Scalability is a crucial aspect of any blockchain, directly influencing user experience and the ecosystem's overall efficiency.
To address this, many blockchains rely on governance voting to enhance their infrastructure through improvement proposals. ZKsync, a prominent player in the Ethereum scaling space, has introduced its latest initiative: ZIP-002 (ZKsync Improvement Proposal - 002).
This proposal aims to significantly reduce the execution delay from 21 hours to just 3 hours, marking a pivotal step in improving scalability. In this article, we will explore the details of ZIP-002, its potential benefits to the ZKsync ecosystem, and how you can take part in the voting process.
What is ZIP-002?
ZIP-002, or ZKsync Improvement Proposal 002, is a plan to make ZKsync faster and more efficient. The main objective is to reduce the time it takes to finalise transactions—from the current 21 hours to just 3 hours.
This change is expected to improve user experience, speed up operations for developers, and maintain strong security. The proposal was created by Matter Labs, with Samuel Kaufman (@sampka) as the lead author, and was published on 25th November 2024.
The current 21-hour delay exists as a safeguard, giving developers time to identify and address critical issues if needed. However, ZKsync now has a Security Council—a dedicated team responsible for quickly freezing the chain in emergencies.
This makes the extended delay unnecessary, and a 3-hour window is deemed sufficient to handle such situations without disrupting the network.
Here’s the timeline for ZIP-002:
- November 25, 2024: The proposal was drafted and published on-chain.
- December 2, 2024, at 1:12 PM UTC: The voting period begins, allowing the ZKsync community to decide whether the proposal should proceed.
- December 9, 2024: Voting closes, and the results will determine whether the proposal is implemented.
If approved, this proposal will require updates to the network’s parameters and thorough testing to ensure everything works seamlessly. Fortunately, these changes won’t disrupt existing contracts or transactions, meaning users and developers won’t need to adjust anything.
Execution Delays and Their Impact on Scalability
Execution delays in blockchains are essential to maintaining security and reliability. For rollups like ZKsync, transactions aren’t finalised immediately.
Instead, transaction data and proofs are sent to Ethereum’s mainnet for validation, ensuring their integrity. This process creates a delay that allows time to address anomalies before transactions are permanently recorded.
For Optimistic Rollups, these delays can last several days due to a "challenge period" where disputes against fraudulent transactions can be raised. zkRollups, like ZKsync, use zero-knowledge proofs, enabling faster and mathematically verified transactions.
Despite this efficiency, ZKsync’s current 21-hour delay was implemented as a precautionary measure, giving developers time to investigate unusual activities, such as large withdrawals. While this improves security, it can slow down transaction finality and user responsiveness.
The connection between execution delays and scalability lies in their impact on user experience. Scalability is the ability of a blockchain to handle growing demand efficiently.
Long execution delays, though enhancing security, can hinder scalability by slowing down transactions. Reducing these delays creates a more responsive network, directly benefiting both users and developers.
ZIP-002’s proposed 3-hour execution delay addresses this balance. With the Security Council overseeing the network and acting swiftly in emergencies, ZKsync can reduce delays without compromising security.
This change is a significant step forward in enhancing user experience and positioning ZKsync as a more competitive layer-2 solution.
How ZIP-002 Will Improve ZKsync
ZIP-002 brings substantial improvements to ZKsync by reducing the execution delay to 3 hours. This change directly impacts scalability and enhances bridging capabilities to Layer 1 (L1) blockchains like Ethereum, creating a more seamless experience for users and developers alike.
Improved Scalability
Scalability is fundamental to blockchain usability. Faster execution times mean transactions can be finalised more quickly, improving responsiveness for users.
By reducing delays, ZKsync enables faster transaction processing, which ensures that applications built on the network operate more efficiently. Developers benefit from streamlined operations for decentralised apps, creating better products for their users.
Enhanced Bridging
The proposal also addresses ZKsync’s bridging capabilities. Long finalisation times during withdrawals from ZKsync to Ethereum can frustrate users, as noted in community discussions.
While multiple factors influence withdrawal times, the reduced execution delay will noticeably speed up bridging processes, allowing users to transfer assets to Ethereum faster and more reliably.
This improvement eliminates a common user pain point and boosts ZKsync’s appeal as a fast and efficient blockchain.
Maintained Security
The reduced delay is underpinned by the Security Council, which ensures network safety even with faster finalisation.
The council has been structured to handle emergencies within the 3-hour window, safeguarding the network’s integrity. Enhanced monitoring systems will also play a role in identifying potential risks, further strengthening ZKsync’s reliability.
Conclusion
ZIP-002 represents a pivotal moment for ZKsync, combining enhanced scalability with faster bridging to create a better user experience.
By reducing execution delays, ZKsync ensures that transactions are faster and more efficient, while still maintaining the network’s high-security standards.
With the support of the Security Council, these changes align scalability with user needs, ensuring ZKsync’s position as a leader in Ethereum layer-2 solutions.
As the voting period begins, the community has an opportunity to shape the future of ZKsync. If approved, ZIP-002 will solidify ZKsync’s commitment to creating a blockchain ecosystem that is efficient, responsive, and user-focused.
