ZK Rollups on Ethereum: Which Projects Will Dominate in 2025?

Ethereum revolutionized the crypto market but faces an increasingly urgent dilemma: scalability. With the exponential growth of users, transaction fees skyrocket and the network becomes congested. As Ethereum 2.0 progresses through phases, Layer 2 solutions emerge as the most viable alternative to drive mass adoption. Among all options, zkrollups stand out as the most promising technology, offering unprecedented efficiency and security.

Why ZK Rollups? Understanding the Scalability Revolution

zkrollups work like express lanes in a congested city. Instead of processing each transaction individually, they bundle multiple operations into one and validate them using zero-knowledge proofs — a cryptographic tool that proves integrity without revealing specific details.

The process is elegant: smart contracts on the mainnet set the rules, while off-chain virtual machines execute most transactions. A compact cryptographic proof is generated and verified on the mainnet, ensuring security while drastically reducing stored data.

Compared to Optimistic Rollups, zkrollups offer significant advantages:

• Immediate transaction finality (without a challenge period)
• Greater security without relying on trusted validators
• Superior privacy, as individual details remain hidden

The ZK Rollup Project Landscape in 2025

1. Manta Network (Manta Pacific)

Current Price: $0.07 | 24h Change: -1.13% | Market Cap: $33.58M

Manta Network differentiates itself by focusing on privacy in DeFi — a feature often overlooked by competitors. Using zk-SNARKs, it enables fully private transactions and swaps, with encrypted but verifiable details.

Since its launch in September 2023, Manta Pacific has jumped to the fourth-largest Layer 2 network on Ethereum by TVL ($851 million), surpassing even Coinbase’s Base. The MANTA token powers governance, staking, and fee payments, positioning the project as a privacy layer for DeFi across multiple blockchains.

Unique features: Programmable privacy + focus on cross-ecosystem interoperability

2. Linea

Current Price: $0.01 | 24h Change: +0.23% | Market Cap: $105.74M | 24h Volume: $1.34M

Launched in August 2023, Linea offers pure and simple scalability. It processes transactions off-chain, bundles them, and submits using zk-SNARKs for validation. The network emphasizes ease of integration for developers — creating and deploying Ethereum applications on Linea is significantly more efficient.

With a TVL of $202 million, Linea has established itself as a solid choice for those seeking higher speed and processing capacity. An airdrop of the LINEA token was announced for January 2024, though its full utility is still being defined.

Unique features: Superior scalability + simplified dev integration

3. StarkNet

Current Price: $0.08 | 24h Change: -2.23% | Market Cap: $389.83M | 24h Volume: $2.05M

StarkNet revolutionizes the zkrollup concept by using STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge) instead of zk-SNARKs. This difference is crucial: STARKs do not require a trusted setup and are resistant to quantum attacks — a future security advantage.

Launched in February 2022, StarkNet processes off-chain transactions, verifies them with STARKs, and publishes proofs on Ethereum’s mainnet. It supports general computation, meaning it can run any smart contract. With a TVL of $170 million and the STRK token for fees, governance, and staking, StarkNet positions itself as a versatile platform for ambitious developers.

Unique features: Quantum resistance + no trusted setup needed + compatible with any contract

4. zkSync Era

Current Price: Not available | TVL: $555 million

Developed by Matter Labs, zkSync Era is the volume leader among Layer 2 solutions. With $555 million in TVL, it offers minimal transaction fees and massive processing capacity, maintaining full compatibility with Ethereum.

The process is straightforward: off-chain transactions are bundled into a single proof and sent to the mainnet. Zero-knowledge proofs ensure security. The main advantage? Full EVM compatibility — Ethereum smart contracts run directly without rewriting code. This is a game-changer for developers migrating from Layer 1.

Unique features: EVM compatibility + highest TVL among zkrollups + optimized user experience

5. Polygon zkEVM

Current Price: Not available | TVL: $115 million | Token: MATIC

Part of the Polygon ecosystem, zkEVM offers a balanced approach. It executes off-chain transactions in an EVM-compatible environment, then proves validity on-chain using ZK proofs. This ensures compatibility with existing Ethereum tools and contracts.

With a TVL of $115 million since its launch in March 2023, zkEVM benefits from Polygon’s larger network effects, providing a robust and versatile Layer 2 environment. The MATIC token is used for gas fees and governance.

Unique features: Polygon ecosystem integration + EVM compatibility + robust environment

6. Scroll

Current Price: Not available | TVL: $63.46 million

Scroll focuses on high throughput and low latency. It uses zk-SNARKs to compress transactions, which are aggregated into a single proof and submitted to the mainnet. Emphasizing EVM compatibility, it allows easy porting of Ethereum smart contracts.

Launched in October 2023, Scroll aims to provide an efficient alternative for DeFi applications and high-volume use cases. It currently does not have a native token, but cost efficiency is a clear focus.

Unique features: High capacity + low costs + EVM compatibility

7. Taiko

Current Price: Not available | Status: Testnet (January 2024) | Funding: $37 million

Taiko innovates with pioneering use of Zero Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (ZK-EVM) and zkrollup to create a fully decentralized Layer 2 protocol. Full compatibility with Ethereum means existing dApps run without modifications.

The key differentiator? “Sequencing based” — the sequencer (which groups transactions like a traffic controller) is driven by the base blockchain instead of a centralized entity. This eliminates a single point of failure, reduces censorship risks, and simplifies the Layer 2 value chain.

Unique features: Decentralized sequencing + no single point of failure + innovative design

8. ZKFair

Current Price: Not available | Market Cap ZKF: $163 million

ZKFair is a decentralized exchange (DEX) built with zkrollup, specialized in fair trade execution. Its superpower? Resistance to front-running — the manipulation of transaction order that plagues other DEXs.

It uses zero-knowledge proofs to process off-chain transactions, aggregating them on Ethereum. Launched in December 2023, it offers a fairer trading environment where traders can trust the integrity of their operations.

Unique features: Front-running resistance + fair trading + order security

9. ZetaChain

Current Price: $0.07 | 24h Change: -1.71% | Market Cap: $79.53M | 24h Volume: $205.51K

ZetaChain innovates with “universal bridges” between blockchains. It uses ZK Rollups for secure and efficient cross-chain communication, employing zk-SNARKs to validate transactions across chains without revealing sensitive information.

It enables continuous transfer of assets and data between different blockchains. Launched in February 2021, ZetaChain positions itself as an interoperability platform, allowing dApps to utilize assets from multiple blockchains simultaneously.

Unique features: Cross-chain interoperability + off-chain execution with ZetaML + secure communication

10. Aztec Protocol

Current Price: Not available | Status: In development | Token: Not yet available

Aztec implements a hybrid public-private model with zkrollup, executing contract logic both publicly and privately while maintaining Ethereum security. Privacy is optional — ideal for private negotiations up to anonymous voting.

A key feature is Noir, a programming language for writing zero-knowledge circuits, simplifying dApp development with ZK proofs. The project aims for full decentralization up to mainnet.

Unique features: Programmable privacy + Noir language + public-private composability

The Challenges No One Talks About

Despite explosive potential, zkrollups face real obstacles:

Cryptographic Complexity: Implementation and maintenance require deep expertise, creating barriers for new entrants.

Limited Flexibility: Some transaction types pose processing efficiency challenges, restricting use cases.

Data Management: Continuous availability of transaction data is critical and requires robust infrastructure.

Prover Efficiency: Generating cryptographic proofs consumes significant resources, creating potential bottlenecks.

User Adoption: Trust and large-scale infrastructure support are still works in progress.

Governance: Deciding on updates demands a decentralized, secure, and effective model — a complex challenge.

What to Expect in 2025 and Beyond

The future of zkrollups is bright. Ongoing research simplifies cryptographic complexity, while innovative solutions address liquidity fragmentation. With sustained growth and collaboration among projects, zkrollups have the potential to completely revolutionize Ethereum.

The convergence of multiple projects creating a layered but interconnected ecosystem — where privacy, scalability, interoperability, and decentralization coexist — represents a realistic vision for the coming years.

Final Reflection

ZK Rollups are not just technical; they represent a fundamental step in Ethereum’s evolution. By processing transactions efficiently while maintaining security, they unlock mass adoption of blockchain technology and redefine how we interact with decentralized applications. The next generation of dApps will be built on these networks — and those who understand now will be ahead.