Ethereum's Rollup Scroll Facility Now Allows Users Independent Exits, Claiming First Achievement of Decentralization Milestone
Reborn on the Ethereum Frontier: Scroll Takes a Leap in Decentralization
Got the scoop? Scroll did! Scroll, a standout Ethereum Layer 2 solution utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, burst onto the scene this week, announcing it has claimed the crown as the first to reach "Stage 1" in its development. This groundbreaking achievement means users can trade without relying on a central operator, upending the status quo.
Shout it out loud on the digital town square: Scroll celebrated its momentous strides in security, scalability, and decentralization in a recent post on X. After months of hard work, Scroll has officially joined the elite club of Layer 2 solutions that don't commandeer trust in a central system to execute transactions without censorship or downtime.
Back in the day, Scroll required users to trust a central system to process their actions. But worry not, things have changed! Now, if that system falters or attempts to censor, a backup plan springs into action. Transactions can still be completed, ensuring users' actions remain liberated on the Ethereum blockchain.
Bring on the ballots: Scroll's Euclid upgrade, which hit the polls earlier this month, is the secret to this time-worn project's timeless new look. With the help of this upgrade, Scroll keeps moving forward, even in the event of the primary operator's sudden disappearance or attempts at intervention.
Breaking new ground, Scroll began life at Stage 0, where a full team held the reins. Stage 1 introduces smart contracts to call the shots but keeps a safety council around as a backup—just in case. The final frontier, Stage 2, unleashes the full force of uncontrolled code, banishing central authority for good.
Action overload, sorted: The operator may block a user or decide to halt operations, but fret not—the transaction will still come to fruition. This fixes a thorny issue for Scroll and its brethren, who need to generate proofs for each series of actions. Before the upgrade, these proofs had a fixed size limit, and a large action could easily disrupt the entire system.
Working hand-in-hand with Axiom, the new tool, OpenVM, slices up complex actions into smaller, verifiable bits. Rather than risking a system meltdown, large proofs merely take a tad longer to validate.
To ensure users have time to make an informed choice about the changes, all updates must receive a go-ahead by ballot, followed by a mandatory three-day waiting period before taking effect. This exit strategy empowers users to bail if they're not satisfied with the modifications on the horizon.
Rules of the game: Credit where credit's due: The Euclid update brought the sacred 12-member Security Council to life, a group tasked with stringent regulations. Conscription requires at least nine assenting votes, and at least seven council members cannot work for Scroll. With just two council stools reserved for Scroll employees, the council's decisions will be a true collaborative effort.
Despite its stumbles along the way, Scroll has pressed onward, even after launching in 2023, trailing competitors like zkSync Era and Polygon zkEVM. Yet, Scroll remains optimistic—ranking its upcoming transition to Stage 2 as a stepping stone to further solidifying its status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of zk-Rollups.
As Scroll progresses toward Stage 2, it will establish barriers to limit the power of any single entity, even the Security Council. Achieving this milestone would place Scroll head and shoulders above the competition, simultaneously showcasing its technical prowess and democratic governance.
Penned by Sebastian "Stalwart" Sinclair
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- Scroll, on the Ethereum Frontier, claimed the first "Stage 1" seat, ensuring transactions without relying on a central operator.
- Announcing its achievement, Scroll revealed it is now part of the club of Layer 2 solutions that don't trust a central system for transaction execution.
- In case of system faltering or censorship, Scroll implements a backup plan so users' actions remain liberated on the Ethereum blockchain.
- Scroll's Euclid upgrade, approved by a ballot, grants safer development steps, even if the primary operator is absent or tries to intervene.
- The upcoming transition to Stage 2 will establish barriers to limit the power of any single entity, even the Security Council, furthering Scroll's democratic governance.
- To validate large proofs, OpenVM works alongside Axiom, breaking complex actions into verifiable bits, avoiding system disruptions.
- All updates must receive approval by ballot, followed by a mandatory three-day waiting period, empowering users to decide whether to stay or leave based on the proposed changes.
