Crypto Rollups with Zero Disclosure: Which ZK Projects Are Redefining Layer 2 in 2025

Why Ethereum Needs Layer 2 Solutions

Ethereum has transformed the ecosystem of decentralized applications and finance, but its success has led to a serious problem — network throughput cannot handle the volume of transactions. Daily rising gas fees and slow transaction processing force developers and users to seek alternatives.

While Ethereum 2.0 is gradually evolving and addressing some scalability issues, Layer 2 networks offer a more practical path to the widespread adoption of decentralized infrastructure. Here, crypto rollups based on zero-knowledge technology come into play, promising to unlock the platform’s true potential through unprecedented efficiency and cryptographic security.

How ZK Rollups Work: Technology Under the Hood

Zero-knowledge (ZK rollups) are Layer 2 solutions that bundle multiple transactions into one, drastically reducing the load on the main blockchain. Think of a multi-lane highway instead of congested city streets — that’s the function these rollups serve.

The technology relies on zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) — a powerful cryptographic tool that allows confirming the correctness of a batch of transactions without revealing individual details. These proofs are compact and lightweight, which radically reduces data volume on the main network and speeds up transaction finality.

ZKPs possess three critical properties: completeness (proof correctness), soundness (impossible to cheat the system), and zero-knowledge (data remains private). This combination guarantees secure and cost-effective operation verification.

How It Works

The process operates in four stages:

1. Smart contracts on the main network set rules for all operations in the rollup, acting as a judge.

2. Off-chain virtual machine processes the bulk of transactions, avoiding costs and delays of the main network.

3. A cryptographic proof is generated, confirming the correctness of the entire batch without revealing details of individual operations.

4. The proof is verified on the main network by validators, ensuring the integrity of all in-rollup operations.

This approach revolutionizes transaction economics: throughput increases by dozens of times, fees drop dramatically, and security remains at Ethereum’s level.

Advantages of ZK Rollups Over Competitors

Scalability and Economy: Off-chain transaction bundling allows processing thousands of operations in the time the main blockchain takes for a few. Gas fees decrease by 10-100 times.

Cryptographic Security: Unlike Optimistic Rollups, which assume honesty by default, ZK rollups mathematically prove the correctness of each transaction. There’s no dispute period — finality is instant.

Privacy and Confidentiality: Details of individual operations are encrypted within the proof, enabling private trading and anonymous transactions.

Ecosystem Compatibility: Most ZK rollups maintain compatibility with EVM and data availability on the main network, easing migration for developers.

Environmental Friendliness: Efficient transaction processing means less computation and electricity per operation.

ZK Rollups vs. Optimistic Rollups: Key Differences

Optimistic Rollups assume all transactions are valid and verify them only if a dispute arises. ZK rollups cryptographically verify each operation from the start.

Result: ZK rollups provide instant finality (without a 7-day dispute period), do not require trust in validators (mathematics instead of honesty), and have built-in privacy. The downside — more complex to develop, but the outcome is more reliable.

Leading ZK Rollup Projects on Ethereum Ecosystem

1. Manta Network (Manta Pacific)

Statistics: Total value locked (TVL) $851 million, testnet launched in September 2023. MANTA token is used for governance and fee payments.

Current Data: MANTA market cap $33.76M.

Manta Network specializes in confidential DeFi transactions, using zk-SNARKs for full privacy of operations. In a short period, it became the fourth-largest Layer 2 solution on Ethereum by TVL, surpassing many competitors. The project’s advantage is a privacy layer for all DeFi applications without needing to change code.

2. Linea

Statistics: TVL $202 million, launched in August 2023. LINEA token announced without functional details.

Current Data: LINEA market cap $107.26M.

Linea focuses on ease of integration for developers, allowing them to quickly deploy applications. Uses zk-SNARKs for validating bundled transactions. Its main value is maximum throughput with minimal fees.

3. Polygon zkEVM

Statistics: TVL $115 million, mainnet beta launched in March 2023. MATIC token pays fees and manages the protocol.

Polygon zkEVM is part of the Polygon ecosystem, providing EVM compatibility while maintaining ZK rollup advantages. This is critical for developers already familiar with Ethereum tools. Existing smart contracts run unchanged.

4. Starknet

Statistics: TVL $170 million, launched in February 2022. STRK token is used for gas, governance, and staking.

Current Data: STRK market cap $396.48M.

Starknet is built on STARKs — a type of proof different from zk-SNARKs. Key difference: STARKs do not require a trusted setup (trusted setup) and are resistant to quantum computing. Supports universal computations for any smart contracts.

5. zkSync Era

Statistics: TVL $555 million, full launch in March 2023. ZKS token pays fees and manages the network.

zkSync Era by Matter Labs combines scalability with user-friendliness, maintaining full Ethereum compatibility. Developers can deploy contracts without rewriting code. The goal is to minimize both fees and delays.

6. Scroll

Statistics: TVL $63.46 million, bridge deployment in October 2023. No token.

Scroll uses zk-SNARKs for compression and emphasizes high throughput with low latency. EVM-compatible, allowing easy porting of existing applications.

7. Aztec Protocol

Launch: 2017. No token.

Aztec offers a hybrid public-private rollup model, allowing users to choose between transparency and confidentiality. Developed the Noir programming language specifically for ZK chain development, simplifying the creation of private dApps.

8. ZKFair

Launch: December 2023. ZKF token pays fees and distributes rewards.

ZKFair is a decentralized exchange using ZK Rollups to prevent front-running and transaction order manipulation. This makes it stand out among DEX competitors.

9. DeGate V1

Launch: September 2022. DG token manages the derivatives platform.

Current Data: DG market cap $21.14M.

DeGate V1 is designed as a decentralized exchange optimized for minimal slippage and low-cost large trades, utilizing ZK Rollup technology.

10. ZetaChain

Launch: February 2021. ZETA token manages the interoperability protocol.

Current Data: ZETA market cap $80.87M.

ZetaChain creates “universal bridges” between blockchains via ZK Rollups, enabling secure asset transfers across networks without complexity. Includes ZetaML technology for off-chain smart contracts.

11. Taiko

Launch: January 2024 (testnet). Token not announced.

Taiko introduces an innovative “based sequencing” method, where sequence is managed by the underlying Layer 1 instead of a centralized operator. This solves the single point of failure and censorship issues common in other rollup solutions. The project has attracted $37 million in funding and received broad developer support.

Challenges Facing ZK Rollups

Despite prospects, the technology faces real obstacles: high cryptographic complexity, limitations on transaction types, critical dependence on data availability, resource-intensive proof generation, the need for broad user adoption, and complex governance models. Additionally, operational economics can be strained due to high initial infrastructure costs.

The Future of ZK Rollup Ecosystem

Research and development are actively simplifying cryptographic complexity, and innovative solutions are addressing liquidity fragmentation. With sustainable growth and collaboration, ZK Rollups have the potential to revolutionize Ethereum and usher in an era of truly scalable, economical, and secure blockchain applications ready for billions of users.

Conclusion

Crypto rollups with zero disclosure are not just an Ethereum upgrade but a fundamental shift in how we understand blockchain scalability. Processing transactions off-chain while maintaining Ethereum’s security opens the door to a future where blockchain applications operate at the speed of centralized systems but with the benefits of decentralization. This change is already underway — the question remains who will be the first to scale this technology to everyday use.