Developers of Near and Polygon Networks Join Forces to Create zkWASM Prover
The developers of the Near and Polygon networks have announced a collaboration to create a zero-knowledge (ZK) prover for Web Assembly (WASM) blockchains. The new prover, named “zkWASM,” will allow WASM-based networks to become part of the Polygon ecosystem for the first time.
What is WASM?
Web Assembly (WASM) is a binary instruction format originally developed for web browsers. However, some blockchain networks use it as a computation engine instead of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Notable examples include Near, Stellar, Polkadot, and Internet Computer.
Integration with Polygon’s Chain Development Kit
The zkWASM prover is currently in active development and is expected to be available next year. Once completed, it will be integrated into Polygon’s chain development kit (CDK), enabling developers to create custom WASM networks and integrate them into the broader Polygon ecosystem, including the Ethereum mainnet.
Impact on Near Network and Ethereum Integration
The zkWASM prover will not only facilitate integration with Ethereum but also improve liquidity for users. This will expand the zero-knowledge landscape and defragment liquidity across chains, according to Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of Near.
Enhancing Validator Efficiency and Scalability
The zkWASM prover will also enhance validator efficiency on the Near network by reducing computational overhead through zero-knowledge proofs. This will result in better scalability and increased decentralization for the Near network.
Polygon’s Multichain Ecosystem
Polygon is working on building a multichain ecosystem known as “Polygon 2.0.” This system will feature bridges that utilize zero-knowledge proofs to transfer assets across different chains. Additionally, there are plans to replace Polygon’s current native coin, MATIC, with a new one called POL.
Hot Take: Advancing Zero-Knowledge Proofs in Blockchain Ecosystems
The collaboration between Near and Polygon to develop the zkWASM prover signifies a significant advancement in integrating zero-knowledge proofs into blockchain ecosystems. This initiative has the potential to enhance interoperability, security, and scalability across different blockchain networks, ultimately benefitting developers and users alike.