Scroll, a community-first, open-source Ethereum scaling solution, has officially launched its mainnet. This marks a pivotal moment in scaling the world's largest smart contract platform and the first programmable blockchain, Ethereum.
After two years of intensive development and rigorous testing, Scroll leverages zero-knowledge (zk) proofs to compress blockchain computations. As Ethereum attracts more users and projects, increased network traffic can slow down operations and raise transaction costs. Zero-knowledge proofs offer an innovative method to significantly accelerate transaction speeds and reduce costs, thereby greatly enhancing Ethereum's overall throughput and scalability.
What Makes Scroll's zkEVM Unique?
Scroll's bytecode-level, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible zkEVM delivers an experience nearly identical to Ethereum itself. This allows developers to directly copy, paste, and deploy existing Ethereum projects without needing to modify their code. Such a seamless development experience fulfills Scroll's commitment to scaling Ethereum without compromising on security or decentralization.
Haichen, a co-founder of Scroll, emphasized the project's dedication to safety: "At Scroll, we take security very seriously. We have a dedicated internal security team that, along with numerous auditing firms, conducts comprehensive audits of our codebase. Furthermore, we have been open-source from day one."
Rigorous Testing and Proven Performance
The mainnet launch follows over a year of extensive testing. During the Alpha and Beta testnet phases, Scroll successfully processed over 55 million transactions and finalized nearly one million transaction batches on Layer 1 (L1). The recent Beta testnet on Sepolia connected more than 900,000 unique wallet addresses and handled over 6 million transactions in just two months. To date, more than 100 projects—spanning infrastructure, decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and more—have deployed on Scroll's testnet.
The mainnet operates identically to the Sepolia testnet, which will continue to function as a sandboxed development environment for builders.
The Mainnet Experience for Users and Developers
On the Scroll mainnet, users and developers will enjoy the same experience as on Ethereum, but supercharged by zero-knowledge technology. The mainnet will initially be populated by infrastructure providers, followed by support for various project deployments and development tools. This will empower global developers to start building Web3 products and ultimately attract new users to the Ethereum ecosystem.
Sandy Peng, another co-founder of Scroll, shared her vision: "In the future we see, the vast majority of value transfer will occur on Ethereum's Layer 2s. Continuously improving user and developer experiences will drive mass adoption and mainstream blockchain usage. We are committed to enabling developers to effortlessly build blockchain applications that anchor real-world utility in Web3, thereby attracting a large new user base and pushing the community forward."
Scroll's Founding Mission and Future Roadmap
Founded in 2021, Scroll's mission is to use the native capabilities of zkEVM to build an open-source, scalable ecosystem while maintaining Ethereum's security levels and upholding a commitment to community decentralization. To advance this promise, the next milestones on Scroll's roadmap include building a decentralized prover network and decentralizing the sequencer.
Over the past two and a half years, Scroll has collaborated closely with the Ethereum Foundation's Privacy and Scaling Explorations (PSE) group, contributing approximately 50% of the PSE zkEVM codebase. Since its inception, Scroll has been building an open-source, peer-reviewed, and permissionless project. The team consistently publishes research, shares insights on zero-knowledge proof circuits, cryptography, and hardware acceleration with the community, and drives industry-wide progress.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a zkEVM?
A zkEVM, or Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine, is a scaling solution that uses zero-knowledge proofs to validate transactions off-chain before submitting compressed proof to Ethereum. This maintains full compatibility with existing Ethereum applications while dramatically improving speed and reducing costs.
How does Scroll improve Ethereum scalability?
Scroll batches multiple transactions off-chain and generates a single cryptographic proof for them. This proof is then verified on the Ethereum mainnet, allowing for a massive increase in transactions per second without burdening the base layer.
Is Scroll secure to use?
Yes. Scroll has undergone extensive audits by both internal security experts and external firms. Its code has been open-source since the beginning, allowing for continuous peer review and community scrutiny, which helps ensure a high level of security.
Do developers need to learn a new language to build on Scroll?
No. Because Scroll is bytecode-level compatible with the EVM, developers can use the same tools and programming languages (like Solidity) that they use on Ethereum. Existing smart contracts can typically be deployed without any code modifications.
What is the difference between a testnet and a mainnet?
A testnet is a simulated blockchain environment used for testing applications without using real funds. A mainnet is the live, production network where real transactions with economic value take place. Scroll's Sepolia testnet remains active for development and testing.
What are the next steps for Scroll?
Scroll's roadmap focuses on further decentralization, including the development of a decentralized prover network and a decentralized sequencer to enhance network security and resilience.
Conclusion
The launch of Scroll's zkEVM mainnet is a significant leap forward for Ethereum scaling. By providing a highly compatible, secure, and efficient environment, Scroll empowers developers to innovate and helps onboard the next wave of users into the Web3 ecosystem. Its commitment to open-source development and community-driven progress positions it as a key player in the future of blockchain technology.