zkSync Era, a layer-2 solution for Ethereum, has recently launched Boojum, a high-performance proof system designed to enhance decentralization. This upgrade will transition zkSync to a proof system supported by STARK, offering improved performance that can operate on regular consumer hardware. The announcement was made on Twitter on July 17th.

zkSync Era Unveils the Boojum Upgrade

zkSync’s goal is to create a secure, permissionless, and affordable blockchain network that promotes universal personal freedom. The Alpha version of zkSync Era was launched in March and has since garnered significant traction, with a total locked value of $577 million, over 23 million transactions in the past 30 days, and 9,735 source-code-verified smart contracts. The Boojum upgrade will be implemented seamlessly without disrupting the network or users.

“Boojum is the name of our Rust-based cryptographic library, which we use to implement the upgraded version of the ZK circuits for zkSync Era and the ZK Stack. The name Boojum was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poem ‘The Hunting of the Snark’, where the Boojum represents the most fearsome kind of Snark,” zkSync explained in their official announcement.

Boojum brings several improvements to zkSync Era, including PLONK-style arithmetization, which simplifies the development, auditing, maintenance, and upgrade processes. Additionally, the FRI commitment scheme and the efficiency of unexciting components of the system also contribute to the network’s efficiency. Boojum offers parallelized witness generation and allows users to customize gate types, further enhancing its performance.

The development of Boojum has undergone rigorous processes, including design, testing, and a Prime Time phase. zkSync plans to conduct further audits to ensure the network’s security before fully deploying Boojum.

FAQs

What is zkSync Era?

zkSync Era is a layer-2 solution for Ethereum that aims to create a secure, permissionless, and affordable blockchain network.

What is Boojum?

Boojum is a new high-performance proof system launched by zkSync Era. It is designed to enhance decentralization and improve the network’s performance, running on consumer-grade hardware.

How does Boojum improve zkSync Era?

Boojum introduces PLONK-style arithmetization, simplifying the development, auditing, maintenance, and upgrade processes. It also offers parallelized witness generation and allows users to customize gate types to optimize performance.

Will the Boojum upgrade disrupt zkSync?

No, the Boojum upgrade is designed to be implemented seamlessly without causing disruptions to the zkSync network or its users.

What are the benefits of using zkSync Era?

zkSync Era offers a more scalable and affordable solution for Ethereum, enabling faster transactions with lower fees while maintaining the security and decentralization of the main Ethereum network.