Will Cardano Lead the ZK-Scaling Race After the Chang Hard Fork?

Beyond this, one observer sharing insights from Philip DiSarro, the founder of Anastasia Labs, said the network would stand to lead the zero-knowledge (ZK) scaling race.

Cardano (ADA) is preparing to activate the Voltaire phase, which will introduce several key changes to the network, including a decentralized governance model and support for ZK-scaling.

According to recent observations, Cardano may be well-positioned to lead the ZK-scaling race among blockchain networks.

Here's a closer look at how Chang and other developments might impact Cardano's role in ZK-scaling.

Cardano's Journey to Voltaire and ZK-Scaling

Cardano, a smart contract platform known for its layered architecture, has been undergoing a multi-phase transition named after poets.

After completing the Basho phase, which focused on scaling and performance enhancement, the network is now preparing for Voltaire.

A critical aspect of this transition is the activation of the Chang hard fork, which will pave the way for several network upgrades.

According to Cardanoscan on August 19, only 33% of all stake pool operators (SPOs) were ready for the Voltaire phase, while 14% of all supportive exchanges were ready.

Once all SPOs update their node and the network transits to Voltaire, there will be multiple benefits.

One is that Cardano will adopt a decentralized governance model, where ADA holders can participate in decision-making through on-chain voting.

Beyond this, one observer shared insights from Philip DiSarro, the founder of Anastasia Labs, suggesting that the network stands to lead the zero-knowledge (ZK) scaling race.

In a recent podcast appearance, DiSarro discussed the upcoming Chang hard fork and its potential implications for Cardano's scaling capabilities.

According to DiSarro, the Chang integration will give Cardano a significant advantage in the ongoing "scaling war" among blockchain protocols.

Cardano's Edge in ZK-Scaling: Plutus V2, Off-Chain Computation

This advantage stems primarily from the critical additions that the Chang hard fork brings to the Cardano network.

After the hard fork, Cardano will integrate Plutus v2, a powerful smart contract programming language that enables developers to create and launch smart contracts more efficiently.

Plutus v2 is also designed to handle complete computations, which forms the core of ZK proofs.

Moreover, following the update, features will be ready to enable off-chain computation, which is essential for ZK-rollups to instantly settle transactions.

For this reason, the observer expressed a strong conviction that post-Chang Cardano will be "unique and cannot be copied by anyone" in terms of ZK scaling, giving the network a "huge, unique selling point."

Ethereum Leads Layer-2s But Transaction Determinism Is Crucial

Currently, Ethereum is scaling primarily through optimistic rollups, where transactions are bundled and approved offline to increase throughput.

However, a key limitation of this approach is the use of centralized entities, known as sequencers, to order transactions.

This setup introduces a degree of centralization, which detracts from the benefits of having transactions approved on-chain.

In contrast, Cardano's approach to ZK scaling, if fully realized, could provide a more decentralized solution.

With this choice, off-chain transactions through rollups, similar to Ethereum, will be more effective and decentralized because the platform inherently supports transaction determinism.

The developers’ emphasis on transaction determinism, where the same inputs will always produce the same outputs, suits ZK scaling.

Since the same inputs produce the same output, the transaction outcomes are highly predictable.

ADA Retests Key Support As Network Transitions

As the Cardano network undergoes these significant changes, ADA's price action has been showing weakness.

The coin is down 60% from March 2024 highs and retesting a key support level at $0.30.

If this support fails to hold, ADA could continue its downtrend towards lower support levels or encounter a pivot if the network upgrades proceed smoothly.

The above is the detailed content of Will Cardano Lead the ZK-Scaling Race After the Chang Hard Fork?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!