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Key Points
Scroll is a scaling solution that can process transactions off the Ethereum main chain, effectively reducing network congestion and speeding up network performance even during peak times.
With zero-knowledge rollup technology, Scroll is able to reduce Ethereum's gas fees, allowing users to access DApp and DeFi services at a lower cost and with greater convenience.
Scroll integrates seamlessly with Ethereum, allowing developers to use existing tools and smart contracts without needing to completely rewrite their code.
Introduction
If you have ever used Ethereum, you may have noticed that during peak demand, the network speed slows down and transaction fees rise. As more and more users join the Ethereum network to explore decentralized applications (DApps), the network can easily become congested, leading to increased fees and slower transactions. Scroll was born to solve these problems.
The Scroll project aims to comprehensively enhance the speed, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of Ethereum while maintaining its unique security and decentralization features. Let's take a deeper look at Scroll and its scaling solution.
What is Scroll (SCR)?
Scroll is a Layer 2 scaling solution designed specifically for Ethereum. In simple terms, it is a technology that runs on the Ethereum mainnet (Layer 1) to provide a smoother experience. One of the core components of Scroll is zero-knowledge rollup (zk-rollups) cryptographic technology, which enhances transaction speed while ensuring security, fundamentally changing the game.
With Scroll, transactions can be processed off the Ethereum main chain, avoiding network congestion. Important data will then be sent back to the Ethereum Layer 1 network to ensure everything is correct. This means you can still use various powerful DApps and tools on Ethereum without incurring high costs or waiting too long for confirmation.
Why is Scroll Crucial for Ethereum?
We can liken Ethereum to a busy highway. When too many people use it, the network speed slows down, and the cost of usage (gas fees) rises. Clearly, no one wants to pay high fees, especially when they just want to send cryptocurrency to a friend or use a DApp.
Ethereum developers are actively seeking solutions, but due to the network's emphasis on security and decentralization, scaling has become a challenge. Layer 2 solutions like Scroll have emerged to effectively share the load of the Ethereum mainnet while maintaining its security and decentralization.
How Does Scroll Work?
Basics of Rollups
Rollups are a clever way to process a large number of transactions off the Ethereum mainnet (off-chain) and then send key transaction data back to the Layer 1 network for validation. This is similar to sending a bulk message instead of sending each one individually, thereby improving efficiency.
Rollups are divided into two types: Optimistic Rollups and Zero-Knowledge Rollups (ZK Rollups). Scroll uses the more secure Zero-Knowledge Rollups, ensuring the accuracy of off-chain transaction processing through 'zero-knowledge proofs' (ZKP) technology. This approach allows Ethereum to avoid meticulously verifying everything, thereby accelerating speed and reducing costs.
Scroll's Three-Layer Architecture
The Scroll system primarily consists of three parts:
Settlement Layer: This is Ethereum itself. Scroll uses Ethereum Layer 1 to implement data availability and the verification of zero-knowledge rollup proofs, among other things. This can be understood as Ethereum being the ultimate arbiter, responsible for confirming the legality of all transactions.
Sorting Layer: Here, Scroll processes and organizes transactions, grouping them and sending key information back to Ethereum for storage and verification.
Proof Layer: This is where the zero-knowledge rollups reside. A group of computers called provers collaboratively generates zero-knowledge proofs to ensure the accuracy of transaction processing. This layer is designed to ensure everything is secure and reliable, preparing for final confirmation by Ethereum.
Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM)
One of Scroll's major advantages is its Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM). While it may seem complex, it actually means that Scroll can execute similar transactions using zero-knowledge rollup technology without affecting the operation of Ethereum. Additionally, developers do not need to rewrite code or develop new tools to use Scroll, greatly simplifying the operational process.
With zkEVM, Scroll achieves full compatibility with Ethereum, enabling developers to easily get started and migrate their DApps to this faster and more efficient system.
Scroll Transaction Model
To ensure the smooth progress of transactions, transactions on Scroll will go through several important stages:
Confirmed: Users submit transactions to the Ethereum mainnet (Layer 1) or directly to Scroll (Layer 2). Once the transaction is executed and added to the block, it is considered confirmed.
Submitted: Confirmed transactions are bundled together, and then this batch is sent to the Ethereum mainnet to ensure accurate data recording.
Final Confirmation: Scroll generates a validity proof (based on the zero-knowledge rollup mentioned above) and sends it to Ethereum. After verification by Ethereum, the transaction is finally confirmed. The whole process completes smoothly, and your transaction has now become a part of the official Ethereum blockchain, without affecting the speed of Ethereum's operation.
Advantages of Scroll
1. Greater Scalability
Scroll processes transactions off-chain, significantly improving Ethereum's transaction processing capacity. This optimization is particularly important as more and more users begin to use DApps on Ethereum, greatly speeding up network performance.
2. Lower Transaction Costs
Scroll is more user-friendly for your cryptocurrency wallet. It can batch process transactions and use zero-knowledge rollup technology, significantly reducing the costs of using Ethereum, providing a more cost-effective option for using DApps and transferring cryptocurrencies.
3. Always Secure and Reliable
Although transactions are processed off-chain, Scroll implements advanced zero-knowledge rollup technology to ensure the entire process is secure and reliable. You don’t need to worry about transaction security, as Scroll is designed to ensure transaction safety is no different from direct processing on Ethereum.
4. Compatible with Ethereum
Scroll does not require developers to change the way they build DApps. Its zkEVM technology ensures full compatibility with Ethereum's existing infrastructure, allowing developers to easily get started without needing to reacquaint themselves with the entire system.
SCR Token
The SCR token is designed to be an important part of the Scroll ecosystem, with the following main functions:
Governance: SCR token holders have a say in the development direction of Scroll and can participate in voting on significant decisions such as protocol updates and network operations.
Network Support: Scroll relies on two key roles: provers and sorters. They ensure the smooth operation of the network in the background, responsible for validating transactions and integrating them into blocks. This helps maintain the decentralization and security of the network, and they will earn SCR token rewards as a result.
Staking: Users and validators can stake SCR tokens to enhance network security and earn rewards. This is an important incentive mechanism to ensure the security and proper functioning of the Scroll network.
Conclusion
Scroll (SCR) is an innovative Layer 2 scaling solution designed to address the scalability challenges that Ethereum faces through zero-knowledge rollup technology. Scroll not only increases transaction throughput but also reduces transaction costs, and it is perfectly compatible with the Ethereum ecosystem, allowing users and developers to interact with the Ethereum blockchain in a simpler and more cost-effective manner.
As Ethereum continues to evolve, projects like Scroll are crucial in meeting the growing demand for decentralized applications and services from users.
Further Reading
Concept of Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Their Impact on Blockchain
Differences Between Optimistic Rollups and Zero-Knowledge Rollups
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