The future of Layer 2 is here: A comprehensive overview of the ZK Rollup track in the Ethereum ecosystem by 2025

As mainstream blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum develop, a hidden dilemma has surfaced—high Gas fees and network congestion. While Ethereum, as the pioneer platform for smart contracts, has transformed the entire crypto world, transaction costs soar with increasing network users, and processing speeds can’t keep up. Layer 2 solutions have emerged, among which ZK Rollup technology is gaining attention due to its unique cryptographic advantages, becoming the next investment hotspot.

What exactly is ZK Rollup? One sentence to understand instantly

Simply put, ZK Rollup is like giving Ethereum a “speed boost.” It processes transactions in bulk off-chain, then uses zero-knowledge proofs (a cutting-edge cryptographic method) to combine all transactions into a single proof sent back to the mainnet. The benefits are: significantly lower transaction fees, markedly improved processing speed, but without compromising security.

Imagine city traffic congestion—ZK Rollup is like a fast lane bypassing downtown—bundling thousands of transactions together instead of handling them one by one. This technology uses a cryptographic tool called “zero-knowledge proof,” which can verify the authenticity of transactions without revealing who traded with whom and how much.

ZK Rollup vs other Layer 2 solutions: Why is it more attractive?

There are many Layer 2 solutions on the market, but ZK Rollup stands out:

Optimistic Rollup operates on the logic of “assuming transactions are correct first, auditing if there’s a problem,” which leaves a dispute period. ZK Rollup is different—each transaction must provide a mathematical proof for immediate confirmation, with no delay.

From a security perspective:

• ZK Rollup = instant finality + zero manual judgment + absolute trust
• Optimistic Rollup = 7-day waiting period + requires oversight + potential vulnerability

This is why ZK Rollup is considered a safer and more efficient future direction.

11 ZK Rollup projects to watch in 2025

Market leader: zkSync Era ($555M TVL)

zkSync Era, developed by Matter Labs, currently manages $555 million in locked assets. It uses ZK Rollup technology to process off-chain transactions, then bundles and submits them to the Ethereum mainnet. Its biggest selling point is full EVM compatibility—your smart contracts can run without modification. This is a huge boon for developers, saving the trouble of rewriting code.

Privacy defender: Manta Network - Manta Pacific ($33.72M circulating market cap)

Manta Network focuses on DeFi privacy. Using zk-SNARKs technology, it enables users to trade and exchange crypto assets anonymously—transaction details are locked, but proofs remain valid. Since launching last September, it quickly surpassed Coinbase’s Base and became Ethereum’s 4th largest Layer 2.

This is a good choice for privacy-sensitive traders.

Performance dark horse: Linea ($107.34M circulating market cap)

Linea, launched in August 2023, uses zk-SNARKs to compress transactions. It emphasizes developer friendliness—easy integration, quick deployment. Although it later announced a token airdrop plan, its specific use cases are still a mystery. Nonetheless, it’s a high-performance Layer 2 representative.

Technical believers’ choice: Starknet ($396.38M circulating market cap)

Starknet uses STARKs technology (not zk-SNARKs), which means no trusted setup + quantum resistance. This is widely recognized as a safer direction in the industry. Although its TVL is only $170 million, Starknet is a benchmark in technical purity.

Ethereum ecosystem native: Polygon zkEVM ($115M TVL)

Polygon’s Layer 2 that is fully EVM-compatible allows developers to seamlessly migrate existing contracts. As part of the Polygon ecosystem, it benefits from the entire ecosystem’s applications and user base. It’s the most friendly for users wanting to stay within Polygon.

New direction for public chain DEXs: ZKFair

ZKFair is optimized specifically for DEX scenarios, with a key feature being completely preventing front-running—no more worries about your trades being snatched by bots. This is attractive to both high-frequency traders and ordinary users. It uses ZK proofs to batch process off-chain trades before submitting to Ethereum.

Cross-chain bridge: ZetaChain ($80.62M circulating market cap)

ZetaChain aims to build a “cross-chain universal network.” It uses zk-SNARKs to enable seamless transfer of assets and data between different blockchains—for example, calling Solana data on Ethereum or directly swapping assets across chains.

Layer 2 newcomer: Taiko

Launched its testnet in January this year, Taiko introduces an innovative concept: the “base ordering mechanism.” Simply put, it makes Layer 1 blockchains responsible for ordering transactions, rather than relying on a centralized server, solving the problem of centralized ordering censorship. It has raised $37 million and has ambitious plans.

Other notable projects: Scroll, Aztec Protocol, DeGate V1

• Scroll: Focuses on ultra-high throughput + low latency, with a TVL of $63 million
• Aztec Protocol: Supports programmable privacy exclusively, launching the Noir programming language to make ZK app development easier
• DeGate V1: Optimized for DEX, emphasizing minimal slippage and low-cost large trades

Challenges remaining for ZK Rollup

While the technology is impressive, reality still presents hurdles:

① High complexity — Deep cryptographic principles, steep learning curve for users and developers

② Proof generation consumes significant resources — Creating zero-knowledge proofs requires heavy computation, efficiency bottlenecks persist

③ Data availability concerns — Ensuring all transaction data can be verified, managing difficulty

④ Adoption rate needs improvement — Users need time to understand and trust this system; ecosystem building is a long-term effort

⑤ Governance models are still evolving — Protocol upgrades, security risk management require a robust decentralized governance framework

⑥ Economics are still being refined — Although transaction fees are lower, whether operational costs can be sustained remains uncertain

Outlook: How ZK Rollup will reshape Ethereum’s future

Despite challenges, the prospects for ZK Rollup are exceptionally bright. As R&D deepens, these complexity issues are being addressed one by one, and liquidity fragmentation has new solutions.

As long as ZK Rollup continues to innovate and expand its developer ecosystem, it has the potential to trigger the next wave of Ethereum’s large-scale ecosystem upgrade. Imagine an Ethereum network with transaction fees costing just a few cents, speeds in milliseconds, and security intact—that’s the future ZK Rollup promises.

Summary

ZK Rollup technology represents the cutting edge of blockchain scalability. By processing transactions in bulk off-chain and using zero-knowledge proofs to ensure security, ZK Rollup opens the door to a truly efficient, economical, and sustainable Ethereum ecosystem. From Manta Network’s privacy innovations, Starknet’s quantum resistance, to Taiko’s decentralized ordering—these projects are actively demonstrating the feasibility of ZK Rollup, pushing the entire blockchain industry toward a more mature stage.

Whether you are a developer, investor, or ordinary user, the ZK Rollup track is worth long-term attention. It’s not just a technological evolution but a crucial strategic layout for large-scale blockchain adoption.