In a groundbreaking development earlier this year, Polygon Labs and Toposware developers achieved a major breakthrough in zero-knowledge (ZK) proving technology by creating a Type 1 ZKEVM prover. This achievement, made possible by the expertise of Toposware, a renowned blockchain research and engineering company, marked a significant milestone for the industry.
Taking a strategic step forward, Polygon Labs has now acquired Toposware, further propelling the ZK community. By integrating Toposware’s team with Polygon’s existing ZK development teams, this acquisition aims to drive innovation across various technological fronts, such as the AggLayer, Polygon CDK, Polygon zkEVM, and potentially upgrading Polygon PoS to a ZK validium with community approval. This collaboration will leverage their collective ZK expertise to enhance Polygon’s capabilities.
Toposware has played a crucial role in ZK technology, particularly in the development of the Type 1 prover. This upgrade, which is open-source and contributes to the Ethereum ecosystem, enables any EVM chain to become a ZK proof-based chain and connect to Ethereum. The Type 1 prover offers improved security guarantees and cost-effective proving for Ethereum, with an average per-transaction cost of just $0.0029 and a total cost of $0.534 to prove an Ethereum block.
The integration of Toposware will have a significant impact on all Polygon (MATIC) protocols. Ongoing research, with community consensus, aims to connect the Polygon PoS network to the AggLayer in the near future, eventually upgrading it to a ZK-secured chain. Toposware’s expertise will be instrumental in ensuring seamless integration and enhanced security.
Polygon Labs remains at the forefront of ZK research and development, translating industry theories into tangible solutions. The adoption of Plonky3, an open-source technology used to build SP1, is progressing rapidly, with other ZK teams relying on Polygon Labs’ research for their own development work. The acquisition of Toposware is expected to bring fresh insights and innovations to the entire ZK space.
In conclusion, Polygon Labs’ acquisition of Toposware represents a significant advancement in ZK technology. By integrating Toposware’s expertise and innovative solutions, Polygon Labs is poised to lead the next wave of ZK proving technology, benefiting the entire blockchain ecosystem. The crypto community eagerly awaits the transformative impact of this strategic move.