Introduction

What is zkLink Nova?

zkLink Nova is the industry’s first aggregated Layer 3 zkEVM Rollup network built on top of Ethereum and Ethereum Layer 2 rollups (L2s). zkLink Nova is an EVM-compatible, open platform for simple and fast smart contract development of any kind. zkLink Nova’s platform allows for scattered assets across Ethereum Layer 2s to be aggregated for interoperable trade and transaction. zkLink Nova is secured by zero-knowledge proof technology, charges extremely low gas costs, offers fast finality, and inherits its security from Ethereum.

Why do we need an Aggregated Rollup?

The rise of multiple Layer 2s has created a non-interoperable and fragmented blockchain landscape where liquidity is trapped on siloed chains. This reality has caused a significant breakdown in network effects that has hampered adoption, and resulted in a capital-inefficient and security-vulnerable Ethereum ecosystem. Cross-rollup transactions are very costly (via Ethereum L1) or lack security (via trusted bridges). In addition, native assets on Ethereum’s different Layer 2s such as ARB, OP, MANTA, among others, cannot be traded with interoperability.

There are several solutions proposed to solve these issues and unify liquidity across Layer 2 sub-ecosystems, such as by providing a unified bridge or a shared sequencer (e.g. OP's Superchain, Polygon's AggLayer, zkSync's Hyperbridge). While these approaches enable atomic cross-rollup transactions, they are only applicable within their separated sub-ecosystems and specific technology stack choices. Under this scenario, having multiple different technology stacks may exacerbate the liquidity fragmentation and cross-chain interoperability issues at hand and result in an even more divided Ethereum ecosystem.

Therefore, we have created a new paradigm to aggregate fragmented assets on different Layer 2s through an aggregated Layer 3 Rollup. Our solution links Ethereum and its Layer 2s via a Layer 3 (L3) network, secured by zero-knowledge proofs and multi-chain state synchronization. Assets on any of our connected Layer 2s can be bridged to our Layer 3 network for fast and interoperable transactions with minimal security assumptions, low cost and highly scalability. Our approach sacrifices the atomic interoperability of cross-rollup transactions, but offers the broadest liquidity that’s able to be aggregated from the entire Ethereum ecosystem.

zkLink Nova’s mission is to aggregate and unify the fragmented liquidity across the Ethereum ecosystem, including Ethereum Layer 2 Rollups, thereby fostering a unified and interoperable rollup ecosystem to promote the permissionless mass adoption of DApps.

Key Features of zkLink Nova

Supporting Universal dApps

zkLink Nova supports the development of all DApps through smart contracts. To facilitate developer migration to zkLink Nova, we aim to be EVM-compatible by utilizing the ZK Stack, which means that all the contracts and tools that work on Ethereum and Ethereum Layer 2s, also work on zkLink Nova with minimal modifications – and developers can also easily reuse the functionality that others have already built.

Native Asset Aggregation

Users can deposit assets from Ethereum’s Layer 1 as well as Ethereum Layer 2s directly to zkLink Nova. These assets will be locked inside the contracts on the source chains and enter the zkLink Nova network via a canonical rollup bridge. This feature allows for applications on Nova to have access to all the connected Layer 2s’ native tokens, including Ethereum, thereby allowing users to trade their multi-chain assets with interoperability. In addition, tokens of the same kind, but bridged to Nova from separate rollups, will be merged into the same token, such as ETH, USDT, USDC, etc., thus fostering unified liquidity on one chain, zkLink Nova’s Layer 3.

Low Fee and High Scalability

zkLink Nova's modular stack provides unparalleled scalability for dApps building on top of our ecosystem. ZK Stack is used by zkLink Nova as the execution layer, which can dramatically reduce execution costs and provide for a blazing-fast user experience. In Validium mode, an external DA solution will further reduce the data portion of transaction costs on the network for end users.

Ethereum Equivalent Security

zkLink Nova is the first aggregated rollup network to achieve Ethereum-grade security. To achieve this feat, every transaction on zkLink Nova undergoes verification via zero-knowledge proofs. The issue of deposit fraud for cross-chain asset transfers is prevented through zkLink Nexus’s multi-chain state synchronization mechanism, which inherits the security of Ethereum.