Rollups
‘Sequencers’ Are Blockchain’s Air Traffic Control. Here’s Why They’re Misunderstood
Leading rollup operators are criticized for using "centralized sequencers" to package transactions and pass them down to Ethereum, but the real risks may lie elsewhere.
Ethereum Handled Friend.tech Frenzy Without 'Gas Fee' Spike. Why That’s a Big Deal
Friend.tech, Crypto's latest fad, didn't drive up congestion and fees on Ethereum the way frenzies have in the past – possibly a sign that the blockchain's efforts to scale by fostering supplemental "layer-2" networks, like Coinbase's new Base, are bearing fruit.
Coinbase’s Chosen Blockchain Brand Sees Zero Threat from Zero Knowledge
Many Ethereum aficionados have predicted that the most promising layer-2 blockchains would be built not using the OP Stack’s “optimistic rollup” technology – favored by the U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase – but with a different setup known as “ZK rollups,” reliant on "zero-knowledge" cryptography.
Zero-Knowledge Rollup ZKM Sets Out to Make Ethereum 'Universal Settlement Layer'
With funding from the foundation that oversees development of the Metis layer-2 Ethereum protocol, ZKM is developing a hybrid rollup that combines an Optmistic rollup and Zero-Knowledge rollup into one.
What Is Ethereum’s ‘Data Availability' Problem, and Why Does It Matter?
Separate “data availability” layers could reduce congestion on the Ethereum network by making it easier for ancillary “rollup” networks to verify that transactional details exist and are available to download if needed — without actually downloading them. The concept might offer an alternative to Ethereum’s own proposed solution, seen as years away.
Ethereum’s Layer 2 Teams Want You to Clone Their Code
By making their code open source and easy to replicate, projects including Arbitrum, Optimism and zkSync are making it easier for copycat blockchains to steal away their users – in pursuit of broader ecosystems of related networks.
Ethereum’s Buterin Releases Roadmap Addressing Scaling, Privacy, Wallet Security
In his blog post, Buterin says the network needs to address these components simultaneously; otherwise the blockchain could fail.
Optimism Completes ‘Bedrock’ Hard Fork, in Pursuit of Superchain
Developers behind the layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum say the upgrade will reduce gas fees and cut deposit confirmation times.
Optimism 'Bedrock' Upgrade to Speed Confirmations, Cut Gas Fees, Set Path to 'Superchain'
The "Bedrock” upgrade will improve the usability of the chain by lowering gas fees and cutting deposit-confirmation times by 90% – pitched as a key step toward the Optimism network's goal of becoming a "Superchain."
Ethereum Scaler Arbitrum Is Launching Friday With Developer Support From Alchemy
The rollup platform from Offchain Labs is going live this week, with over 150 projects having requested early access.
