zk-Rollup
A rollup that posts a cryptographic validity proof for every batch, giving near-instant finality on the base chain.
A zk-rollup bundles transactions off-chain and submits a zero-knowledge proof that the batch is correct. Ethereum verifies the proof instead of redoing the work. Because validity is proven upfront, there is no week-long challenge window.
Withdrawals can settle in minutes rather than days, a real edge over optimistic rollups. zkSync, Starknet, Linea, and Polygon zkEVM are well-known networks.
The cost is complexity. Producing proofs is expensive and long made full EVM support hard, though zkEVMs have closed much of that gap.
Related terms
A scaling method that batches many transactions off-chain and posts a compressed proof or record to the base layer.
Optimistic RollupA rollup that assumes transaction batches are valid and lets anyone challenge fraud within a set dispute window.
Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP)A cryptographic method that proves a statement is true without revealing the underlying data behind it.
Layer 2A separate network built on top of a base chain to process transactions faster and far more cheaply.