In the world of cryptocurrency, open-source development plays a pivotal role, fostering collaboration and innovation within the community. It allows developers to build on each other’s work, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes. However, sometimes this ethos is challenged by individuals who exploit open-source projects for their own gain, disregarding proper attribution and making misleading claims. In this article, we delve into a recent controversy involving Polygon Zero and Matter Labs, shedding light on accusations of code copying and dishonest marketing.
Polygon Zero, a team renowned for its lightning-fast Plonky2 and Starky Zero-Knowledge Proof systems, has been at the forefront of ZK L2 development. These systems were designed with a hardware-focused approach, optimizing performance through a collaborative effort between engineers and cryptographers. In an admirable move, Polygon Zero open-sourced these libraries under permissive MIT/Apache licenses, aiming to contribute back to the community that has supported them.
However, Matter Labs, the developers of zkSync, raised eyebrows when they released their proving system called Boojum. Allegations surfaced that Boojum included substantial portions of source code copied directly from the Plonky2 library. Even more concerning was the absence of proper attribution or acknowledgment of the original authors. Such actions violated the principles of open-source development and the licenses governing the code.
Upon closer examination, it became evident that Boojum was not only copying code but also bore striking similarities to Plonky2 in design and strategy. Both systems employed parallel repetition to enhance soundness in a small field and utilized similar custom gates for efficient recursive verification. The MDS matrix and parameters for Poseidon were found to be identical to those discovered by the Polygon Zero team.
Adding fuel to the fire, the founder of Matter Labs boldly claimed that Boojum was over 10 times faster than Plonky2. However, this claim was met with skepticism. It turned out that Boojum’s optimizations were based on a smaller proof, making it an unfair comparison. Boojum’s performance gains seemed dubious, given that crucial components of the field arithmetic code were copied from Plonky2.
Furthermore, Matter Labs’ introduction of Boojum failed to provide proper credit to Polygon Zero and its developers for the copied code and design elements. The lack of transparency and acknowledgment raised ethical concerns within the crypto community.
The controversy also spilled over into the attribution of the Goldilocks field, a crucial element in Plonky2 and Starky’s exceptional performance. Matter Labs mistakenly attributed this discovery to Mike Hamburg, whereas it was, in fact, Hamish Ivey-Law from Polygon Labs who made the breakthrough. This error further deepened the mistrust surrounding the Boojum project.
Beyond the immediate dispute between the two teams, this controversy has broader implications for the open-source ecosystem in the crypto space. Small, talented teams like Polygon Zero are the backbone of innovation, and their willingness to contribute benefits the entire community. Ethical behavior, including proper licensing and giving credit to original authors, fosters a collaborative environment where shared implementations drive progress.
As the crypto community approaches the release of Plonky3, a library promising significant performance improvements, it becomes crucial to uphold the values of open-source development. Matter Labs must reflect on their actions and adhere to the principles of integrity and transparency in their projects. By doing so, we can maintain a healthy and thriving open-source ecosystem that drives the crypto space forward with innovation and collaboration at its core.
Source: https://azcoinnews.com/code-copying-controversy-polygon-zero-accuses-matter-labs-of-plagiarism.html