Why is Zircuit considered a unique layer2?
1) It is built on the OP Stack Codebase but does not belong to the OP Superchain camp?
2) It is an OP-Rollup chain but does not highlight fraud proofs, with a strong ZK imprint evident in its name and technical details?
3) Although it has no connection to the AVS security consensus mechanism, it still airdropped to $Eigen stakers, among other things.
Next, let me briefly share my understanding of the Zircuit chain:
1) The OP Stack clearly provides a foundational technical framework for quickly launching layer2, but many chains, including Metis, Mantle, and Zircuit, have used the OP Stack Codebase technology framework without integrating into the Superchain strategic route.
The reason is simple: while the Superchain enjoys resource benefits from the OP Super Alliance, it also faces limitations in technical autonomy and flexibility, such as fraud proofs. Many layer2s in the OP Stack camp have yet to fully launch their Fraud Proof systems, which is closely related to their choice of framework dependency over autonomous development.
Zircuit is a typical example; although marked as OP-Rollup Type on L2beat, its overall technical architecture and brand tone give a strong ZK perception impression, leading many to categorize it within the ZK-Rollup realm.
The preference for ZK technology frameworks mainly stems from the fact that ZK technology can make the OP-Rollup framework more reliable. After all, an OP-Rollup without a functioning Fraud Proof is hard to call a safe and reliable chain. However, with a ZK Proof system, the trust environment for state changes built on ZK technology can effectively compensate for its shortcomings in optimistic challenge proofs.
Therefore, in a strict sense, it should be classified as a hybrid Rollup. In fact, this type of hybrid Rollup architecture design is not new; Metis, another emerging layer2, also focuses on differentiation based on this, providing users with a fast withdrawal channel through a ZK-Rollup Router without having to wait for a 7-day challenge period.
2) Recently, Vitalik praised Starknet for its performance in optimizing Blob Gas pricing mechanisms and block state compression. This is actually another optimization direction that layer2 needs to enhance cross-chain interoperability: improving its own data structure and performance handling details. As Ethereum's mainnet future upgrade path trends towards ZK-SNARKs lightweight solutions, if layer2 chains can proficiently apply ZK technology at the foundational level, enhancing performance in aspects like data structure, state compression, and message passing, they will be closer to the future Rollup-Centric strategic direction.
Thus, as a newcomer, Zircuit has made several technical optimizations in detail since its launch, such as:
- Sequencer-level security enhancement (SLS): Many layer2 chains face issues like Sequencer centralization and MEV, which have hindered the stable development of financial applications like DeFi in the layer2 environment.
In response, Zircuit has innovatively designed a preventive security architecture for the Sequencer. When transactions are in the Mempool, malicious transaction monitoring occurs, and malicious transactions are subjected to a layer of isolation with multiple release conditions to ensure normal transactions are executed smoothly and securely. This method of adding a layer of security pre-checks within the Sequencer component can identify potential MEV behaviors, providing a fairer execution environment for DeFi applications.
Modular Proof system: Compared to OP-Rollup chains, ZK-Rollup paradigm layer2 chains have a clear finality advantage, but they also incur additional costs for computing, generating, and verifying proofs. This cost is not reduced by the mainnet through Blobs blocks, so ZK-Rollup layer2 needs to find ways to lower ZK Proof costs. To address this, Zircuit employs two paths: Template Proofs and Proof Aggregation to optimize costs. Template proofs are a transitional solution that uses simplified proof templates to maintain basic state update verification without generating complete proofs for each batch, thereby reducing costs. Proof aggregation collects multiple unverified proof tasks and generates proofs in parallel through specific circuits and general circuits, ultimately aggregating these proofs into a single proof for unified verification. Clearly, this setup of specific proprietary circuits to adapt to different proof types can significantly lower the costs of ZK proof generation and verification. This is similar to Starknet's use of the STARK system and zkSync's recursive system, which can effectively reduce ZK expenses.
AI-Enabled layer2: As a newer layer2 chain, Zircuit is naturally suited for the integration of AI elements such as AI model inference and AI agents. This is reflected in the AI model analysis of suspicious transactions in the SLS sequencer, as well as the automation of isolating or pausing protocols in special situations.
That's all.
As for why Zircuit is collaborating with Eigenlayer for an airdrop, it is difficult to see any clear technical perspective. I prefer to understand it as a strategic support from Zircuit for Eigenlayer's output of Ethereum AVS security. Looking at it from a broader perspective, AVS, as a fast security consensus infrastructure, may help Zircuit's SSL system quickly integrate into other layer2 ecosystems at some point.
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