Ethereum zk rollups: The ultimate guide to the best scalability solutions for 2025

Ethereum remains the leading blockchain for decentralized applications, but its scalability challenges are becoming increasingly urgent. With the influx of users, gas fees are skyrocketing, and network congestion is slowing down transactions. This is where zk rollups emerge as a transformative solution, promising to revolutionize Ethereum’s processing capacity while maintaining security without compromise. These Layer-2 technologies are redefining the scalability landscape in 2025.

What is a zk rollup and why is it crucial for Ethereum?

Zk rollups are a major innovation in the Ethereum ecosystem. These Layer-2 scalability solutions bundle multiple transactions into one and process them off the main chain, drastically reducing network load. Imagine a busy highway: zk rollups act like smart bypass lanes, efficiently handling transaction flows while cryptographically proving their validity on the mainnet.

The key lies in zero-knowledge proofs, a powerful cryptographic tool that can demonstrate the integrity of a batch of transactions without revealing any individual details. These proofs are incredibly compact, reducing data stored on Ethereum and enabling near-instant finality. Cryptographic proofs have three essential properties: completeness, soundness, and zero-knowledge, ensuring secure and efficient validation.

How do zk rollups work: mechanism and key benefits

The architecture of a zk rollup relies on a harmonious combination of on-chain smart contracts and off-chain virtual machines. On the mainnet, smart contracts define operational rules. Transactions are then executed off-chain in a separate virtual machine, lowering costs and increasing processing speed.

Once transactions are bundled, a cryptographic proof is generated, demonstrating the validity of the entire batch without revealing individual details. This proof is submitted to the mainnet where validators verify it, confirming the off-chain transactions’ integrity. This two-layer system significantly improves transaction throughput, alleviates congestion, and reduces gas fees.

The advantages of zk rollups are numerous: increased scalability and efficiency, enhanced security through immutable cryptographic proofs, improved user experience with fast and cheap transactions. Additionally, they keep data available on-chain, boosting reliability, and are compatible with existing Ethereum smart contracts, easing developer migrations.

Zk rollups vs other Layer-2 solutions: the technological duel

Zk rollups clearly distinguish themselves from optimistic rollups, the other main Layer-2 scalability solution. Optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid by default and only verify them in case of disputes, involving a challenge period. In contrast, zk rollups validate each transaction using zero-knowledge proofs, providing immediate finality.

This fundamental difference offers distinct advantages for zk rollups: enhanced security with instant finality on the main chain, no economic assumptions requiring trusted intermediaries, improved privacy where transaction details remain hidden within proofs. Thus, zk rollups are a more robust scalability solution for Ethereum, though their cryptographic complexity is higher.

Top 11 zk rollup projects to watch on Ethereum

1. Manta Network (Manta Pacific)

Manta Network specializes in privacy-preserving DeFi transactions. The Layer-2 Manta Pacific uses zk-SNARKs to ensure complete anonymity. Since its launch in September 2023, Manta has quickly risen to become the fourth-largest Layer-2 network on Ethereum. With a market cap of $32.95M (as of February 2026), the project shows growing adoption.

The MANTA token is used for governance, staking, and paying fees on the platform. Its key advantage is a focus on privacy—a feature often missing from other DeFi platforms. The network also emphasizes interoperability, aiming to create a privacy layer for all DeFi applications across various blockchains.

2. Linea

Linea is a Layer-2 scalability solution using zk rollups to improve transaction speed and reduce fees. This platform processes transactions off the Ethereum main chain using zk-SNARKs for validation. Since August 2023, Linea has established a solid position with a market cap of $52.38M.

Its main strengths are scalability and speed, offering higher throughput than many competitors. The platform emphasizes ease of integration for developers, enabling more efficient creation and deployment of Ethereum apps. An airdrop of the LINEA token was announced in January 2024, though the full utility of the token is still being revealed.

3. Polygon zkEVM

Polygon zkEVM (Zero Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine) is part of the Polygon suite, offering a zk rollup solution compatible with Ethereum. Launched in March 2023, it executes transactions off-chain in an EVM-compatible environment, then proves their validity on-chain via zk proofs. This compatibility ensures smooth interaction with existing Ethereum contracts and tools.

The MATIC token is used for gas fees and governance. The main feature of Polygon zkEVM is its full compatibility with existing Ethereum smart contracts and tools, making it highly accessible for Ethereum developers.

4. StarkNet

Built on STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge), StarkNet is a proof-of-zero-knowledge technology offering unique advantages. Launched in February 2022, this network aims for high scalability and privacy. StarkNet processes and verifies off-chain transactions before publishing proofs on Ethereum mainnet.

With a market cap of $252.50M (as of February 2026), StarkNet has gained significant adoption. Using STARKs makes the network highly scalable and secure without trusted setup. These proofs are also quantum-resistant, providing long-term security. The STRK token is used for gas fees, governance, and staking.

5. zkSync Era

zkSync Era, developed by Matter Labs, leverages zkRollup technology focusing on scalability and user experience. Launched in March 2023, zkSync Era processes off-chain transactions and bundles them into a single proof submitted to Ethereum. This uses zero-knowledge proofs to ensure security and efficiency.

A key advantage is its EVM compatibility, allowing direct execution of Ethereum smart contracts without rewriting code. This is a major benefit for developers migrating to Layer-2 solutions. The ZKS token is used for gas fees, governance, and staking.

6. Scroll

Scroll is a zk rollup solution focused on high throughput and low latency, using zk-SNARKs to compress transactions. Since October 2023, Scroll has established itself with EVM compatibility, enabling easy adaptation of existing Ethereum smart contracts. Scroll aims for high throughput while maintaining low costs, offering a more efficient alternative for DeFi apps and high-volume transaction use cases.

7. Aztec Protocol

Aztec employs a hybrid public-private model, executing smart contract logic both publicly and privately while maintaining Ethereum security. Founded in 2017, Aztec offers programmable and optional privacy, enabling applications from private exchanges to anonymous voting.

A key feature is Noir, a dedicated language for writing zero-knowledge circuits, greatly simplifying dApp development with zk proofs. The protocol aims to fully decentralize all components before mainnet launch, aligning with Ethereum’s core values: open-source, censorship-resistant, permissionless systems.

8. ZKFair

ZKFair is designed as a decentralized exchange (DEX) using zk rollups, launched in December 2023. Its specialty is fair transaction execution and preventing front-running, a common issue in other DEXs. ZKFair employs zero-knowledge proofs to process transactions off-chain before batching them on Ethereum.

Its main feature is preventing transaction order manipulation, providing a fairer trading environment. This approach directly addresses traders’ concerns about transaction integrity in decentralized settings. The ZKF token is used for gas fees, governance, and fee-sharing rewards.

9. DeGate V1

DeGate V1, built on a zk rollup, launched in September 2022. It uses zk proofs to bundle multiple off-chain transactions before submitting them to Ethereum, reducing costs and increasing capacity. Its unique strength is positioning as an optimized DEX for low slippage and reduced costs, targeting large-volume trades.

The DG token is used for governance, staking, and fee payments on the derivatives platform.

10. ZetaChain

ZetaChain innovates with “universal bridges” between blockchains, using zk rollups for secure and efficient cross-chain communication. Launched in February 2021, ZetaChain employs zk-SNARKs to prove transaction validity across chains without revealing sensitive info. With a market cap of $65.84M, ZetaChain shows growing interest in interoperability.

Its main advantage is enabling dApps to leverage assets and data across multiple blockchains seamlessly. The ZETA token is used for gas fees, governance, and cross-chain messaging.

11. Taiko

Taiko is a pioneer in the Ethereum ecosystem with its innovative use of the Zero Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (ZK-EVM) and zk rollups. Launched in testnet in January 2024, Taiko is fully compatible with Ethereum, allowing seamless deployment of existing dApps without modifications.

Having raised $37 million in two funding rounds, Taiko’s notable advancement is its “based” sequencing architecture—where the sequencer is driven by the base chain rather than a centralized entity. This approach addresses concerns about single points of failure and censorship, simplifying Layer-2 value chains and easing adoption friction.

The technological challenges of zk rollups and emerging solutions

Despite their promise, zk rollups face significant challenges. The complexity of advanced cryptography makes implementation and maintenance difficult. Limited flexibility restricts the types of transactions they can efficiently handle, constraining use cases. Robust data availability management remains critical and complex.

Generating cryptographic proofs is resource-intensive, potentially impacting prover efficiency. Widespread adoption requires user trust and infrastructure support. Decentralized governance for protocol upgrades remains a challenge, as does economic viability given high operational costs.

However, ongoing research actively addresses these issues, with innovative solutions emerging to overcome liquidity fragmentation and technical complexity.

The future of zk rollups: where is Ethereum scalability headed?

The future of zk rollups looks especially promising for 2025 and beyond. Continued development aims to simplify technical complexity and improve Ethereum integration. Growing collaboration among developers and institutions creates a fertile environment for innovation.

With this positive momentum, zk rollups have the potential to completely transform the Ethereum ecosystem, ushering in a new era of fast, cost-effective, and secure blockchain applications. As these technologies mature and adoption increases, they are poised to radically change how users and developers interact with blockchain technology.

Conclusion: zk rollups as the driving force behind Ethereum’s transformation

Zk rollups are much more than just a technological upgrade—they embody a revolution redefining Ethereum’s scalability. By efficiently processing off-chain transactions while ensuring data security and integrity, these solutions promise a more scalable, robust, and high-performance Ethereum ecosystem. Their ability to overcome current limitations paves the way for mass adoption of blockchain technology, unlocking its full potential to empower individuals and reshape our interaction with the decentralized world.