The group behind Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) community ZKsync on December 4th introduced ZK Interop, a complementary replace to Atlas, a know-how package deal launched in October by the identical L2.
ZK interoperability Enabling native interoperability Between “ZK Chain”, the sovereign chain of the ZKsync ecosystem constructed on Atlas, and decentralized finance (DeFi) purposes on the Ethereum mainnet.
This new launch guarantees that protocols reminiscent of Aave can be utilized from certainly one of these ZK chains. No bridge dependencies and no account fragmentation In accordance with the announcement, there shall be no lengthy wait instances.
What drawback does ZK Interop wish to resolve?
The targets of interoperability introduced at ZK Interop are: Fragmentation of liquidity Ethereum, A phenomenon by which funds are distributed throughout a number of networks that don’t talk instantly.
Beforehand, every L2 and every personal chain operated as an island. Customers can change networks, switch funds, open separate accounts To make use of DeFi protocols.
ZK Interop eliminates the necessity for complicated bridges for interplay. Customers function from the identical pockets on the ZK chain, however Transactions are executed on Ethereum Beneath a unified authority and digital id scheme.
How does ZK Interop work on Ethereum?
Particular examples are included within the official announcement. ZK Chain customers deposit into Aave (a platform that permits lending and borrowing of cryptocurrencies) and request credit score in Aave’s stablecoin, GHO token.
All the course of is accomplished with out the consumer leaving their account on the secondary chain.
This move is feasible due to a mechanism that consists of three steps:
- Quick withdrawal to Ethereum “Alias” account.
An alias account is a cryptographically managed illustration that permits actions to be carried out on the principle layer. with out the consumer having to generate a brand new ID..
These alias accounts will nonetheless be managed by the consumer’s keys on the ZK Chain, so there isn’t a must create extra identities on Ethereum.
- Getting ready and operating an interoperability “transaction package deal”.
This package deal bundles the required steps to deposit funds into Aave and pull credit into GHO inside Ethereum.
- Risk to return borrowed tokens to L2.
Customers determine whether or not to place GHO again on the ZK chain. Utilizing a bridge is now not a prerequisite to finishing an operation, however is now an possibility.
Institutional implications: Privateness by way of entry to open markets
The brand new Atlas replace additionally integrates Prividiums, a set of instruments obtainable to companies and monetary establishments. Commerce on a personal system with out disconnecting from the open Ethereum market.
Prividiums act as an remoted setting that protects delicate knowledge, like a personal area the place delicate data will not be uncovered to the general public community. Associated to that is Firms topic to regulatory necessities.
Nevertheless, due to ZK Interop, these establishments Acquire direct entry to liquidity and the provision of capital on Ethereum.
This advert sums up this concept in a single sentence. “Firms now not have to decide on between the personal system and public liquidity.”
This structure means that you can combine monetary operations, threat fashions, funding, and superior buying and selling methods inside a personal framework whereas performing DeFi transactions with out shifting vital knowledge.
ZKsync describes this state of affairs as “the top of fragmented liquidity.” That imaginative and prescient is be Ethereum As the middle of all ZK chainswhatever the diploma of privateness, enterprise use, or scale every requires.

