Rollup Era
To understand why Mina is one of the best environment for Rollups, we first need to understand what Rollups are.
Rollups are Layer-2 solutions that process transactions off-chain and then send proofs and data verifying these transactions to the main chain. They are categorized into two types based on the proof mechanism they use: Optimistic rollups and zkRollups. Optimistic rollups utilize fraud proofs, while zkRollups leverage zk-proofs, which are based on zero-knowledge technology. Both types of rollups operate through a set of smart contracts deployed on the main chain and an actor known as the sequencer. One of the most critical smart contracts is the bridge contract, which enables two-way asset transfers between the Rollup and the main chain. By examining the transaction cycle of Rollups in detail, we can better understand the functions of these smart contracts and the role of the sequencer.
Transaction Lifecycle on Rollups:
- Bob transfers his assets to the Rollup using either the native bridge or a third-party bridge.
- Bob signs a transaction on the Rollup.
- The transactions made by Bob and other users are placed in a waiting area called the mempool.
- The actor known as the sequencer collects these transactions, orders them, and places them into blocks to execute the transactions.
- The sequencer sends the transaction data and If exists proof to the L1 network.
- The Rollup verifier contract on L1 verifies the proof, and the transactions are finalized.
Does this sound too complex? Let’s try to simplify it with an analogy.
Imagine we want to make a transaction on a blockchain. For transactions to be processed, they need to be included in blocks. Think of transactions as passengers and blocks as buses. Each bus has a limited number of seats, meaning it can only accommodate a certain number of passengers. For example, let’s say our bus has 10 seats, but there are 15 passengers waiting. In this case, 5 passengers won’t be able to get on the bus. The bus driver, aiming for maximum profitability, will choose the 10 passengers willing to pay the highest fare. If the 11th passenger wants to get on, they will need to pay a higher fare than the 10th passenger. Meanwhile, the remaining 5 passengers will have to wait for the next bus.
Rollups, on the other hand, are like subways. They can accommodate more passengers, and the tickets are cheaper. This allows more transactions to be processed faster and at a lower cost.
Understanding the impact of Rollups on blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum clearly demonstrates why this technology provides a critical solution for scalability and cost efficiency. Mina’s unique infrastructure has the potential to maximize the capabilities of Rollups, offering greater efficiency, security, and a user-friendly experience. In the next step, we will delve deeper into how Mina delivers these advantages and differentiates itself from other solutions.
Mina’s Rollup Environment
First and foremost, Mina functions as a rollup-like Layer-1 blockchain. By utilizing SNARK-based recursive proofs, transaction data and computations are compressed into static-sized proofs of 22 KB. This feature allows Mina to adjust transaction throughput and latency based on network demand. When transaction throughput is low, users benefit from minimal latency. During high demand, additional transactions can be processed using recursive proofs, with only a slight increase in latency. This ensures optimal performance under all conditions.
Mina’s roadmap includes zkRollup and similar developments, with the goal of achieving an isomorphic structure between Mina L1 and its zkRollups. This enables zkApp developers to migrate their applications to Mina zkRollups without any code changes, saving both development time and costs. The benefits of the isomorphic structure extend beyond this. It ensures that zkApps remain composable on both L1 and L2 and simplifies data sharing and reading between L1 and L2. Considering the limited interoperability of Ethereum rollups, this feature becomes even more significant. Moreover, Mina zkRollups and zkApp chains are not only interoperable with each other but can also perform state verification across other chains using state proof bridging. This allows Mina zkRollups to interact with other EVM-based chains and IBC-connected chains.
Beyond providing greater composability and interoperability to zkRollups, Mina’s modular structure offers advantages in other areas as well. Currently, zkRollups rely on centralized provers run by projects to generate proofs. In Mina, however, the generation, distribution, and verification of recursive SNARK proofs are facilitated by a decentralized proof marketplace called Snarketplace. Snarketplace enables individuals with sufficient computational resources to generate SNARK proofs, alleviating the network’s computational burden and activating decentralized proof production. This system incentivizes proof producers, reduces proof production costs, and increases efficiency.
What if a similar mechanism were implemented for zkRollups built on Mina? A customized Snarketplace could decentralize the proof production mechanism, giving Mina zkRollups a significant advantage over other rollup projects. Such a scenario would provide proof producers with more revenue opportunities, encourage more producers to join the marketplace, and further reduce costs. Snarketplace could offer rollup developers a ready-made marketplace instead of requiring them to build their own SNARK infrastructure, accelerating development and lowering costs. However, expanding Snarketplace to zkRollups could present challenges. For instance, increased demand would require an expansion in production capacity, necessitating the participation of new producers. Additionally, zkRollups might have specific design needs, requiring Snarketplace to adapt its infrastructure, which could introduce complexity.
Currently, Mina does not have this capability. Instead, it is exploring options like Aligned Layer, a proof aggregation layer that offers broader and more efficient alternatives on L1. This Aligned Layer concept could also be applied to zkRollups built on Mina.
With its innovative infrastructure and recursive SNARK-based proof mechanism, Mina provides a robust foundation not only for L1 but also for zkRollups and other Layer-2 solutions. Its isomorphic structure, decentralized proof production mechanisms like Snarketplace, and prioritization of interoperability make Mina a uniquely favorable development environment for zkRollups. However, for Mina to fully realize this potential, it must expand its infrastructure and develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of zkRollups. These efforts will not only strengthen Mina’s ecosystem but also position it as a leader in decentralization and scalability. Now, let’s explore zkRollup projects like Anomix Network and Zeko built on Mina to see how this potential is being realized.
Anomix Network
Anomix Network, formerly known as ‘Shadow’ during the zkApp Builders Program 1, is a zk-zkRollup Layer-2 solution built on the Mina blockchain, emphasizing privacy and scalability. It has evolved alongside the advancements in SnarkyJS.
Within the Anomix Network, users can create a new L2 account derived from their L1 account. This design ensures that the L2 account cannot be linked back to the L1 account by anyone other than the owner, providing enhanced privacy for on-chain operations. Users benefit from anonymous and private fund operations, including depositing funds from L1, withdrawing funds to L1, and transferring funds within L2. All sensitive operations are processed locally on the user’s device using zero-knowledge proofs, and status information is securely stored within the L2 network under strong encryption.
As a Layer-2 solution, Anomix batches L2 transactions, resulting in lower transaction costs. Its architecture also facilitates the development of private decentralized finance applications, non-fungible tokens, decentralized identity systems, and more.
In summary, Anomix Network leverages zk-zkRollup technology on the Mina blockchain to provide a scalable and privacy-focused Layer-2 solution, enabling users to conduct confidential transactions and develop private decentralized applications.
Zeko
Zeko, unlike Anomix Network, is not privacy-focused. Instead, it offers a solution aimed at more general use cases. It seeks to enhance scalability and create reusable zkRollup infrastructure. The whitepaper for Zeko, a joint effort between the Milkomeda and Mina teams, was published on September 13, 2023.
Zeko aims to improve user experience by providing faster blocks at the L2 level. It also strives to increase rollup diversity and boost the throughput of Mina L1 through a reusable rollup infrastructure similar to the OP Stack. In terms of its working mechanism, Zeko operates in a structure similar to traditional rollups. The key difference is that while traditional rollups send transaction data and related proofs to L1, Zeko sends the data to a data availability layer. This is due to Mina L1’s limited on-chain storage capacity. In its initial design, Zeko plans to establish an Ethermint-based data availability layer. For the future, more general-purpose data availability layers like Celestia are being explored.
The protocol offers a fully isomorphic Layer 2 (L2) environment for the Mina ecosystem, ensuring compatibility with existing Mina infrastructure and tools. This design allows developers to write and deploy applications in familiar programming languages, facilitating seamless integration and rapid onboarding. Zeko’s architecture supports trustless zk-bridging, enabling proofs verified on Zeko to be consumed by Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible chains. This feature enhances interoperability across different blockchain ecosystems, allowing developers to bridge their applications and assets seamlessly.
In April 2024, Zeko Labs, the team behind the protocol, announced the successful completion of a $3 million pre-seed funding round. This investment, led by UOB Venture Management, Signum Capital, and YBB Capital, aims to accelerate the development and deployment of the Zeko Protocol.
Zeko stands as a versatile and powerful platform that enables developers to harness the full potential of zero-knowledge technology within the Mina ecosystem, facilitating the development of scalable, privacy-focused applications across various industries.
Conclusion
Mina Protocol’s unique infrastructure and innovative approach position it as a leading environment for zkRollups and Layer-2 solutions. By integrating recursive SNARK proofs, enabling isomorphic designs, and fostering decentralized proof production through mechanisms like Snarketplace, Mina offers a scalable, interoperable, and developer-friendly ecosystem. These features not only enhance performance but also provide a foundation for seamless integration across chains.
Projects like Anomix Network and Zeko exemplify how Mina’s capabilities can be leveraged for diverse use cases. While Anomix prioritizes privacy and confidentiality, Zeko focuses on scalability and reusable zkRollup infrastructure, catering to a broader range of applications. Together, these projects highlight the flexibility and potential of Mina’s ecosystem, showcasing its ability to meet both specialized and general-purpose needs.
As zkRollups continue to evolve and expand, Mina’s emphasis on decentralization, interoperability, and composability sets it apart. By supporting innovative projects and addressing the specific challenges of zkRollup development, Mina is poised to lead the way in creating scalable and efficient blockchain solutions. With such a robust foundation, Mina is not only addressing the current needs of blockchain technology but also paving the path for the future of decentralized applications.
