In the latest installment of Cointelegraph’s podcast, Hashing It Out, Brendan Farmer, co-founder of Polygon, joins Elisha Owusu Akyaw to discuss the current state of layer-2 networks. They delve into Polygon’s recent releases, including its aggregation layer (AggLayer) and its innovative feature called the “Type 1 prover.”
The Type 1 prover is a groundbreaking addition that enables any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) network to function as a layer-2 network powered by zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs). This integration allows for seamless connectivity to Polygon’s extensive ecosystem, addressing the issue of fragmentation among layer-2 solutions.
Farmer reveals that the development of this technology, which took approximately a year to complete, was made possible with the assistance of Toposware. The Type 1 prover facilitates the generation of ZK-proofs for Ethereum mainnet blocks at a significantly reduced cost. This means that any EVM chain can now become a ZK layer-2 network and join Polygon’s AggLayer. Farmer emphasizes the importance of enhancing the user experience by uniting the fragmented layer-2 ecosystem, thereby positioning Ethereum as the preferred ecosystem for widespread adoption.
While Farmer acknowledges the existing fragmentation within the layer-2 ecosystem, he argues that there is still a need for more layer-2 networks. He explains that the Web3 space requires a sufficient capacity to support a crypto ecosystem that operates on an internet scale and accommodates high levels of adoption.
During the podcast, Owusu Akyaw questions Farmer about how Polygon intends to compete with other layer-2 networks, such as the OP Stack by Optimism, the ZK Stack by zkSync, and the Polygon Chain Development Kit, which are all building their own ecosystems.
In response, Farmer outlines Polygon’s strategy of creating a network effect around the AggLayer. He believes that by establishing the AggLayer as the most efficient route for liquidity and users, more developers will be incentivized to build on Polygon. Additionally, he asserts that the network will offer a superior user and developer experience without any limitations such as revenue sharing.
To listen to the complete episode of Hashing It Out, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or TuneIn. And don’t forget to explore Cointelegraph’s extensive lineup of other shows.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal or investment advice. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.