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Key points
Scroll is a scaling solution specifically designed to handle transactions off the main chain of Ethereum, thereby reducing congestion and helping the network operate faster for users, even during busy times.
By utilizing zk-rollup technology, Scroll can reduce Ethereum's gas fees, making it easier for users to access DApp and DeFi services at more affordable prices.
Scroll seamlessly integrates with Ethereum, allowing developers to use existing tools and smart contracts without rewriting all the code.
Introduction
If you have ever used Ethereum, you may have noticed that the network can be a bit slow and expensive at times of high demand. As more people join the Ethereum network to use decentralized applications (DApps), the network can become congested, leading to higher fees and slower transaction speeds. This is where Scroll comes into play.
Scroll is a project designed to make Ethereum faster, cheaper, and more efficient without sacrificing the security and decentralization that are hallmarks of Ethereum. Let's explore what Scroll is and its scaling solutions.
What is Scroll (SCR)?
Scroll is a Layer 2 scaling solution specifically designed for Ethereum. Simply put, this is technology that operates on Ethereum's main network (Layer 1) to help things run more smoothly. One of the key components of Scroll is a cryptographic technique called zero-knowledge rollup (zk-rollup), which is a breakthrough in speeding up transactions while ensuring security.
With Scroll, transactions are processed off the main chain of Ethereum, helping to avoid congestion. Then, important data is sent back to Layer 1 of Ethereum to ensure everything is in order. This means you can still use all the great DApps and tools on Ethereum without paying high fees or waiting long for confirmations.
Why does Ethereum need Scroll?
We can think of Ethereum as a busy highway. When too many people use this highway at the same time, the speed slows down and the cost of use (gas fees) increases. As we all know, no one likes to pay high fees, especially when you just want to send a little cryptocurrency to a friend or use a DApp.
Ethereum developers are working hard to find solutions to this problem, but due to the network's focus on security and decentralization, scaling becomes challenging. This is where Layer 2 solutions like Scroll come into play—they help alleviate the burden on Ethereum's main network while still ensuring safety and decentralization.
How does Scroll work?
Basics of rollup
As we know, rollup is a smart way to handle a series of transactions outside of Ethereum's main network (off-chain), then send a summary of those transactions back to Layer 1 for approval. You can think of it as sending a message to a group of people to save time instead of messaging each person individually.
There are 2 types of rollups: optimistic rollup and zero-knowledge rollup (zk-rollup). Scroll uses zk-rollup but adds additional security features. These rollups use zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) to ensure that off-chain transactions are processed accurately. In this way, Ethereum does not have to recheck everything, making the entire process much faster and cheaper.
The 3-layer architecture of Scroll
Scroll's system has 3 main parts:
Payment Layer: This is Ethereum. Scroll uses Layer 1 of Ethereum to fetch data and verify zk-rollup proofs. Essentially, Ethereum acts as the final judge, confirming that everything is valid.
Sequencing Layer: Here, Scroll processes and orders transactions. This layer is responsible for grouping transactions into batches and sending the information back to Ethereum for record-keeping and verification.
Proof Layer: This is where the magic of zk-rollup happens. A group of computers (called provers) work together to create zero-knowledge proofs that show the transactions have been processed correctly. This layer ensures everything is secure and ready for Ethereum's approval.
Zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM)
One of the most exciting parts of Scroll is zkEVM (short for Zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine). It sounds complicated, but essentially, this means Scroll can run Ethereum-like transactions using zk-rollup without changing how Ethereum operates. Developers do not need to rewrite code or create new tools to work with Scroll, which is a big plus.
zkEVM allows Scroll to be 100% compatible with Ethereum, allowing developers to easily use and migrate their DApps to this faster and more efficient system.
How transactions work on Scroll
Transactions on Scroll go through several important stages to ensure everything runs smoothly:
Confirmation: First, users will send transactions to the Ethereum mainnet (Layer 1) or directly to Scroll (Layer 2). Once the transaction is executed and added to a block, it is considered confirmed.
Commitment: Next, the confirmed transactions are grouped into a batch. This batch is sent to Ethereum's main network to ensure the data is accurately recorded.
Completion: Finally, Scroll generates a validity proof (thanks to the zero-knowledge rollup we discussed above) and sends it to Ethereum. Once Ethereum verifies this proof, the transaction is completed. That's it! Now your transaction has become part of the official Ethereum blockchain without delays.
Advantages of Scroll
1. Better scalability
By processing transactions off-chain, Scroll significantly increases the number of transactions Ethereum can handle. This makes the network much faster, which is extremely important as more people start using decentralized applications (DApps) on Ethereum.
2. Lower transaction fees
Scroll is a great solution for crypto wallets. Since Scroll can handle batches of transactions and uses zk-rollup, the costs of using Ethereum decrease. This makes it much easier to use DApps and transfer cryptocurrencies.
3. Security remains strong
Although transactions are processed off-chain, Scroll uses advanced zk-rollup technology to ensure everything is safe and reliable. You don’t have to worry about the security of transactions—Scroll is designed to ensure these transactions are as safe as if they were processed directly on Ethereum.
4. Compatible with Ethereum
Scroll does not require developers to change how they build DApps. Scroll's zkEVM ensures complete compatibility with Ethereum's existing infrastructure, meaning developers can easily start using Scroll without needing to learn a whole new system.
SCR Token
The SCR token is designed to be an essential part of the Scroll ecosystem. Here are some of the main uses of the SCR token:
Governance: If you hold SCR tokens, you can contribute to deciding the development direction of Scroll. SCR holders can vote on important decisions, from protocol updates to how the network operates.
Network support: Scroll relies on two important groups: provers and sequencers. These two groups ensure everything runs smoothly to verify transactions and organize transactions into blocks. SCR tokens are used to reward provers and sequencers, thereby maintaining decentralization and security.
Stake: Users and validators can stake SCR tokens to help secure the network and earn rewards. This is a crucial incentive to keep the Scroll network safe and operating effectively.
Conclusion
Scroll (SCR) is an advanced Layer 2 scaling solution designed to address the scalability challenges of Ethereum using zero-knowledge rollup. By increasing transaction throughput, reducing costs, and maintaining compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem, Scroll makes it easier and cheaper for users and developers to interact with the Ethereum blockchain.
As Ethereum continues to evolve, projects like Scroll will play a vital role in ensuring the network can meet the growing demand for decentralized services and applications.
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