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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin wants to see zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (zk-EVMs) built on Ethereums first layer to speed up the verification process on the base blockchain.

Buterin explained in a March 31 post that its possible to integrate a zk-EVM on the base layer without compromising on decentralization and security. The technology enables Ethereum Virtual Machines to execute smart contracts on the blockchain with ZK proofs.

Ethereum was developed with a multi-client philosophy to ensure decentralization at the protocol level, Buterin explained. By integrating zk-EVMs at the Ethereum layer 1, it would be the third type of client.

The other two clients are the consensus and execution clients. The consensus client implements proof-of-stake to ensure nodes in the network reach agreement, while the execution client listens to new transactions broadcast to the network, executes them in standard EVM and holds a copy of the latest state of the blockchain.

In championing the idea of zk-EVM verification at the Ethereum base layer, Buterin firstly considered the advantages and drawbacks of treating the layer 1 as a clearinghouse by pushing almost all activity to layer 2s.

He said many layer 1-based apps would become economically nonviable and that small funds worth a few hundred dollars or less may get stuck in the event that gas fees grow too large.

Buterin explained that zk-EVMs would need to be open in that different clients each have different zk-EVM implementations and each client waits for a proof that is compatible with its own implementation before accepting a block as valid.

He prefers this approach because it wouldnt abandon the multi-client paradigm, and an open zk-EVM infrastructure would also ensure that new clients could be developed, which would further decentralize Ethereum at the base layer.

Related: ConsenSys zkEVM set for public testnet to deliver secure settlements on Ethereum

Buterin said zkEVMs might be the solution to The Verge, a part of the Ethereum roadmap that aims to make verification at the base layer easier.

Buterin acknowledged that the zk-EVM infrastructure might cause data inefficiency and latency issues, however, he said those challenges wouldnt be too hard to overcome.

If the zk-EVM ecosystem is implemented, it would make running a full node on Ethereum even easier, Buterin explained:

Ethereum layer-2 scaling platform Polygon has made considerable progress with its zk-EVM, having recently open-sourced its zkEVM to the Polygon mainnet on March 27, promising reduced transaction costs and increased throughput of smart contract deployments.

StarkWare, ConsenSys, Scroll, zkSync and Immutable are also deploying similar zkEVM scaling solutions.

Magazine: Attack of the zkEVMs! Cryptos 10x moment

Originally posted here:

Buterin weighs in on zk-EVMs impact on decentralization and security - Cointelegraph