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 numerous 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 be capable to decrease liquidity fragmentation when sending transactions between completely different blockchains.
Co-founder of zkLink Vince Yang advised Blockworks that Nexus will choose simply one of many layer-2 networks to execute the zk-SNARK verification course of, decreasing 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 completely different zk-based layer-2 networks, representing the standing of the Nexus community on every layer-2,” Yang defined.
Ethereum is the “host” for numerous zk layer-2 options, and every layer-2 answer is ready to talk with Ethereum mainnet by way of its canonical bridge, Yang mentioned. ZkLink Nexus has deployed a wise contract on Ethereum and linked it with good 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 put up state roots to Ethereum. “This communication is the basic assure to make sure the state safety of Nexus,” he mentioned.
Yang notes that it’s by way of this synchronization mechanism that Nexus is ready to obtain Ethereum-equivalent safety throughout numerous rollup aggregators with out compromising safety or introducing further belief assumptions.
This synchronization mechanism can also be a key consider stopping deposit fraud, because it ensures that every one deposit info 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 allows customizable information availability, providing a number of methods to retailer information, together with choices comparable to utilizing Ethereum to retailer information by way of calldata. It additionally provides information availability storage by way of validiums utilizing on-chain layer-2 networks comparable to Celestia and EigenLayer or off-chain by way of a knowledge availability committee (DAC).
The Nexus group can also be engaged on a brand new know-how referred to as ‘A number of Utility Recursive Proof Verification’ or MARPV.
MARPV is the flexibility for recursive ZKPs to consolidate numerous on-chain verifications into one single verification that’s then submitted.
It refers back to the additional recursive aggregation of proofs from completely different layer-3 rollups, thereby decreasing the variety of on-chain verifications and consequently decreasing prices, Yang famous. As zkLink Nexus is an app-specific layer-3 rollup answer, a couple of Nexus layer-3 rollup might be deployed by completely different apps.
Kalman Lajko, a senior software program engineer at Matter Labs — the group behind zkSync — advised Blockworks that zkLink, and functions that join throughout a number of rollup ecosystems, solves the essential situation of fragmentation for the broader Ethereum group.
“It will give builders the flexibility to realize larger scale, present decrease gasoline prices, and supply extra app-specific customizability for his or her tasks. The main focus now must be on not creating further belief assumptions,” Lajko mentioned.
Native token transfers throughout chains
Not like 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 completely different zero-knowledge ecosystems.
Yang mentioned tokens minted by the identical utility on completely different networks needs to be acknowledged as one. The design would enable 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, which means customers can obtain higher buying and selling depth and a wider vary of buying and selling pair choices by way of zkLink Nexus,” Yang mentioned.
Upcoming work
Nexus at the moment makes use of Plonk, a class of zk-SNARKS, as its essential zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) system. It’s working to develop its personal system based mostly on the current progress of different proof techniques, particularly SuperNova and HyperNova, Yang notes.
In line with Yang, no different tasks are utilizing SuperNova or HyperNova, however there are a lot of groups following the progress of the implementation of those techniques. That is largely on account of the truth that SuperNova and HyperNova haven’t but deployed production-ready engineering states.
“On our roadmap, the zkLink group 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 mentioned.