Polygon Labs Shifts Focus to Polygon CDK
Polygon Labs has made the decision to discontinue contributions to its Edge platform, a tool for building custom Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks. Instead, the company will prioritize the expansion of the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK), an open-source toolkit for building ZK-powered Layer 2 chains on Ethereum.
Change in Development Priorities
The decision to shift focus away from Edge and towards CDK reflects a change in Polygon Labs’ development priorities. CDK has emerged as a preferred solution for both Web2 and Web3 players, offering interoperability across a wide network.
“The landscape in which Edge was developed has changed and Polygon Labs now supports a solution that empowers developers to build within a (future) unified ecosystem of ZK-powered L2s.”
Polygon’s Zero-Knowledge Push
Polygon Labs has been actively promoting zero-knowledge (ZK) technology since the beginning of the year. They introduced Polygon zkEVM, an Ethereum-compatible network powered by zero-knowledge technology. The team has also been encouraging blockchain developers to adopt Polygon CDK, with several companies and initiatives already leveraging the framework.
Future Interoperability and Upgrades
Polygon CDK aims to create a unified liquidity pool by enabling seamless interoperability among zero-knowledge-powered Layer 2 chains within the Polygon CDK ecosystem. This requires substantial modifications that are not supported by Edge. Additionally, Polygon Labs is working on the highly anticipated Polygon 2.0 upgrade, which will establish a comprehensive network of interconnected Layer 2 chains powered by ZK proofs.
Hot Take: Focusing on Polygon CDK for Enhanced Blockchain Development
Polygon Labs’ decision to discontinue contributions to Edge in favor of prioritizing the expansion of Polygon CDK demonstrates their commitment to advancing blockchain development. By focusing on zero-knowledge-powered Layer 2 chains and promoting interoperability, Polygon Labs aims to create a unified ecosystem that empowers developers and benefits both Web2 and Web3 projects. With the upcoming Polygon 2.0 upgrade, Polygon CDK is set to play a crucial role in establishing interconnected Layer 2 chains powered by ZK proofs, further enhancing the capabilities of the Polygon blockchain ecosystem.