The teams behind zkSync and Polygon, two leading layer-2 networks on Ethereum, support the proposal to upgrade the blockchain. This proposal, known as the “Beam Chain,” was presented by developer Justin Drake at the recent Devcon event in Bangkok. The plan includes incorporating zero-knowledge cryptography into the Ethereum protocol to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs.
Many in the Ethereum community have been advocating for a rollup-centric roadmap to address the scalability issues of the network. Zero-knowledge rollups have been seen as superior technology due to their speed and security advantages over optimistic rollups.
Despite concerns that the Beam Chain proposal could make layer-2 networks obsolete, Alex Gluchowski, CEO of Matter Labs, reassured that the changes would focus on the consensus layer rather than the execution layer. Layer-2 networks, which rely on Ethereum for settlement, would benefit from the proposed changes, including shorter block times and single-slot finality.
Brendan Farmer, co-founder of Polygon, believes that the Beam Chain upgrade would not render layer-2s obsolete but rather improve their functionality. He emphasized that faster finality on Ethereum would enhance interoperability between different layer-2 ecosystems, providing a better user experience for transferring funds.
The implementation of zero-knowledge proofs in the Beam Chain proposal has been praised as a validation of this scaling method. Gluchowski highlighted the significance of zero-knowledge proofs in improving scalability on Ethereum.
In conclusion, the support for the Beam Chain proposal from teams working on layer-2 networks demonstrates a collaborative effort to enhance the Ethereum blockchain’s functionality and scalability. The proposed upgrades aim to improve transaction speed, reduce costs, and enhance interoperability between different layer-2 ecosystems, ultimately providing a better user experience for Ethereum users.