Polygon Labs has made a significant acquisition by bringing Toposware, a leading startup in ZK engineering, into their team. This move is expected to propel ZK technology to new heights.
The announcement was made on June 4, 2024, welcoming Toposware to the Polygon Labs team. Toposware has played a key role in the development of Type 1 zkEVM and has established itself as a powerhouse of zk innovation and technology, particularly in the field of zk-based interoperability.
Polygon Labs and Toposware have collaborated in the first half of this year to create a Type 1 ZKEVM prover. The introduction of ZK proving technology has been groundbreaking in the blockchain industry, and Toposware deserves credit for their pioneering work in this area.
The merger of Toposware with Polygon’s existing ZK invention teams is expected to fuel the creation of several core areas. These include AggLayer, Polygon CDK & Polygon zkEVM, and an upgrade for Polygon as a ZK validium.
Toposware is an active participant in the ZK research community and has made significant contributions, such as the creation of the Type 1 prover, which has greatly enhanced the Ethereum ecosystem. The Type 1 prover can enhance the security of existing chains or be integrated with the AggLayer, which provides a neutral and interoperable network for sovereign blockchains.
While the Type 1 prover has its advantages, it is not a complete solution. However, it has proven to be cost-efficient in proving Ethereum transactions, with a cost per transaction of $0.0029 and $0.534 to prove an Ethereum block.
The acquisition of Toposware is expected to bring positive changes to all Polygon protocols. Research is currently underway to connect the Polygon PoS network to the AggLayer in the coming months. TopoSWAP will play a crucial role in transitioning the network to a ZK-protected chain.
Polygon Labs has been at the forefront of ZK research and development, moving the industry from theory to practical application. Their work has influenced other ZK teams, as seen in the rapid adoption of Plonky3, an open-source technology used to build SP1.
In summary, the acquisition of Toposware by Polygon Labs is a significant development that will propel ZK technology to new heights. The collaboration between these two entities is expected to drive innovation and advancements in the field of blockchain.
