Zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proofs) are crucial for scaling the Ethereum ecosystem, and proto-danksharding might just lead the way in drastically lowering the costs of roll ups, according to Nicolas Liochon, Consensys zkEVM Linea head. Proto-danksharding, now known by its identifier EIP-4844, is set to cut down the fees for rollups, which usually group transactions and data off-chain and provide computational proof to the Ethereum blockchain.
While this proposed change appears promising, the Ethereum Foundation is yet to provide an estimated launch date for proto-danksharding, with development and testing still ongoing. That said, the potential benefits are too significant to ignore. Liochon explains that Linea enables transactions 15 times cheaper than what’s provided on Ethereum’s layer one. Nonetheless, rollups remain limited, as transactions are inserted in calldata in Ethereum blocks, which is an expensive process representing 95% of the cost.
But here’s another side of the coin. The EIP-4844 proposal introduces data blocks that can be sent and attached to blocks. The data stored in these blocks is not accessible to the Ethereum Virtual Machine and will be erased after a given time, significantly reducing transaction costs. However, despite these advancements, the reality is that the cost of rollups is still largely dictated by data availability.
In this technological tango, one pivotal aspect is the prover of Linea, handling the off-chain computation, which verifies, bundles, and creates a cryptographic proof of the combined transactions. This comprises only a fifth of the cost. Highlighting this aspect underscores the considerable challenge of making ZK-rollups the primary scaling solution for the Ethereum ecosystem.
It’s worth noting that Linea, in its projected future, does play a broader role than just catering to a specific use case or domain. Liochon suggests that Linea will be a generic ZK-rollup used for a variety of decentralized applications and solutions within the Ethereum ecosystem.
No matter how we slice it, scaling solutions like Proto-danksharding and projects like Linea are significant in the continual growth and development of Ethereum and blockchain technology. Their worth in significantly upgrading the cost-effectiveness and scalability of transactions can only be fully understood as they move from development to real-world application. Despite skepticism and uncertainties, this innovative step could reshape the blockchain space, marking an intriguing path for Ethereum’s future.
Source: Cointelegraph
