Executive Summary: Optimistic Rollups vs ZK-Rollups: The Ultimate Comparison
In this article, I compare two of Ethereum's leading layer 2 scaling solutions - optimistic rollups and ZK-rollups. I explain how both rollup types work and analyze their differences in scalability, costs, security, latency, privacy, validity proofs, DeFi readiness, and programming complexity.
Summary: The article compares optimistic rollups and ZK-rollups, two layer 2 scaling solutions for Ethereum, analyzing their differences in scalability, costs, security, latency, privacy, validity proofs, DeFi readiness, and ease of programming.
What are rollups:
- Rollups are layer 2 scaling solutions that move transactions off-chain while maintaining mainnet security and decentralization.
- They batch transactions together and post them on Ethereum's mainchain, reducing gas fees and increasing transaction speed.
How optimistic rollups work:
- Transactions are executed off-chain by a sequencer and posted to Ethereum without validity proofs.
- Validators monitor the sequencer and can challenge invalid transactions via fraud proofs.
How ZK-rollups work:
- Transactions are executed off-chain and accompanied by validity proofs called ZK-SNARKs.
- These proofs are verified on-chain to ensure validity of transactions.
Comparing optimistic and ZK-rollups:
- Optimistic rollups have higher throughput but require more gas. ZK-rollups save gas but have higher computation costs.
- Optimistic rollups are vulnerable to censorship attacks while ZK-rollups are more secure.
- Optimistic rollups have lower latency but longer finality times. ZK-rollups have higher latency but faster finality.
- Optimistic rollups have lower privacy while ZK-rollups hide transaction details.
- Optimistic rollups use fraud proofs, ZK-rollups use ZK proofs for validity.
- Optimistic rollups are more DeFi-ready while ZK-rollups are still evolving compatibility.
- Optimistic rollups are easier to program as they are EVM-compatible. ZK-rollups require learning new tools.
Full article:
Optimistic Rollups vs ZK-Rollups: The Ultimate Comparison | CoinMarketCap
Optimistic rollups vs ZK-rollups: which one will prove to be a better solution to Ethereum’s scalability issues?
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