0xResearch

Are Hyperchains The Scaling End Game? | Alex Gluchowski, Anthony Rose

Thu Jun 29 2023

ZK Stack

00:00 - 06:49

ZK Stack is an interoperable modular solution for building L2s and L3s based on Ethereum.
The ZK Stack provides an out-of-the-box interoperability solution called hyperbridges.
Hyperbridges enable seamless and trustless bridging between different hyperchains using shared prover technology.
The ZK Stack allows developers to build Ethereum-based roll-ups in a modular stack.
Matter Labs has released the ZK stack as the next step of the evolution of the ZK Sync project.
ZK Credo is a manifesto that codifies the core values and principles guiding Matter Labs' mission.

Ethical Framework for ZK-powered Networks

06:24 - 14:05

The team wants to formalize an ethical framework for ZK-powered networks and is seeking community feedback.
The ethical framework will outline the properties of hyperscalable networks that must be implemented to fulfill the mission.
The principles in the framework serve as a set of lenses for making technical decisions.
ZK Sync's vision is to involve the community and work together towards achieving the mission.

Customization in ZK Stack

13:42 - 21:52

The ZK Stack is a modular framework that allows developers to customize different aspects of their chain
Developers can choose between a centralized sequencer or decentralize the sequencer using consensus in layer 2
Data availability is a crucial component, and the default option is to rely on Ethereum's layer one for data availability
ZK Porter offers an alternative where data availability is secured by token holders who stake tokens
ZK Portal users can seamlessly interact with ZK Roll-up accounts within a single transaction
Developers have the freedom to shape all aspects of the chain, including restrictions and privacy options

Hyperchains

21:28 - 29:17

Hyperchains are roll-up blockchains with a broad design space, ranging from validity to pure ZK roll-ups.
Hyperchains can be L2s settling down to Ethereum or L3s settling down to L2s.
Hyperchains allow for private transactions through the use of privacy protocols like ZK stack or other options in development.
Hyperchains can be isolated or plugged into a network, sharing liquidity and ensuring synchronous and atomic transactions.
The user experience with Hyperchains is seamless, with one transaction instead of multiple steps on centralized exchanges.
Hyperchains that want to be part of the network must use a single bridge head on layer one, offering shared approval as an option.
Users have full sovereignty over their chains and can generate their own proofs if they don't want to use shared trust assumptions.
Protocols will allow users to exit any chain if they don't like what's happening, maintaining the right to exit as a core property.
Composability between hyperchains is enabled through opting into a shared prover contract on Ethereum L1.
Transactions can be made between any address on any hyperchain in the network, regardless of L2 or L3 status.
Transaction latency will be very fast, starting at around 15 minutes and potentially going under one minute due to parallel proof generation.

ZK Sync

36:26 - 43:38

The ZK stack is a generalization of the code base developed for era, providing a toolkit for building hyperchains.
It includes core components like sequencer, circuits, prover, system contracts, bridging interfaces, and tooling like compiler SDKs and CLIs.
Using ZK technology allows for more flexibility and design choices compared to other approaches like optimistic rollups.
Certain design decisions need to be made from the start to leverage the superpowers of ZK technology.
Changing fundamental aspects of a chain after it has been deployed is difficult and can lead to compatibility issues.
Design of the payment interface in ZK Sync allows developers to customize their payment interface to suit their needs at scale.
Account abstraction provides a set of tools for development teams to customize their payment interface and improve user experience.
Transactions in ZK Sync can be as cheap as simple transfers on the Ethereum network.
ZK Sync architecture allows users to have different accounts with varying security guarantees and interchange between them easily.
Rollup accounts in ZK Sync offer high security but are more expensive to maintain, while porter accounts provide cheaper transactions but with slightly less secure funds.
Most users would likely have a majority of their funds in rollup accounts for higher security and use porter accounts for day-to-day activities with cheaper transaction fees.
Rollup and porter accounts can coexist within the same ZK Sync era chain, providing seamless synchronous connectivity between them.
Hyperchains are more suitable for application-specific chains or when customization and full control are required, rather than generic chains like ZK Sync era.
Decentralizing the sequencer is a non-negotiable aspect of ZK Sync era's design philosophy, and efforts are underway to achieve this decentralization.

Decentralized Sequencer in ZK Stack

43:10 - 50:41

The philosophy behind the design of era is to have a decentralized sequencer.
The engineering team has been working on the decentralized version of the sequence for months and it will be available on public testnet soon.
Decentralizing the sequence is important for achieving reliability metrics and liveness of the chain.
The decentralized version of era will be part of the ZK stack, allowing flexibility for different use cases.
There are plans to allow community contributions to build modular options into the stack.
The decentralized sequencer will involve validator nodes performing ordering and processing transactions.
A proof-of-authority network may be used initially on testnet to test the decentralized sequencer.
The design for decentralizing both the sequencer and Prover is being worked on, with a focus on running them on consumer hardware.
A common standard for proving mechanisms in different ecosystems is still being developed, but trustless bridging between roll-ups is possible with some limitations.

Standardization and Innovation in ZK Stack

50:16 - 57:46

Building on a stack that is incompatible with the ZK Sync ecosystem will make migration challenging
There is tension between standardization and innovation in the design and implementation of proof systems
Standardized proofing within the ZK stack allows for consistent and shared benefits
L2s have taken inspiration from Cosmos' app-specific approach to interoperability
D Y DX's commitment to Cosmos indicates a need for more control and decentralization
The difference between the Zika stack and the cosmos ecosystem lies in how bridges work
Hyperbridges enable seamless, trustless interaction between hyperchains
The ZK stack allows for the creation of hyperchains as L2 or L3 solutions with varying designs

Future of ZK Stack

57:21 - 1:02:08

The design of the Hyperchain can vary, with options like Validium or pure ZK roll up.
Hyperjanes have native communication between them due to the shared prover system.
Early partners are excited to build their own hyper chains and explore different design choices.
Partners want interoperability with the broader ecosystem but also want to keep some state private.
Different partners have different reasons for wanting private state and have made different design choices.
Progress from four or five key partners building towards their own solutions with the ZK stack is expected in the coming months.
Using external DA layers for data availability services does not affect interoperability benefits.
Moving funds from one hyper chain to another ensures safety even if the original chain crashes or data availability is compromised.
ZK Sync can be followed on Twitter for updates and information about their codebase and team.
Feedback on ZK Krito is encouraged, as well as discussion with the community about building solutions for the ZK stack.