ZK Rollup projects: Which Ethereum scaling solutions dominate in 2025

Ethereum Scalability Issues and Solutions

Ethereum has transformed the financial industry by becoming a platform for decentralized applications. But this success has also brought a pressing problem: as the number of users grows, transaction fees increase, and processing speeds slow down. Ethereum 2.0 is being rolled out in phases, but even this upgrade doesn’t fully resolve all issues.

This is where Layer 2 solutions come into play, which appear to be the most promising. Among them, ZK Rollup stands out — a technology that promises to unlock Ethereum’s true potential through unprecedented efficiency and cryptographic security.

The Essence of ZK Rollup: How It Works in Practice

ZK Rollup is a Layer 2 scaling solution that increases network throughput by aggregating multiple transactions into one. Imagine a congested city: ZK Rollup functions like bypass highways, processing operations off the main chain but guaranteeing their authenticity on the base layer.

All of this has become possible thanks to zero-knowledge proofs (zero-knowledge proofs) — a powerful cryptographic tool. These proofs are incredibly compact, significantly reducing data volume on the main network and enabling lightning-fast transaction finality. The key advantage: the integrity of operations is confirmed without revealing their details.

( How ZK Rollup Works

The process operates in four stages:

1. Creating rules on the main network: Smart contracts on Ethereum define parameters and requirements for ZK Rollup
2. Off-chain execution: Transactions are processed in a separate virtual machine, reducing costs and increasing speed
3. Generating cryptographic proof: A zk-proof is created, confirming the correctness of the entire batch without revealing details
4. Verification on the main network: The proof is sent to validators, who verify its compliance with the rules

This architecture significantly increases throughput, reduces network load, and lowers gas fees.

Why ZK Rollup Outperforms Other Layer 2 Solutions

ZK rollups differ from Optimistic Rollups in several critical parameters. While Optimistic Rollups assume transaction validity by default and verify only in case of disputes, ZK rollups verify each operation through cryptographic proofs.

Main advantages of ZK Rollup:

• Instant finality: Transactions are confirmed immediately, without a challenge period
• No trust assumptions: No intermediaries or assumptions about validator honesty are required
• Enhanced privacy: Operation details remain encrypted within the proof
• Data availability on the main network: Transaction information remains accessible, increasing reliability
• Ethereum compatibility: Most ZK rollups support existing smart contracts
• Eco-friendliness: Efficient processing reduces energy consumption

Leading ZK Rollup Projects in the Ethereum Ecosystem

) Manta Network ###Manta Pacific### — Privacy in DeFi

Launch: September 2023
Native token: MANTA (governance, staking, fees)
Current market cap: $33.70M

Manta Network specializes in confidential operations within decentralized finance. Using zk-SNARKs technology, the platform allows users to make transactions with full privacy. Transfer details are encrypted but remain verifiable.

Shortly after launch, Manta Pacific ranked fourth in locked funds among Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum, surpassing even Base from one of the largest services. This indicates a growing demand for privacy in DeFi — a feature rarely found on other platforms.

( Linea — Speed and Ease of Integration

Launch: August 2023
Native token: LINEA )to be announced###
Current TVL: (million
Market cap: $107.43M

Linea processes operations off-chain, grouping them before submission using zk-SNARKs for validation. The platform emphasizes developer-friendliness, enabling faster application development on Ethereum.

The project announced an airdrop campaign for its own token and continues to evolve. The main advantage of Linea is high throughput and processing speed.

) Polygon zkEVM — EVM Compatibility at the Forefront

Launch: March 2023
Native token: MATIC $202 gas and governance###
Current TVL: (million

Polygon zkEVM operates by executing transactions off-chain within an environment compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, then confirming them on the main network via ZK proofs. This ensures full compatibility with existing contracts and tools.

The key feature is that developers familiar with the Ethereum ecosystem can deploy their applications without rewriting code.

) Starknet — Quantum-Resistant Security

Launch: February 2022
Native token: STRK $115 gas, governance, staking###
Current market cap: $400.90M

StarkNet is built on STARKs (Scalable Transparent ARguments of Knowledge) — a special type of zero-knowledge proof. Unlike zk-SNARKs, STARKs do not require trusted setup and are resistant to quantum computer attacks.

The platform supports universal computations, working with any smart contracts, making it flexible for developers.

( zkSync Era — Scalable and Compatible

Launch: March 2023
Native token: ZKS )gas, governance, staking###
Current TVL: (million

zkSync Era, developed by Matter Labs, uses zkRollup technology with a focus on user-friendliness. The platform processes operations off-chain, groups them into a single proof, and submits it to the main network.

The main advantage is full EVM compatibility, allowing direct deployment of Ethereum contracts.

) Scroll — High Throughput and Low Latency

Launch: October 2023
Native token: none
Current TVL: $63.46 million

Scroll uses zk-SNARKs to compress transactions. Operations are executed off-chain, aggregated into a single proof, and sent to Ethereum.

The platform emphasizes EVM compatibility, making it easy to migrate existing contracts.

$555 Aztec Protocol — Programmable Privacy

Launch: 2017
Native token: none

Aztec offers a hybrid model of public-private ZK-rollup. Privacy is optional, enabling private trading and anonymous voting.

A unique development is the Noir programming language for creating zero-knowledge circuits, simplifying the development of ZK-based dApps.

ZKFair — Fair Trading

Launch: December 2023
Native token: ZKF
Market cap: ###million

ZKFair focuses on fair execution of trades and preventing front-running. The platform uses zero-knowledge proofs to process operations off-chain.

The main difference is protection against transaction order manipulation, providing a more equitable trading environment.

DeGate V1 — Minimal Slippage on Derivatives

Launch: September 2022
Native token: DG
Market cap: $21.14 million

DeGate V1 operates on ZK Rollup, using zero-knowledge proofs for batch processing operations. Its feature is optimized for decentralized exchanges with minimal slippage on large trades.

$163 ZetaChain — Cross-Chain Interoperability

Launch: February 2021
Native token: ZETA
Current market cap: $80.50M

ZetaChain creates “universal bridges” between different blockchains, using zk-SNARKs for secure cross-network interaction. The platform enables seamless transfer of assets and data between networks.

The main advantage is a focus on interoperability, giving dApps access to resources across various ecosystems.

Taiko — Decentralized Sequencing

Launch: January 2024 ###testnet###

Taiko uses innovative ZK-EVM technology to create a fully Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 solution. The project has attracted (millions in two funding rounds.

The main innovation is the “based” sequencing method, where the transaction sequence is managed by the main network itself rather than a centralized structure. This addresses the single point of failure issue and eliminates censorship risk.

Challenges Facing ZK Rollup Technology

Despite its advantages, ZK Rollup faces several obstacles:

• High implementation complexity: Cryptography requires deep expertise
• Limited versatility: Not all transaction types are equally efficiently processed
• Data availability management: Reliable infrastructure is needed for storage
• Resource-intensive proofs: Creating cryptographic proofs demands significant computational power
• Barriers to mass adoption: Broad support and improved tooling are necessary
• Management complexity: Protocol changes require decentralized decision-making mechanisms
• Economic viability: Operational costs may impact actual fee reductions

Future Development of the ZK Rollup Ecosystem

The future of ZK Rollup looks optimistic. Current developments aim to simplify implementation complexity and improve Ethereum integration. Ongoing research addresses scalability issues, and innovative approaches tackle liquidity fragmentation.

With sustainable growth and project collaboration, ZK Rollup can revolutionize the Ethereum ecosystem, ushering in an era of high-speed, cost-effective, and secure blockchain applications accessible to the mass user base.

Summary

ZK Rollup technology is revolutionizing Ethereum scalability. By efficiently processing operations off the main chain while maintaining security and data integrity, ZK Rollup paves the way for a more scalable, efficient, and resilient ecosystem.

Its ability to overcome current Ethereum limitations creates conditions for mass adoption of blockchain technologies and unlocks their potential for real-world applications that will transform user interactions with financial systems.