Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a new solution to create an ultra-secure Blockchain. Commenting on the classic debate between rollups and ZK rollups, Buterin offers a hybrid model that can take the best of both worlds.
Vitalik Buterin shares his ideas for a safer Ethereum
Rollups are Layer 2 solutions that aim to improve the scalability of a Blockchain. Rollups combine a group of transactions into a single transaction and send the final state. Currently, the Ethereum network can handle around 20-30 transactions per second at best. Rollups increase the speed of transactions exponentially.
There are two main types of rollups: Optimistic rollup and ZK rollup
Optimistic rollups are pessimistic, believing that all transactions are correct until proven otherwise. They combine all transactions into one transaction without checking their originality. Then, they allow time for everyone to challenge their reality.
On the other hand, ZK rollups check the authenticity of every transaction. While ZK is safer, it is often more costly. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin offered a solution to this problem in a tweet that day.
Hybrid idea: optimistic + ZK, governance only adjudicates bugs between the two
1. Publish block
2. Wait 24h for fraud challenges.
3a. If no challenge, publish ZK SNARK, finalize.
3b. If there is a challenge, decide based on 2-of-3 of (challenge game, ZK SNARK, governance) https://t.co/KWuk4mZTQa— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) July 30, 2022
Vitalik Buterin’s new plans for Ethereum
Buterin’s plan takes the best of both worlds. The Ethereum founder proposes to create a rollup that will combine the Optimistic rollup and the ZK rollup. According to its plan, a Blockchain will issue a block. Then the Blockchain will remain on hold for 24 hours. If there are no mishaps on the block, a ZK-SNARK will be released, which is a type of ZK rollup.
If there is a challenge as to the authenticity of any transaction, then the decision will be made in consultation between the Optimistic rollup, the ZK rollup, and the overall Blockchain management. All disputes between Optimistic rollup and ZK rollup will be resolved by management.
Rollups are a very hot topic in the Ethereum ecosystem right now. Polygon has launched a zero-knowledge based EVM that will be compatible with any smart contract based on the Ethereum mainnet. Following Polygon’s announcement, Matter Labs And Scroll also announced their zkEVM.
Merge is approaching
Meanwhile, all of Ethereum is gearing up to migrate to PoS in the third week of September. But most of the promised scalability features will only be available after 2023. With Merge, the ETH network is moving to the PoS Blockchain, also called Ethereum 2.0 or ETH2.
Ethereum developers have given September 19 as the permanent date for the existing PoW Blockchain to be merged with PoS. Merge is scheduled to be released on the Goerli testnet in the second week of August. After the successful integration of the Goerli testnet, Ethereum will launch the Bellatrix update in early August and roll out the merge two weeks later. Finally, everything about merge cryptocoin.comas discussed in this article.
