Why is Zircuit considered a unique Layer 2?

As a relatively new Layer 2 chain, Zircuit is naturally suitable for the integration of AI elements such as AI model inference and AI Agents.

Author: Haotian

Why is @ZircuitL2 said to be a maverick layer2? 1) It is built on the OP Stack Codebase but does not belong to the OP superchain camp? 2) It belongs to the OP-Rollup chain but does not highlight fraud proof, from the name to the technical details, it has a strong ZK imprint? 3) Clearly unrelated to the AVS secure Consensus Mechanism, yet it has offered Airdrop to $Eigen stakers, and so on. Next, let me briefly explain my understanding of the Zircuit chain:

1. OP Stack obviously provides a fast basic technology framework for layer2, but many chains including Metis, Mantle, Zircuit, etc., have used the OP Stack’s Codebase technology framework, but it has not been incorporated into the strategic roadmap of Superchain.

The reason is simple. Although the Super Chain will enjoy the resource benefits of the OP Super Alliance, it will also be restricted in terms of technical autonomy and flexibility, such as fraud proof. Many OP Stack camps have not fully launched the Fraud Proof proof system until now, and there will be a significant correlation between their choice of framework dependency and the neglect of autonomous development.

Zircuit is a typical example. Although it is labeled as OP-Rollup Type on L2beat, its overall technical architecture and brand tone give people a strong impression of ZK perception. Many people will categorize it under the scope of ZK-Rollup.

The reason for preferring the ZK technology framework is mainly because the blessing of ZK technology can make the OP-Rollup framework more reliable. After all, without the real operation of Fraud Proof, it is difficult to call OP-Rollup a secure and reliable chain. However, with the ZK Proof certification system, the trust environment of state change built on ZK technology can well compensate for its shortcomings in optimistic challenge proof. Therefore, strictly speaking, it should belong to a mixed Rollup.

In fact, the design of such a hybrid Rollup architecture is not new, as it is also a cutting-edge layer2

@MetisL2

Also based on this differentiation, ZK-Rollup Router provides users with a fast withdrawal exit channel without waiting for the 7-day challenge period.

2. Recently, Vitalik praised the performance of Starknet in optimizing the Blob Gas pricing mechanism and compressing Block states. This is actually another optimization direction after the enhancement of Cross-Chain Interaction operability in layer2: enhancing its own data structure and performance processing details.

Because the future upgrade path of the ETH mainnet will tend towards ZK-SNARKs lightweight, if the layer2 chain can be familiar with the underlying ZK technology, there will be enhanced performance in terms of data structure, state compression, message passing, etc., which will be closer to the future Rollup-Centric strategic direction.

So, as a rising star, Zircuit made many technical optimizations in the early stages of chain development, such as:

1. Sequencer Level Security Enhancement (SLS): Many layer2 chains are plagued by centralization and MEV issues in the Sequencer, resulting in a lack of stable development for decentralized finance applications protocols in the layer2 environment.

In view of this, Zircuit’s original preventive security architecture design for Sequencer includes malicious transaction monitoring in Mempool. Malicious transactions are wrapped in an isolation zone with multiple release conditions to ensure smooth and secure execution of normal transactions. This method of adding a security front-end check in the Sequencer component can identify potential MEV behaviors and provide a fairer execution environment for Decentralized Finance applications.

2. Modular Proof System: Compared to OP-Rollup chain, the layer2 chain of ZK-Rollup paradigm has obvious finality advantages. However, it also incurs additional costs for computing, generating, and verifying Proofs. These cost expenses are not within the scope of Mainnet’s Blobs Blockdrop layer2 Gas, so ZK-Rollup layer2 needs to drop ZK Proofs expenses.

In this regard, ZIrcuit adopts two paths, Template Proofs and Proof Aggregation, to optimize costs: Template Proofs are a transitional solution that uses simplified proof templates to maintain the update verification of the underlying state without having to generate complete proofs for each batch to drop costs; Proof Aggregation collects multiple unverified proof tasks and generates proofs in parallel through specific circuits and general circuits, and finally aggregates these proofs into a single proof for unified verification.

Obviously, this setting uses specific proprietary circuits to adapt to different proof types of the Proof system, which can effectively reduce the cost of ZK proof generation and verification. This is similar to the adoption of STARK system by Starknet, recursive system by zkSync, etc., which can effectively drop ZK overhead.

3. AI-Enabled layer2: As a relatively new layer2 chain, Zircuit is naturally suitable for the integration of AI models, AI Agents, and other AI elements. This is reflected in the AI model analysis of suspicious transactions in the SLS sequencer, as well as the automatic isolation or suspension of special AI cases, and so on.

Above.

As for why Zircuit teamed up with @Eigenlayer to airdrop, it’s hard to see purely from a technical perspective. I would rather understand this as a strategic support from Zircuit’s layer2 to Eigenlayer’s output of ETH AVS security.

Taking a broader view, as a fast and secure consensus infrastructure, AVS may help Zircuit’s SSL system quickly integrate into other layer2 ecosystems at some point.