zkSync Development: A Progressive Path Towards Decentralization

[NancyDeep]

zkSync, a leading ZK Rollup solution, made headlines recently when it announced the random selection of 10,000 LIBERTAS OMNIBUS series NFTs from its active community members. The airdrop decision came amidst fierce competition in the Rollup track, injecting enthusiasm among users. In response, zkSync's trading volume surged by 52% and even surpassed Arbitrum in terms of transactions, establishing itself as the most active Ethereum Layer2 solution.

However, the joy of the airdrop was short-lived, as some community members discovered that the "random" selection was not so random after all. The winning wallet addresses were found to be sorted strings, leaving the impression that the airdrop was not as equitable as initially perceived. This revelation led to a sharp decline in zkSync's reputation within the community.

Nonetheless, it is essential to differentiate between short-term emotional trading data and long-term development progress. zkSync has been actively accelerating its development to meet the demands of a continuously evolving Layer2 ecosystem. One such step is the recent launch of the proof system upgrade, Boojum, which marks an important milestone towards decentralization. This upgrade aims to transition the network to a STARK supported proof system, facilitating a more decentralized prover.

The journey towards decentralization for zkSync Era is closely tied to its token launch and airdrop program. CEO Alex Gluchowski acknowledged that the network's full decentralization is a prerequisite for launching the zkSync Era token, and significant progress has been made in this regard. The zkSync Decentralization Vision outlined the roadmap to achieve core decentralization components, such as the sequencer, ZK prover, zkPorter, and community governance.

The zkSync team's initial foray into the ZK Rollup landscape was marked by zkSync v1.0's release, which introduced ZK Rollup as a scaling solution for Ethereum. Over time, the team made crucial updates, including EVM compatibility with zkSync v2.0, allowing dApps to be easily ported to the zkSync Layer2 network. As part of its roadmap, zkSync aims to achieve Layer3 concepts and applications, ensuring the long-term viability and expansion of ZK technology.

The recent release of ZK Stack, a modular open-source framework, demonstrates zkSync's commitment to community governance. With features like "sovereignty" and "seamless," ZK Stack empowers the community to shape the chain's functionalities and encourages personal projects to emerge within the Ethereum ecosystem. This move is seen as a paradigm shift towards decentralization in Layer2.

Despite its progress, zkSync Era is still in its early stages, and its ecosystem construction lacks some essential features. Comparatively, the network performance is average, and transaction delays and gas fees remain challenges to address. Nevertheless, zkSync's development trajectory suggests a promising path towards greater decentralization, offering users opportunities for deeper engagement and potential airdrop rewards in the future.