The technology has been under development by the Polygon Hermez team for over three years.
Polygon zkEVM Achieves Zero-Knowledge Proofs on Ethereum
The Polygon Hermez team has already confirmed that zero-knowledge proofs are possible on Ethereum by generating over 12,000 zk-proofs in a preliminary version of the zkEVM testnet. David Schwartz, project lead of Polygon zkEVM and PolygonID, explained that zero-knowledge rollups had increased the speed at which layer-2 platforms can achieve finality while ensuring secure validation of transactions with zero-knowledge technology.
Polygon zkEVM Offers Advanced Methods of zk-STARKs and zk-SNARKs
According to Schwartz, Polygon zkEVM includes the first complete source code available EVM-equivalent zkProver, which passes all Ethereum vector tests at over 99%. He described the completion of validity proofs for conventional user transactions as "the most challenging and rewarding effort" since his team began developing its native zkEVM. Polygon's approach aims to meet the classification of a type 2 zkEVM described by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in August 2022.
Polygon zkEVM's Approach to Scaling the Ethereum Ecosystem
Schwartz said the main difference between Polygon zkEVM and fellow Ethereum layer-2 scaling network StarkNet's proprietary ZK-SNARK and ZK-STARK technology is that zkEVM focuses on natively scaling the Ethereum ecosystem instead of other zk-rollups just scaling transactions, and enhancing performance in a different VM format. He welcomes the opportunity to learn from different approaches as activity on Ethereum layer-2 solutions grows.