The Ethereum ecosystem may soon see the integration of several new layer 2 (L2) protocols built on Polygon’s recently open-sourced codebase, known as the Chain Development Kit (CDK). CDK utilizes zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proof) technology to enhance security and ensure fast finality. Jordi Baylina, the technical lead of Polygon Hermez zkEVM, provided insights into this new toolset, stating that it simplifies the process for developers to launch a ZK-powered Layer 2 on Ethereum that meets their project’s specific requirements.
One key feature of Polygon CDK is automatic access to liquidity, not only across all of Polygon’s chains but also within the wider Ethereum ecosystem. This feature allows developers to scale their projects on-demand without liquidity fragmentation. The flexibility of CDK has attracted various projects from different sectors, including payment-specific L2s, DeFi, gaming, social-specific platforms, and creator or NFT platforms.
The customizability of CDK is another aspect worth noting. Developers can tailor appchains to fit their needs, choosing between rollup or validium mode, zkEVM or another ZK-powered execution environment, different data availability solutions, native token and gas token customization, centralized or decentralized sequencer mode, and permissioned networks with granular allowlists. This level of customization empowers developers to create unique solutions for their applications.
Baylina emphasizes the importance of ZK-proof technology, highlighting Polygon Labs’ belief that it represents the future of scaling Ethereum. Chains launched using Polygon CDK are automatically connected to a shared ZK bridge and plugged into an “interop layer” – a cross-chain communication protocol. This innovation resolves the inefficiency of submitting proofs from multiple chains directly to Ethereum. Instead, the interop layer receives proofs from the chains and submits a single ZK proof that validates the state of all Polygon chains. This technology enables sub-minute cross-chain transactions and creates an illusion of a single chain environment.
Comparing CDK to other Ethereum ecosystem programming languages, such as StarkWare’s Cairo codebase, Baylina explains that the architecture facilitated by CDK allows for automatic access to shared liquidity through the ZK bridge and the interop layer. The L2 ecosystem is secured by working ZK-proofs. Additionally, Baylina highlights the advantages of ZK-proofs, such as faster finality and withdrawal times compared to fraud proofs featured in Optimistic rollup L2 solutions, which can cause delays of up to a week.
In conclusion, the introduction of Polygon’s CDK presents an exciting opportunity for the Ethereum ecosystem. The utilization of ZK-proof technology holds the potential to significantly enhance scalability, security, and interoperability. With CDK’s customizability and access to shared liquidity, developers can create innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs. As more projects adopt CDK-powered chains, Ethereum’s scalability and overall blockchain ecosystem could experience substantial growth.
Check out Cointelegraph’s previous exploration of the Ethereum layer 2 ecosystem, which delves into Ethereum rollups and the various approaches to scaling the smart contract blockchain.
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