and smart contracts. Developers don’t need to learn new languages — just migrate existing code. Integrated into the Polygon ecosystem, zkEVM offers network efficiency and versatility.

Starknet — Quantum Resistance

Price: $0.08 | 24h Change: -1.35% | Market Cap: $396.43M

While most ZK Rollups use zk-SNARKs, Starknet innovates with STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge). This technology offers two decisive advantages: no trusted setup required and resistance to quantum attacks.

Since February 2022, the project has been building a general-purpose computing platform supporting any smart contract. The STRK token pays fees, funds governance, and staking.

TVL: $170 millions — numbers that demonstrate community trust in its futuristic approach.

zkSync Era — Total Compatibility

Price: $555 millions in TVL | Launch: March 2023

Developed by Matter Labs, zkSync Era achieved full EVM compatibility. Ethereum dApps run directly — no modifications needed.

The project processes off-chain transactions, aggregates them into a single zkRollup proof, and submits to the mainnet. The goal? Low fees, high processing capacity, smooth experience. ZKS token governs and pays fees.

Scroll — Raw Capacity

TVL: $63.46 million | Launch: October 2023

Scroll is the choice for maximum throughput. It uses zk-SNARKs to compress transactions into a single proof submitted to Ethereum. Its focus is on DeFi applications and use cases with extremely high transaction volume.

It maintains full EVM compatibility, lowering the entry barrier for developers. No native token yet, but the project already attracts significant liquidity.

Aztec Protocol — Programmable Privacy

Launch: 2017

Aztec innovates with a hybrid public-private model. You choose: execute public or private contract functions, switching modes as needed. Privacy is optional, enabling use cases from private negotiations to anonymous voting.

The Noir language allows writing zero-knowledge circuits without extreme complexity. The protocol plans to fully decentralize before mainnet, aligning with Ethereum’s open-source values.

ZKFair — Combating Front-Running

Launch: December 2023 | Market Cap ZKF: $163 millions

ZKFair is a DEX using ZK Rollups to ensure fair transaction execution. The big difference? It prevents front-running — the predatory practice where operators execute orders before clients to profit from margins.

ZKF pays fees and governs the network, with traders earning rewards from fee revenue. A genuine differentiator in a saturated market.

DeGate V1 — Focused on Large Trades

Market Cap DG: $21.14 million | Launch: September 2022

DeGate V1 built a DEX optimized to reduce slippage on large orders. It uses ZK Rollups to bundle off-chain transactions, lowering costs while processing massive volumes.

DG token governs and pays fees on the derivatives platform. Ideal for institutional traders and large operations.

ZetaChain — Cross-Chain Interoperability

Price: $0.07 | 24h Change: -0.43% | Market Cap: $80.60M

ZetaChain aims to create “universal bridges” between blockchains using ZK Rollups. It employs zk-SNARKs to validate transactions on one chain without revealing sensitive info on another.

Result? Continuous transfer of assets and data across different blockchains. The platform also features ZetaML to run off-chain smart contracts, opening unprecedented possibilities.

Taiko — The Decentralized Sequencer

Launch: January 2024 (testnet)

Taiko introduces a radical innovation: layer-1-based sequencing. Instead of a centralized sequencer (that would aggregate transactions and could censor), the base blockchain performs this task.

This eliminates a critical single point of failure in traditional rollup architectures. Taiko raised $37 millions in two funding rounds and participated in alpha testnets with massive developer and validator engagement.

Challenges the Sector Still Faces

Despite the potential, ZK Rollups are not perfect:

Cryptographic complexity: Implementation and maintenance require rare expertise, increasing costs and limiting innovation.

Inflexibility: Certain transaction types perform poorly on ZK Rollups, restricting viable use cases.

Data management: Data availability is critical but operationally complex.

Prover efficiency: Generating cryptographic proofs consumes heavy resources, creating bottlenecks during congestion.

Liquidity fragmentation: Multiple ZK Rollups mean fragmentation — users spread across incompatible platforms.

Decentralized governance: Protocol decisions require robust and secure governance models.

What to Expect in 2025 and Beyond?

ZK Rollups are at a tipping point. Ongoing research aims to simplify cryptographic complexity, while innovations emerge to unify liquidity across multiple L2s.

With sustained growth and collaboration among projects, ZK Rollups have the real potential to redefine Ethereum — transforming it into a platform for fast, cheap, and secure transactions.

The blockchain landscape is accelerating. Projects that balance scalability, security, privacy, and user experience will dominate the next wave of mass adoption.