# What is zkSync Era and how does it improve Ethereum scalability?

Jessica Washington · August 4, 2026

> Layer 2 Scaling: zkSync Era operates as a Layer 2 solution, meaning it processes transactions off the Ethereum main chain. This reduces the burden on...

**Layer 2 Scaling**: zkSync Era operates as a Layer 2 solution, meaning it processes transactions off the Ethereum main chain.

This reduces the burden on Ethereum's base layer, enhancing scalability.

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**Zero-Knowledge Proofs**: The "zk" in zkSync stands for zero-knowledge proofs, cryptographic techniques that allow one party to prove to another that they know a value without revealing the value itself.

This secures transactions without compromising privacy.

**EVM Compatibility**: zkSync Era is the first zk rollup that is Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible, allowing developers to deploy existing Ethereum smart contracts on zkSync with minimal adjustments.

**Transaction Fees**: One of the main advantages of zkSync is its significantly lower transaction fees compared to the main Ethereum network, as it leverages batch processing to reduce costs.

**High Throughput**: zkSync Era can achieve thousands of transactions per second (TPS), vastly improving the speed at which transactions are processed compared to Ethereum’s current capacity.

**Data Availability**: While zkSync Era processes transactions off-chain, it ensures data availability on the Ethereum main chain.

This means while computation occurs off-chain, the data remains verifiable on-chain.

**Security Model**: zkSync inherits Ethereum's security model; even though it processes transactions off-chain, transactions are verified using succinct proofs, ensuring they are valid before being recorded on Ethereum.

**Trustlessness**: Since zkSync Era utilizes cryptographic proofs, it operates in a trustless environment, meaning users do not need to trust a central authority for the correctness of the transactions.

**Batch Processing**: Transactions submitted to zkSync are grouped into batches, which are then processed as a single transaction on Ethereum, further reducing the transaction load on the main chain.

**Developer-Friendly**: The zkSync ecosystem is designed to be developer-friendly, with support for programming languages like Solidity and tools that simplify the migration of Ethereum-based applications.

**Decentralization Traits**: Despite improved efficiency, zkSync maintains key principles of decentralization, fostering competition among network validators and maintaining user control over funds.

**Rollup Technology**: zk rollups, like zkSync, minimize the amount of data posted on-chain.

This allows them to offer better scalability by bundling numerous transactions while only posting minimal data for verification.

**zkEVM Technology**: zkSync Era employs zkEVM technology, which allows Ethereum developers to use the same tooling and programming paradigms they already know, facilitating easier transitions to Layer 2 solutions.

**Integration with Ethereum**: In zkSync, all interactions and state changes are eventually reflected on Ethereum's main chain, ensuring that users have a direct link to the broader Ethereum ecosystem and its security guarantees.

**Ecosystem Growth**: Since its launch, zkSync Era has seen rapid adoption among decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) projects due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

**No Gas Wars**: With zkSync, the highly competitive 'gas wars' that users experience on the Ethereum mainnet are mitigated as transaction costs are significantly lower, leading to a more stable fee structure.

**Developer Incentives**: The zkSync team has implemented various incentive programs to encourage developers to build on the platform, boosting the ecosystem's growth and innovation opportunities.

**Future of Ethereum Scaling**: zkSync's success might propel more projects to adopt zero-knowledge proof technology, influencing the overall direction of Ethereum scaling solutions going forward.

**Audits and Security Reviews**: zkSync Era has gone through rigorous audits from third-party security firms to ensure the integrity and security of its smart contracts and proof systems.

**Community Engagement**: zkSync has fostered a vibrant community around its technology, encouraging feedback and collaboration to improve the platform, which is crucial for sustained growth and adaptation in the evolving blockchain landscape.

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