Why is Zircuit considered a unique layer2?
1) It is built on the OP Stack Codebase but does not belong to the OP Superchain camp?
2) It belongs to the OP-Rollup chain but does not highlight fraud proofs, bearing a strong ZK imprint in both name and technical details?
3) Clearly unrelated to the AVS security consensus mechanism yet gives airdrops to $Eigen stakers, etc.
Next, let me briefly share my understanding of the Zircuit chain:
1) The OP Stack clearly provides a rapid foundational technology framework for launching layer2, yet many chains including Metis, Mantle, and Zircuit have used the OP Stack codebase technology framework without merging into the strategic route of the Superchain.
The reason is simple. Although the Superchain enjoys resource benefits from the OP Super Alliance, it will also be limited in technical autonomy and flexibility, such as fraud proofs. Many layer2 chains in the OP Stack camp have not fully launched their Fraud Proof systems, and their reliance on chosen frameworks significantly correlates with this lack of autonomous development.
Zircuit is a typical example. Although marked as an OP-Rollup Type on L2beat, its overall technical architecture and brand tone give a strong ZK perceptual impression, leading many to categorize it within ZK-Rollup.
The preference for the ZK technology framework primarily stems from the fact that ZK technology can make the OP-Rollup framework more reliable. After all, without the true operation of Fraud Proofs, it is hard to call an OP-Rollup a secure and reliable chain. However, with a ZK Proof system, the trust environment for state changes built on ZK technology can effectively compensate for its shortcomings in optimistic challenge proofs.
Therefore, in a strict sense, it should belong to a hybrid Rollup. In fact, the architectural design of such hybrid Rollups is not new. Metis, another emerging layer2, also focuses on differentiation by providing users with a fast withdrawal channel through ZK-Rollup Router, without waiting for a 7-day challenge period.
2) Recently, Vitalik praised Starknet for its performance in optimizing the Blob Gas pricing mechanism and block state compression. This is actually another optimization direction for layer2 that needs to enhance cross-chain interoperability: improving its own data structure and performance processing details. As the Ethereum mainnet's future upgrade path moves towards lightweight ZK-SNARKs, layer2 chains that can proficiently apply ZK technology at a fundamental level will show enhancements in areas such as data structure, state compression, and messaging, thereby aligning more closely with the future Rollup-Centric strategic direction.
Therefore, as a newcomer, Zircuit has made many technical optimizations in detail right from the beginning of the chain, such as:
1. Sequencer Level Security Enhancement (SLS): Many layer2 chains suffer from issues like Sequencer centralization and MEV, which have hindered the stable development of financial applications like DeFi in the layer2 environment.
In light of this, Zircuit has innovatively designed a proactive security architecture for the Sequencer. When transactions are in the Mempool, malicious transaction monitoring is conducted, and malicious transactions are isolated under a layer that includes multiple release conditions, ensuring that normal transactions are executed safely and smoothly. This method of adding a layer of security pre-check in the Sequencer component can identify potential MEV behaviors and provide a fairer execution environment for DeFi applications.
2. Modular Proof System: The ZK-Rollup paradigm layer2 chain has a significant advantage in Finality compared to OP-Rollup chains, but it also incurs additional costs for computing, generating, and validating proofs. These costs are not reduced in layer2 gas through Blobs blocks on the mainnet. Therefore, ZK-Rollup layer2 must find ways to reduce the costs of ZK proofs. To address this, Zircuit adopts two paths to optimize costs: Template Proofs and Proof Aggregation. Template Proofs are a transitional solution that uses simplified proof templates to maintain the verification 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, ultimately aggregating these proofs into a single proof for unified verification. Clearly, this setup of specific proprietary circuits to adapt to different types of proofs can significantly reduce the costs of generating and verifying ZK proofs. This is similar to Starknet's use of the STARK system and zkSync's use of recursive systems, which can effectively lower ZK costs.
3. AI-Enabled Layer2: As a newer layer2 chain, Zircuit is naturally suited for the integration of AI elements such as AI model inference and AI agents. This is reflected in the AI model analyzing suspicious transactions and automating the isolation or suspension of protocols in the SLS sequencer.
That's all.
As for why Zircuit is collaborating with Eigenlayer for airdrops, it is difficult to discern from a purely technical perspective. I prefer to understand this as Zircuit's strategic support for Eigenlayer's contribution to the security of Ethereum's AVS. Looking at it from a broader perspective, AVS, as a fast security consensus infrastructure, may help Zircuit's SSL system quickly integrate into other layer2 ecosystems at some point.
