With a total value locked of $629 million, Starknet now leads all zero-knowledge rollup networks, surpassing competitors like zkSync.
Starknet, the Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution, has hit a major milestone with decentralization while becoming the largest zero-knowledge rollup-based network in terms of total value locked (TVL).
As Ethereum ETH $4 457 24h volatility: 4.0% Market cap: $537.92 B Vol. 24h: $42.42 B co-founder Vitalik Buterin explained back in 2022, Starknet has now achieved the “Stage 1” decentralization wherein the network functions with a limited oversight or training wheels. Starknet acknowledged that Buterin’s proposed framework was a “gold standard onchain tool for analyzing Ethereum scaling solutions”.
It further noted that they achieved this decentralization milestone by implementing changes such as building censorship-avoidance mechanisms and creating a security council. The system now operates with a fully functional validity proof mechanism governed by smart contracts, while still permitting intervention from a security council.
Starknet Leads ZK-Rollup Networks by Achieving Stage 1 Decentralization
Starknet has become the first and only Layer-2 ZK-rollup network to achieve Stage 1 decentralization, establishing itself as the leading ZK-rollup blockchain with a total value locked (TVL) of $629 million, according to data from L2beat. This puts Starknet ahead of its closest ZK-rollup competitor, zkSync, which currently holds $610 million in TVL.
In the broader Layer-2 ecosystem, Starknet ranks as the fifth-largest network by TVL, trailing four Optimistic rollup-based networks. These top four networks also achieved Stage 1 decentralization but utilized fraud proofs to do so. Starknet’s milestone shows its growing significance in the rollup ecosystem and its strong appeal among users and developers alike.
Fraud proofs operate on the principle that transactions are considered invalid until verified otherwise, whereas validity proofs ensure transactions are deemed valid only when backed by cryptographic evidence. Speaking on the development, Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare, said:
“Our goal is for the training wheels to come off completely and to reach Stage 2 decentralization on Ethereum, and simultaneously steam forward with our work on Bitcoin too.”
Stage 2 decentralization will be when the network becomes completely community-governed and autonomous. So far, only three small Layer-2 platforms have managed to attain this milestone.
Starknet Has a Long Way to Go
Coinbase’s layer-2 network Base leads the sector with $14.7 billion in total value locked (TVL), capturing a dominant 33% market share. In comparison, Starknet holds a 1.4% market share. The layer-2 ecosystem collectively secures $44.2 billion in on-chain value.
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