Polygon, an Ethereum layer-2 developer, has introduced an alpha version testnet of its latest zero-knowledge rollup (ZK-rollup) solution named Miden amidst intensifying competition in Ethereum scaling solutions.
Polygon announced on May 6 that the Polygon Miden Alpha Testnet zero-knowledge was operational for developers to initiate testing. Miden aims to enhance Ethereum’s scalability.
Miden, akin to other ZK-rollups, utilizes cryptography allowing data verification without revealing its content to the network. It incorporates client-side proving, enabling users to generate proofs for their state transitions locally, reducing network burden while enhancing privacy and scalability.
Additionally, Miden introduces private accounts facilitating private tokens and transactions, alongside parallel transaction execution, significantly boosting throughput and reducing node state bloat.
Planned features of Miden encompass customizable smart contracts and customized node scripts, empowering users to craft their node scripts using the Miden virtual machine and programming languages like Rust. The roadmap indicates a builders testnet scheduled for September, with no specific mention of a mainnet launch timeframe.
Miden enters a competitive market directly challenging StarkWare’s StarkNet and other alternatives such as Matter Labs’ zkSync Era.
Polygon also develops zkEVM, a scaling solution compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine, ensuring seamless operation for existing smart contracts, tools, and wallets.
Despite the testnet launch, Polygon’s native token, MATIC, experienced a 3.7% decline on the day, trading at $0.704 at the time of writing.
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