Article source: On-chain observation
Why is Zircuit considered an unconventional layer2?
1) It is built on the OP Stack Codebase but does not belong to the OP super chain camp?
2) It belongs to the OP-Rollup chain but does not highlight fraud proof, with a strong ZK imprint in its name and technical details?
3) Clearly unrelated to the AVS security consensus mechanism but still provided $Eigen stakers with an airdrop, etc.
Next, let me briefly talk about my understanding of the Zircuit chain:
1) OP Stack clearly provides a foundational technical framework for quickly launching layer2, but many chains, including Metis, Mantle, and Zircuit, have used the OP Stack Codebase technology framework without being included in the Superchain strategic route.
The reason is simple. Although the super chain will enjoy resource benefits from the OP super alliance, it will also be limited in technological autonomy and flexibility, such as fraud proof. Many layer2 chains in the OP Stack camp have yet to fully implement the Fraud Proof system, and the relationship with their choice of framework dependency while neglecting autonomous development is significant.
Zircuit is a typical case. Although marked as OP-Rollup Type on L2beat, its overall technical architecture and brand tone give a strong ZK perception impression, leading many to classify it within the ZK-Rollup category.
The preference for the ZK technology framework mainly comes from the fact that the support of ZK technology can make the OP-Rollup framework more reliable. After all, without a genuine Fraud Proof to prove the operation of OP-Rollup, it is hard to call it a safe and reliable chain. However, with the ZK Proof system, the trust environment for state changes built on ZK technology can effectively make up for its shortcomings in optimistic challenge proofs.
Therefore, strictly speaking, it should belong to a hybrid Rollup. In fact, the architectural design of such hybrid Rollups is not new. The emerging layer2, Metis, also focuses on differentiation based on this by providing users with a fast withdrawal channel through the ZK-Rollup Router without having to wait for a 7-day challenge period.
2) Recently, Vitalik praised Starknet for its performance in optimizing Blob Gas pricing mechanisms and block state compression. This is actually another optimization direction after layer2 needs to enhance cross-chain interoperability: improving its own data structure and performance processing details. Because the future upgrade path of the Ethereum mainnet will trend towards the lightweight ZK-SNARKs, if layer2 chains can adeptly apply ZK technology at the base level and show improvements in data structure, state compression, and message transmission, they will align more closely with the future strategic direction of Rollup-Centric.
Therefore, as a newcomer, Zircuit has made many technical optimizations in details from the very beginning, such as:
1. Sequencer level security enhancement (SLS): Many layer2 chains suffer from issues such as Sequencer centralization and MEV, which has hindered the stable development of financial applications like DeFi in the layer2 environment.
In light of this, Zircuit has uniquely designed a preventive security architecture for the Sequencer. When transactions are in the Mempool, malicious transaction monitoring will occur. Malicious transactions will be subjected to a layer of isolation with multiple release conditions to ensure normal transactions are executed smoothly and safely. This method of adding a layer of pre-check security in the Sequencer component can identify potential MEV behaviors and provide a fairer execution environment for DeFi applications.
2. Modular Proof system: Compared to OP-Rollup chains, ZK-Rollup paradigm layer2 chains have obvious finality advantages, but at the same time, they incur additional costs for computing, generating, and verifying proofs. These costs are not reduced under the mainnet through Blobs blocks to lower layer2 Gas. Therefore, ZK-Rollup layer2 needs to find ways to reduce ZK Proofs costs. To address this, Zircuit adopts two paths: Template Proofs and Proof Aggregation to optimize costs. Template proofs are a transitional solution that uses simplified proof templates to maintain the validation of basic state updates without generating complete proofs for each batch to reduce costs. Proof aggregation collects multiple unverified proof tasks and generates proofs in parallel through specific circuits and general circuits, eventually aggregating these proofs into a single proof for unified verification. Clearly, this setup of specific proprietary circuits to adapt to different proof types can effectively lower the costs of ZK proof generation and verification. This is similar to how Starknet uses the STARK system and zkSync uses the recursive system, which can better reduce ZK costs.
3. AI-Enabled layer2: As a relatively new layer2 chain, Zircuit is naturally suitable for integrating AI elements such as AI model inference and AI Agents. This is reflected in AI models in the SLS sequencer analyzing suspicious transactions, automating the isolation or suspension of protocols in special cases, etc.
That's all.
As for why Zircuit is collaborating with Eigenlayer for an airdrop, it is difficult to see it purely from a technical perspective. I prefer to understand it as Zircuit’s strategic support for Eigenlayer's contribution to Ethereum AVS security. From a broader perspective, AVS as a rapid security consensus infrastructure may help Zircuit's SSL system quickly integrate into other layer2 ecosystems at some point.
