Argent Shifting Focus from zkSync Era to Starknet
DeFi wallet developer Argent has announced that it will be discontinuing the development of zkSync Era in favor of the Ethereum Layer 2 network and zk-rollup Starknet. Starting from January 31, Argent will gradually reduce support for zkSync Era alpha accounts, although security will not be compromised despite the downgrade in performance. The decision comes after a six-month alpha phase and careful consideration of user feedback. Argent aims to concentrate on building products that enhance its growing ecosystem.
Transitioning Assets and Itamar Lesuisse’s Tweet
Argent has advised users to transfer their zkSync Era assets to another zkSync Era wallet or bridge them to a Starknet or Ethereum account as soon as possible. CEO Itamar Lesuisse emphasized on social media that this move is a temporary pause in order to focus more effectively. He expressed confidence in the scalability potential of zkSync, stating that it consistently has higher transactions-per-second among all Layer 2 solutions.
Starknet vs zkSync Era
Argent was an early adopter of zkSync Era, a zero-knowledge scaling protocol compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. However, in August, Argent partnered with the Starknet Foundation to launch Hito Studios, which supports startups building on Starknet. Currently, zkSync Era maintains 40.3% of the value locked in Ethereum ZK Rollups, while Starknet holds 12.2%.
Hot Take: Argent Shifts Priorities for Better Ecosystem Growth
Argent’s decision to shift its focus from zkSync Era to Starknet demonstrates its commitment to optimizing its product offerings and expanding its ecosystem. By pausing development on zkSync Era, Argent aims to concentrate its resources on the platform that has proven to be successful for them. This strategic move aligns with their goal of showcasing the full potential of Account Abstraction and allowing dApps to adapt to a world where EVM is an EOA first. With this shift, Argent expects to have a greater impact in the long run.