Before explaining the difference between Optimistic Rollup and Zero Knowledge Rollups, let’s talk about what rollups are.
The main purpose of rollups is to perform transactions outside the mainnet (we can think of it as Ethereum Mainnet) and process these transactions to the mainnet in a smaller and less complex way. Thus, since transactions are made outside the mainnet, they are cheaper and faster, and then the security of the transactions is provided by the mainnet as they are transferred to the mainnet.
The main difference between Optimistic Rollup and Zero Knowledge Rollup is the way transactions are sent to the mainnet.
Zero Knowledge Rollups need to be verified before transactions are sent to the mainnet. In this system, a mathematical method called Zero knowledge proof is used to prove the accuracy. Zero knowledge proof is the proof that is presented between the prover and the verifier without any doubt and without revealing other information to the outside. In other words, the prover proves to the verifier that he knows the secret without revealing what the secret is.
In Optimistic Rollups, when rollup participants like validator send data to the mainnet, they do not send proof that guarantees the validity of this data. All off-chain transactions are assumed to be correct until proven otherwise. If the participants think that there is something wrong with the data, they initiate a challenge to the data. This is called a fraud proof mechanism. Assets transferred from Optimistic Rollups to the mainnet are not finalized for 1 week as they can be queried. In ZK-Rollups, this asset transfer takes place within seconds.
Other differences between both rollups are as follows;
- In ZK-Rollups, large volumes of data sent to the mainnet are compressed and converted into very small pieces of data, and ZK-Rollups are also advantageous in keeping this data confidential.
- ZK-Rollups have complex operations and are much more advanced technology. Optimistic rollups are less complex and simple to implement.
- One of the biggest advantages of optimistic rollups is the ability to run the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Being able to run EVM means that all DeFi protocols currently running on the Ethereum network, such as Uniswap, CompoundFinance, can easily switch to Optimistic Rollups. ZK-Rollups, on the other hand, cannot run EVM for now, but especially zkSync works on a ZK-Rollup that can run EVM.
Which projects use these systems?
Arbitrum and Optimism use Optimistic Rollup. zkSync, StarkNet, Mina, Aztec Protocol are projects using ZK-Rollup.
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OPTIMISTIC ROLLUP vs ZERO KNOWLEDGE ROLLUP(Zk-Rollup) was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.