Polygon and StarkWare Launch Circle STARKs to Revolutionize Transactions

In a surprising move that demonstrates collaboration over competition, the teams at Polygon Labs and StarkWare, known for their leading role in the evolution of layer 2 networks on top of the Ethereum blockchain, have revealed the joint development of a new cryptographic proof, titled “Circle STARKs ”. This innovation promises to make transactions not only faster but also more cost-effective compared to current technologies.

Circle STARKs represent a significant step towards improving zero-knowledge proof technology, a key technique for Layer 2 ancillary networks that seek to process transactions more efficiently than the underlying Ethereum blockchain. According to a press release, this new form of proof should considerably speed up the rollup process, improving the scalability and efficiency of blockchains.

At the heart of this innovation is the process of compressing multiple Layer 2 transactions, which are then verified on the main Ethereum blockchain via a “proof of validity.” STARK proofs, an invention of Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder of StarkWare, are at the heart of this technology, with Circle STARKs promising to be completed much faster than their predecessors.

StarkWare recently gained attention with the launch of its layer 2 blockchain, Starknet, and its STRK tokens, which quickly valued the project at over a billion dollars. Meanwhile, Polygon’s MATIC tokens boast an approximate market cap of $8.5 billion.

Brendan Farmer, co-founder of Polygon, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in an interview, stating that “this is really going to happen in Plonky3, which is our new proof system”. It emphasizes the simplicity and speed of the process, anticipating a seven- to tenfold improvement compared to the current system, Plonky2, introduced in January 2022.

This partnership between StarkWare and Polygon Labs may surprise many, given the teams’ previous rivalry. However, the union aims to benefit the Ethereum ecosystem as a whole, reducing transaction costs and expanding proof capabilities for various applications.

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