Matter Labs, the primary development firm behind the layer-2 network ZKsync, has announced a groundbreaking update called ZKsync 3.0. This new roadmap aims to enhance the ecosystem’s interconnectivity with the introduction of an “Elastic Chain,” similar to Polygon’s AggLayer released earlier this year.
Key Features of ZKsync 3.0
At the heart of ZKsync 3.0 is the v24 upgrade, launched on June 7, which transforms ZKsync from a single ZK chain into an Elastic Chain. This Elastic Chain is composed of multiple chains within the ZKsync ecosystem, but users will experience it as a single, seamless chain. The Matter Labs team detailed this innovation in a recent blog post, emphasizing that the Elastic Chain will make the network more interconnected and user-friendly.
Components of the Elastic Chain
The Elastic Chain comprises three main components:
- Native Token Vault and Shared Router: These smart contracts on Ethereum manage the network’s state and handle chain registrations. They form the backbone of the Elastic Chain, ensuring the system operates smoothly.
- ZK Gateway: This middleware connects the Ethereum blockchain to ZKsync’s ZK chains, facilitating interoperability between different chains in the ecosystem. The ZK Gateway ensures that ZK chains can efficiently interact and transact with one another while inheriting Ethereum’s robust security.
- Scalability and Interoperability: The Elastic Chain represents a new trend in blockchain technology, aiming to make interoperability within different ecosystems more seamless for users. This design allows the network to scale horizontally without compromising the core properties that make public blockchains powerful.
Last year, Matter Labs released the ZK Stack, a toolkit enabling developers to build custom blockchains on ZKsync’s technology. These custom chains will now be interconnected through the Elastic Chain, creating an infinitely extensible network of ZK chains (including rollups, validiums, and volitions) secured by mathematical proofs and providing a uniform, intuitive user experience.
Also Read: Matter Labs Appoints Nana Murugesan as President
The Road Ahead
Matter Labs’ Elastic Chain aims to set a new standard for interconnected blockchain ecosystems, building on the success of its ZK Stack toolkit. By creating a seamless, scalable, and secure network, ZKsync 3.0 positions itself as a formidable player in the blockchain space, poised to offer users and developers an enhanced, cohesive experience.
The introduction of ZKsync 3.0 and the Elastic Chain marks a significant milestone for Matter Labs and the broader blockchain community. As interoperability and scalability become increasingly important, ZKsync 3.0 offers a promising solution that enhances user experience while maintaining the fundamental strengths of blockchain technology.
