Polygon, the Ethereum scaling protocol, has developed a groundbreaking Type 1 prover that enables ecosystem chains, such as optimistic rollups, to unlock zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proofs) layer-2 functionality. In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, Polygon co-founder Brendan Farmer revealed that the technology, developed in collaboration with Toposware, took a year to build. The Type 1 prover allows the generation of ZK-proofs for mainnet Ethereum blocks at an average cost of $0.002 to $0.003 per transaction. It is dual licensed under MIT and Apache 2.0 and will be available on GitHub.
Farmer described the Type 1 prover as the final form of a zkEVM, explaining that it can upgrade any existing chain, including Ethereum layer 1, optimistic rollups, or alternative L1s, into zkEVM L2. This allows these chains to connect trustlessly to Ethereum and Polygon’s aggregation layer, enabling them to participate in the Polygon ecosystem.
The development of this technology has significant implications for the Ethereum ecosystem as a whole. Farmer highlighted that it allows the generation of ZK-proofs for any Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chain. Moreover, it eliminates the need for users and services to maintain a full node, thus providing full node security guarantees without the hassle of running a node.
Polygon’s announcement aligns with the framework of zkEVM proposed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, which includes four ranks based on compatibility with Ethereum and its EVM. The Type 1 prover is considered to have the highest level of compatibility, as it allows the generation of proofs for EVM chains with modifications or migrations while preserving execution logic.
Additionally, the Type 1 prover benefits optimistic rollups, popular Ethereum L2 protocols that bundle transactions off-chain and submit proofs to the mainnet. One drawback of optimistic rollups is a seven-day lock-up period for funds. However, by using the Type 1 prover and joining the Polygon ecosystem, optimistic rollups can offer a much-improved user experience and eliminate the high costs associated with using third-party bridges to bypass the withdrawal delay.
When asked why Polygon decided to make the technology open source, Farmer stated that it aligns with Ethereum’s ethos. He believes that providing this technology as a public good and making it accessible to anyone is in line with their commitment to Ethereum.
In a previous interview with Cointelegraph, Polygon co-founder Jordi Baylina discussed the layer 2’s goal of amalgamating its scaling networks and technology to complete its “Polygon 2.0” cross-chain coordination protocol in 2024.
Overall, Polygon’s development of the Type 1 prover represents a significant advancement in Ethereum scaling technology, providing enhanced functionality and cost-efficiency for ecosystem chains and optimistic rollups.