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Ethereum’s Layer 2 scaling solution zkSync Era takes the next step with Boojum, its STARK-based proof system. Promising improved transparency and increased transaction speed, Boojum runs on mainstream general processing units (GPUs).
Say hello to Boojum đ: zkSync Era’s new high-performance proof system for radical decentralization. Boojum is an upgrade that will transition zkSync Era to a STARK-powered proof system, delivering world-class performance on consumer hardware.
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âzkSync â (@zksync) July 17, 2023
zkSync Era has been a leader in Ethereum scaling solutions, using technologies such as zero-knowledge rollups (ZK-rollups) to optimize transaction capacity, speed, and affordability. Typically, zk-rollups rely on zk-STARKs and zk-SNARKs, two important proof systems that have been widely applied in the field. Boojum, however, marks a strategic shift from this trend.
Powered by a Rust-based cryptographic library derived from zkSync, Boojum uses an enhanced version of arithmetic circuitry to revolutionize the ZK developer stack and operational dynamics of zkSync Era.
However, Boojum touts its accessibility. The new system can run on personal computers with just 16 gigabytes of GPU RAM, opening up participation in network activity to regular users.
In contrast, previous zkSync operations required a cluster of 100 GPUs, each with 80 GB of RAM.
Previous ZkSync performance averaged around 100 transactions per second, but Boojum will require less storage and be cheaper to verify, significantly reducing transaction costs.
In its final stage of implementation, Boojum will pair STARK proofs with a non-transparent pairing-based SNARK, essentially an upgrade to the current SNARK-based proof system. Boojum is live on the zkSync Era mainnet today, with the devs testing generating and verifying “ghost responses with actual production data so we can thoroughly test the system before the full migration,” according to the Twitter announcement.
