ZK Rollup in the Ethereum ecosystem is thriving: A must-read Layer 2 project guide for 2025

Why Does Ethereum Need ZK Rollup?

As the world’s largest smart contract platform, Ethereum (Ethereum) faces a core challenge: as the application ecosystem flourishes, network congestion leads to soaring transaction fees and slower transaction speeds. Although Ethereum 2.0 upgrades are underway, Layer 2 solutions are considered the most practical approach to solving scalability issues.

Among various Layer 2 technologies, ZK Rollup stands out for its unique security and efficiency features, gradually becoming a key bridge connecting the Ethereum mainnet with high-speed transactions.

How ZK Rollup Works

ZK Rollup is essentially an off-chain transaction aggregation technology. Imagine transferring traffic from a congested city main road to an efficient bypass highway; ZK Rollup is the technical solution that achieves this concept in the blockchain space.

Specifically, ZK Rollup operates as follows:

1. Transactions are conducted off-chain — Large volumes of transactions are processed in an independent virtual machine, significantly reducing mainnet load
2. Generate zero-knowledge proofs — Cryptographic tools produce encrypted proofs to verify the legitimacy of the batch of transactions without revealing any transaction details
3. Batch verification submission — The proof is submitted to the Ethereum mainnet for validation by verifiers

Zero-Knowledge Proofs (Zero-Knowledge Proofs, ZKPs) possess three core features: completeness (proof of truthfulness), soundness (impossibility of forgery), and privacy (no information leakage). This enables ZK Rollup to improve transaction efficiency while maintaining security standards.

Advantages of ZK Rollup Compared to Other Layer 2 Solutions

Compared to optimistic rollups and other Layer 2 technologies, ZK Rollup has clear advantages:

Finality of transactions — ZK Rollup transactions are confirmed immediately after verification, without waiting for dispute periods; optimistic rollups require days to handle potential fraud proofs.

Trustless operation — ZK Rollup relies on cryptography rather than economic incentives, eliminating the need to trust verifiers; optimistic rollups depend on honest validators.

Enhanced privacy — Transaction details are encrypted within proofs, providing higher privacy levels than other solutions.

Compatibility and flexibility — Many ZK Rollup projects maintain compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to migrate applications without rewriting code.

The Most Active ZK Rollup Projects in the Ethereum Ecosystem

( Manta Network )Manta Pacific###

Manta Network focuses on privacy protection, utilizing zk-SNARKs technology to enable users to conduct DeFi transactions with complete privacy. Its Manta Pacific Layer 2 solution has grown rapidly since launch, becoming the fourth-largest Layer 2 network on Ethereum.

Current Data: Circulating Market Cap $33.86M | Launch Date: September 2023

Manta’s unique approach is to make privacy a standard feature in DeFi, rather than an optional add-on, which remains rare among competitors.

( Linea

Linea, developed by ConsenSys, is a ZK Rollup Layer 2 that processes transactions off-chain and uses zk-SNARKs for batch verification. The platform emphasizes developer experience and aims to simplify application deployment.

Current Data: Circulating Market Cap $107.43M | Launch Date: August 2023

Linea’s core strength lies in its excellent throughput and transaction speed, offering developers better performance than traditional Layer 2 solutions.

) Polygon zkEVM

As a key part of the Polygon ecosystem, Polygon zkEVM provides a fully compatible Ethereum ZK Rollup environment. Developers can deploy existing Ethereum smart contracts directly onto the platform without rewriting code.

Native Token: MATIC

The biggest advantage of zkEVM is its seamless interoperability and robust ecosystem effects, making it an ideal migration target for traditional Ethereum developers.

StarkNet

StarkNet employs STARKs ###Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge### zero-knowledge proof technology, which is a more advanced solution than zk-SNARKs. Notably, STARKs do not require trusted setup and have quantum resistance.

Current Data: Circulating Market Cap $396.23M | Launch Date: February 2022

StarkNet supports general-purpose computation, allowing developers to run complex smart contracts, with huge potential.

( zkSync Era

zkSync Era, developed by Matter Labs, aggregates transactions off-chain and submits them to the Ethereum mainnet. The platform emphasizes user experience, aiming for industry-low transaction fees and high throughput.

Native Token: ZKS | Total Locked Value: )million

EVM compatibility allows existing Ethereum applications to migrate directly, reducing technical migration costs for developers.

Scroll

Scroll focuses on high throughput and low latency transaction scenarios, compressing transaction data with zk-SNARKs. The platform emphasizes full compatibility with EVM, enabling seamless porting of existing smart contracts.

Total Locked Value: $63.46 million | Launch Date: October 2023

Scroll aims to provide a cost-effective, high-efficiency alternative for DeFi and high-frequency trading applications.

$555 Aztec Protocol

Aztec pioneered a hybrid public-private ZK Rollup model, supporting fully private transactions and public smart contract execution on the same platform. The protocol developed the Noir programming language, greatly simplifying ZK circuit development.

Launch Date: 2017 (one of the oldest ZK projects)

Aztec’s vision is to realize a fully decentralized privacy application layer, aligning closely with Ethereum’s open and censorship-resistant values.

ZKFair

ZKFair is a decentralized exchange ###DEX### based on ZK Rollup, with core innovation in preventing front-running (Front-Running). The platform uses zero-knowledge proofs to ensure fair transaction ordering.

Native Token: ZKF | Market Cap: (million | Launch Date: December 2023

The common front-running problem in traditional DEXs is effectively addressed by ZKFair, providing a fairer trading environment.

) DeGate V1

DeGate V1 is built on ZK Rollup technology, optimized for large-volume trading scenarios. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to batch transactions, reducing slippage and fees.

Native Token: DG | Market Cap: $21.14 million | Launch Date: September 2022

DeGate’s feature is offering low-slippage decentralized trading for professional traders, exploring institutional-grade DeFi applications.

$163 ZetaChain

ZetaChain innovates with a ZK Rollup-based “universal cross-chain bridge” technology, using zk-SNARKs to verify cross-chain transactions without revealing information, enabling secure asset transfers across different blockchains.

Native Token: ZETA | Circulating Market Cap: $80.77M | Launch Date: February 2021

ZetaChain aims to become an interoperability hub in multi-chain ecosystems, supporting dApps to operate seamlessly across multiple blockchains.

Taiko

Taiko adopts an innovative “Layer 1-based ordering mechanism,” breaking the traditional reliance on centralized sequencers in Rollups. The platform has demonstrated progress in its Alpha testnet and has raised $37 million in funding for development.

Launch Date: January 2024 (Testnet)

Taiko’s breakthrough is that its sequencer is driven by a bottom-layer Layer 1 blockchain, rather than a single centralized entity, greatly reducing censorship risks and single points of failure.

Challenges Facing ZK Rollup Technology

Despite its advantages, ZK Rollup still faces several challenges:

Technical complexity — Cryptographic implementation difficulty and high maintenance costs.

Application limitations — Certain transaction types are inefficient on ZK Rollup, restricting use cases.

Data availability — High on-chain data requirements for Rollup transactions pose system architecture challenges.

Proof generation costs — Creating cryptographic proofs consumes significant computational resources, potentially causing efficiency bottlenecks.

Adoption barriers — Widespread user adoption requires more user-friendly interfaces and robust infrastructure.

Governance and upgrades — Protocol changes must balance decentralization, security, and efficiency.

Economic viability — While aiming to reduce transaction costs, operational expenses may pose challenges.

Future Blueprint of the ZK Rollup Ecosystem

The ZK Rollup field is experiencing rapid innovation, with researchers and developers working to simplify technical complexity and strengthen integration with Ethereum. Innovative solutions are emerging continuously, especially in addressing industry issues like liquidity fragmentation.

With steady growth and deeper ecosystem collaborations, ZK Rollup has the potential to revolutionize Ethereum’s scalability landscape, ushering in an era of high-speed, low-cost, and secure blockchain applications, further driving mainstream adoption of crypto ecosystems.

Conclusion

ZK Rollup represents a significant advancement in blockchain scalability technology. By efficiently aggregating transactions off-chain while ensuring security and data integrity, ZK Rollup promises to build a more scalable, efficient, and robust Ethereum and broader blockchain ecosystem.

This technological breakthrough clears obstacles for large-scale blockchain adoption, unleashing its full potential, empowering individuals, and redefining how people interact with digital assets.