Blockchain infrastructure developer zkLink has revealed Nexus, a layer-3 community constructed to attach a number of in style Ethereum rollup options, together with zkSync, StarkNet and Polygon zkEVM.
zkLink’s app-specific rollups inherit safety from Ethereum utilizing zk-SNARKs, and might join to varied general-purpose zero-knowledge (zk) rollups.
By enabling tokens to be simply transferred between one zkLink rollup to a different, DeFi functions — together with decentralized exchanges and NFT marketplaces — will have the ability to decrease liquidity fragmentation when sending transactions between totally different blockchains.
Co-founder of zkLink Vince Yang instructed Blockworks that Nexus will choose simply one of many layer-2 networks to execute the zk-SNARK verification course of, lowering prices in comparison with performing verifications instantly on Ethereum mainnet.
“Nexus establishes a communication mechanism by way of Ethereum to coordinate and synchronize the state throughout totally different zk-based layer-2 networks, representing the standing of the Nexus community on every layer-2,” Yang defined.
Ethereum is the “host” for varied zk layer-2 options, and every layer-2 answer is ready to talk with Ethereum mainnet by way of its canonical bridge, Yang stated. ZkLink Nexus has deployed a wise contract on Ethereum and linked it with sensible contracts which can be linked to zk layer-2s.
“Nexus layer-3 is posting proofs and off-chain layer-3 states to the contracts on the layer-2s,” which then publish state roots to Ethereum. “This communication is the elemental assure to make sure the state safety of Nexus,” he stated.
Yang notes that it’s by way of this synchronization mechanism that Nexus is ready to obtain Ethereum-equivalent safety throughout varied rollup aggregators with out compromising safety or introducing extra belief assumptions.
This synchronization mechanism can be a key consider stopping deposit fraud, because it ensures that each one deposit data stays correct throughout a number of networks, stopping validators from double-signing on a transaction.
Cross-zkRollup layer-2 states synchronization course of | Supply: zkLink
A key function of this structure is that it additionally permits customizable knowledge availability, providing a number of methods to retailer knowledge, together with choices equivalent to utilizing Ethereum to retailer knowledge by way of calldata. It additionally presents knowledge availability storage by way of validiums utilizing on-chain layer-2 networks equivalent to Celestia and EigenLayer or off-chain by way of a knowledge availability committee (DAC).
The Nexus workforce can be engaged on a brand new know-how known as ‘A number of Utility Recursive Proof Verification’ or MARPV.
MARPV is the flexibility for recursive ZKPs to consolidate varied on-chain verifications into one single verification that’s then submitted.
It refers back to the additional recursive aggregation of proofs from totally different layer-3 rollups, thereby lowering the variety of on-chain verifications and consequently decreasing prices, Yang famous. As zkLink Nexus is an app-specific layer-3 rollup answer, multiple Nexus layer-3 rollup will likely be deployed by totally different apps.
Kalman Lajko, a senior software program engineer at Matter Labs — the workforce behind zkSync — instructed Blockworks that zkLink, and functions that join throughout a number of rollup ecosystems, solves the essential concern of fragmentation for the broader Ethereum group.
“This can give builders the flexibility to realize higher scale, present decrease gasoline prices, and provide extra app-specific customizability for his or her initiatives. The main focus now must be on not creating extra belief assumptions,” Lajko stated.
Native token transfers throughout chains
In contrast to some cross-chain interoperability protocols that ship wrapped variations of tokens from one chain to a different, Nexus is designed to ship native tokens throughout totally different zero-knowledge ecosystems.
Yang stated tokens minted by the identical utility on totally different networks ought to be acknowledged as one. The design would permit for customers to commerce on the zkLink layer, as an alternative of only for cross-chain transactions.
“Each mainstream and rising cash [will] discover their buying and selling pairs on zkLink Nexus, that means customers can obtain higher buying and selling depth and a wider vary of buying and selling pair picks by way of zkLink Nexus,” Yang stated.
Upcoming work
Nexus presently makes use of Plonk, a class of zk-SNARKS, as its most important zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) system. It’s working to develop its personal system based mostly on the latest progress of different proof techniques, particularly SuperNova and HyperNova, Yang notes.
In keeping with Yang, no different initiatives are utilizing SuperNova or HyperNova, however there are lots of groups following the progress of the implementation of those techniques. That is largely as a consequence of the truth that SuperNova and HyperNova haven’t but deployed production-ready engineering states.
“On our roadmap, the zkLink workforce is engaged on the implementation of folding schemes and can implement it into the Nexus platform as soon as it will get manufacturing prepared,” Yang stated.
