ZK Rollups on Ethereum: How to Choose the Best Scaling Solution in 2025

Why ZK-Rollups Are Becoming the Foundation of Layer 2

The scalability problem of Ethereum has long been a concern for the ecosystem. As the number of users and transaction volume grow, gas fees increase exponentially, and transaction speeds slow down. Although Ethereum 2.0 promised to solve this issue, deployment is happening gradually and requires time.

Layer 2 solutions come to the rescue, and among them, ZK-Rollups stand out with their innovative approach. They process many transactions off the main chain, aggregating them into a single cryptographic proof before submitting to Ethereum. This mechanism allows maintaining security and decentralization while achieving unprecedented speed and cost efficiency.

How ZK-Rollups Work: A Closer Look

ZK-Rollups operate based on the concept of zero-knowledge proofs (zero-knowledge proofs). Imagine a congested city — ZK-Rollups work like efficient bypass roads, handling main traffic outside the main highway.

The process consists of four stages:

1. Smart contracts are deployed on the Ethereum mainnet, establishing rules for all operations within the ZK-Rollup.

2. Transactions are executed in a separate virtual machine off-chain, drastically reducing costs and speeding up execution.

3. A cryptographic proof is generated from the batch of aggregated transactions, confirming their correctness without revealing individual operation details.

4. This proof is sent to validators on the main network, who verify it and confirm the integrity of all off-chain operations.

Zero-knowledge proofs possess three critical properties: completeness (all true statements can be proven), soundness (it is impossible to prove a false statement), and zero-knowledge (no additional data is disclosed). This cryptographic elegance makes ZK-Rollups exceptionally secure and efficient.

Advantages of ZK-Rollups Over Alternatives

Compared to other Layer 2 solutions like Optimistic Rollups, ZK-Rollups demonstrate clear advantages:

Security Without Compromise: Optimistic Rollups assume all transactions are valid by default and verify them only in case of disputes. ZK-Rollups verify each operation using cryptographic proofs, providing instant finality instead of a challenge period.

No Trust Assumptions: ZK-Rollups do not require trusted intermediaries, unlike Optimistic Rollups, which rely on the assumption of validator honesty.

Enhanced Privacy: Details of individual operations remain encrypted within the proof, offering a higher level of confidentiality.

Environmental Friendliness: Thanks to efficient batch processing and minimized computations, energy consumption is significantly lower.

Top ZK-Rollup Ecosystem Projects in 2025

Starknet: Quantum-Resistant Architecture

Market Cap of STRK: $389.88M
Launch Date: February 2022
Native Token: STRK (for fees, governance, and staking)

Starknet is built on STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge) technology, which represents an evolution of ZK proofs. Its main advantage is the absence of trusted setup and resistance to quantum computing.

The network processes and verifies operations off-chain, then publishes proofs on Ethereum. This ensures scalability without compromising security. Starknet supports universal computations, enabling deployment of any smart contracts, making the platform highly flexible.

Manta Network: Privacy at the Core

Market Cap of MANTA: $33.57M
Launch Date: September 2023
Native Token: MANTA (for governance, staking, and fees)

In a short time, Manta Pacific became the fourth-largest Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, surpassing even Coinbase’s Base. Its specialization is confidential DeFi transactions.

Using zk-SNARKs, Manta allows users to perform operations and swaps with complete privacy. Asset details and amounts remain encrypted but verifiable for legitimacy. This is a revolutionary approach for DeFi, where privacy has traditionally been absent. The platform also aims to create a privacy layer for all DeFi applications across various blockchains.

Linea: Focus on Developer Simplicity

Market Cap of LINEA: $105.76M
Launch Date: August 2023
Native Token: LINEA (under development)

Linea emphasizes integration for developers. The network uses zk-SNARKs for validation, processing operations off-chain and batching them before submitting to Ethereum.

Its key advantage is high throughput at low costs, enabling applications to operate more efficiently. The ease of deploying existing Ethereum contracts makes Linea attractive for developers looking to expand their projects.

zkSync Era: EVM Compatibility as Standard

Market Cap of ZKS: $555 millions
Launch Date: March 2023
Native Token: ZKS (fees, governance, staking)

zkSync Era, developed by Matter Labs, offers a zkRollup solution focused on user-friendliness. The platform processes operations off-chain and groups them into a single proof before submitting to the mainnet.

Its main feature is full EVM compatibility, allowing Ethereum smart contracts to run without code modifications. This greatly simplifies project migration and lowers the entry barrier for developers already familiar with the Ethereum ecosystem.

Polygon zkEVM: Scalability within a Large Ecosystem

Market Cap of MATIC: From $115 million in Layer 2
Launch Date: March 2023
Native Token: MATIC (gas and governance)

As part of the Polygon ecosystem, zkEVM provides an EVM-compatible ZK Rollup solution. Operations are executed in an EVM-compatible environment, then verified on-chain via ZK proofs.

The advantage is the integration with other Polygon products, creating an ecosystem effect. Developers get a versatile and reliable environment for deploying Layer 2 applications.

Scroll: High Throughput with Minimal Latency

Market Cap: $63.46 million
Launch Date: October 2023
Native Token: In development

Scroll focuses on achieving maximum throughput and minimal latency. It uses zk-SNARKs to compress operations into a single proof before submitting to Ethereum.

The platform emphasizes EVM compatibility, easing the porting of existing contracts. This approach is especially attractive for DeFi applications and high-volume transaction scenarios.

Aztec Protocol: Programmable Privacy

Launch Date: 2017
Native Token: In development

Aztec employs a hybrid public-private ZK-Rollup model, enabling contract logic to be executed both openly and confidentially. Privacy is optional, opening possibilities for private trading and anonymous voting.

The project introduces Noir — a programming language for ZK-chain development, simplifying the creation of dApps using ZK proofs. Aztec aims for full decentralization of all components by mainnet launch.

ZetaChain: Universal Bridges Between Blockchains

Market Cap of ZETA: $79.55M
Launch Date: February 2021
Native Token: ZETA (fees, governance, interoperability)

ZetaChain is paving the way for “universal bridges” between blockchains, utilizing ZK Rollups for secure cross-chain interaction. The platform applies zk-SNARKs to verify operations within one network without revealing confidential information to another.

Its unique tech stack includes “ZetaML” for off-chain smart contract execution. This allows dApps to use assets and data from multiple blockchains seamlessly.

Taiko: Decentralized Sequencing

Launch Date: January 2024 (testnet)
Funding: $37 million

Taiko employs an innovative ZK-EVM architecture to create a fully Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 protocol. Existing dApps can operate unchanged, ensuring a smooth transition for developers.

The main innovation is the “based” sequencing method, where the dispatcher functions (transaction batching) are managed by the base blockchain (Layer 1) instead of a centralized structure. This addresses a common issue in current rollup solutions, where a centralized sequencer can become a point of failure or censorship.

The “based” sequence in Taiko simplifies the value creation chain, reduces trust assumptions, and eases developer integration.

ZKFair: Fairness Against Front-Running

Launch Date: December 2023
Native Token: ZKF ($163 million market cap)

ZKFair functions as a decentralized exchange focused on fair execution. The platform uses ZK Rollups to prevent front-running and manipulation of transaction order.

This is a significant advantage for traders concerned about the fairness of their trades. ZKFair employs zero-knowledge proofs to process transactions off-chain, then aggregates them for Ethereum.

DeGate V1: Optimized for Derivative Trading

Launch Date: September 2022
Native Token: DG ($21.14 million market cap)

DeGate V1 is built on a ZK Rollup architecture, specializing in decentralized exchange functions with minimal slippage. The platform uses zero-knowledge proofs for batch processing of off-chain operations.

DeGate’s unique position is optimized for large derivative trades, where slippage is critical.

Challenges Facing ZK-Rollups

Despite their potential, ZK-Rollup technology faces several issues:

Technical complexity makes implementation and maintenance difficult. Developers need deep cryptography expertise.

Limited flexibility in transaction types that can be efficiently processed, constraining use cases.

Data availability remains critical — reliable management and storage of transaction information are necessary.

Proof resource intensity can cause efficiency issues at scale.

Ecosystem integration requires broad adoption and user trust, which is progressing slower than expected.

Management complexity — protocol upgrades and changes require a decentralized and secure decision-making model.

Economic viability — despite efforts to reduce costs, operational expenses can be significant.

What Does the Future Hold for ZK-Rollups?

The outlook appears optimistic. Ongoing research and development aim to simplify the technology’s complexity, and innovative architectures (like Taiko’s “based” sequence) address censorship and liquidity fragmentation issues.

With sustainable growth and collaboration among projects, ZK-Rollups have the potential to radically transform the Ethereum ecosystem, ushering in an era of high-speed, cost-effective, and secure applications accessible to millions of users.

Final Conclusion

ZK-Rollups represent one of the most promising technologies for solving scalability issues. By processing operations off-chain while maintaining cryptographic security, they create conditions for a fairer and more accessible blockchain ecosystem.

The ability of ZK-Rollups to overcome current Ethereum limitations opens pathways for mass adoption of blockchain technologies, unlocking their true potential to transform global financial infrastructure and digital asset interactions.