The Ethereum ecosystem is growing fast, but so are its limitations. From high gas fees to bottlenecks in processing transactions off-chain, developers and users face mounting pressure. Worse, optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid without immediate proof, delaying transaction finality and opening risks in decentralized exchanges and beyond.
As more capital flows into blockchain networks, the need for scaling solutions that offer real-time validation, stronger data integrity, and lower costs has never been greater. Users demand platforms that support existing Ethereum smart contracts, maintain data availability, and allow efficient transaction processing through validity proofs, not vague assumptions.
In this guide, we’ve identified the best ZK rollup projects of 2025, solutions that execute transactions, bundle them off-chain, and deliver top-tier performance in security, cost, and scalability.
Whether you’re building in DeFi or scaling infrastructure, these are the top ZK rollup projects reshaping the future of blockchain technology.
Quick Summary: 5 Top ZK Rollup Projects List |
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|---|---|
| Linea | Best For: Overall ZK-rollup project in 2025 Native Token: Not yet launched TVL: ~$578 million |
| Immutable zkEVM | Best For: Blockchain gaming ecosystem Native Token: IMX TVL: ~$13.1 million Market Cap: ~$3.93 billion |
| zkSync Era | Best For: Universal EVM-compatible scaling Native Token: ZK TVL: ~$55 million Market Cap: ~$456 million |
| Polygon zkEVM | Best For: Ethereum-like developer experience with ZK security Native Token: POL TVL: ~$306 million Market Cap: Part of broader Polygon (POL, ex. MATIC) ecosystem |
| Taiko | Best For: Decentralized Ethereum-equivalent rollup technology Native Token: TAIKO TVL: ~$2.83 million Market Cap: ~$73 million |
1. Linea, Best Overall ZK-Rollup Project in 2025
Launched by ConsenSys, the Ethereum-native company founded by Joseph Lubin in 2014, Linea ranks first as the best overall ZK rollup project.
It’s built as a Type 2 zkEVM, ensuring full compatibility with Ethereum smart contracts without requiring code changes. Since its mainnet alpha release in July 2023, Linea has achieved significant technical milestones, including 6,200 transactions per second (TPS), a major leap compared to Ethereum’s 15–30 TPS. It has also reduced gas fees by 15 to 30 times. Its architecture aims for scalability toward 100,000 TPS using a sharded ZK-rollup design.
Security is a core focus: Linea uses zk-SNARK proofs via its custom Arcane and Vortex systems, with quantum-resistant cryptography and Multi-Prover redundancy to ensure uptime and trust. The project has not suffered any hacks and allows the L2 state to be reconstructed from Ethereum (L1) data, ensuring strong data availability and integrity.
As of August 2025, Linea secures over $578 million in total value, hosts more than 350 live applications, and benefits from deep integrations with MetaMask, Infura, and Truffle.
While some governance and prover infrastructure remain under ConsenSys control, the network has strong developer adoption and active community support. Reddit users praise its smooth contract migration, low fees, and robust tooling.
2. Immutable zkEVM, Best for Blockchain Gaming Ecosystem
Immutable zkEVM ranks second in our ranking as the best ZK-rollup project, and this is for the gaming ecosystems. Founded in 2018 in Sydney, Australia, by Robbie Ferguson, James Ferguson, and Alex Connolly, Immutable initially gained traction with Immutable X, a StarkWare-based Layer-2 for NFTs and gaming.
Immutable zkEVM, launched in early access in January 2024, is a gaming-dedicated ZK‑rollup powered by Polygon, offering full EVM compatibility combined with low costs, high scalability, and enterprise-grade security. It blends ZK‑rollup efficiency with direct access to Immutable’s ecosystem of tools (Passport, Orderbook, Checkout) and predefined smart contract templates, enabling studios to build frictionless games while ensuring Ethereum-level security.
During early access, 200+ well-funded games, including Guild of Guardians and Cool Cats, committed. By early 2025, Immutable began allowing permissionless smart contract deployments, removing gatekeepers from the developer journey.
A major milestone announced in April 2025 was the consolidation of Immutable X into Immutable zkEVM. This migration of hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and games onto one unified chain created a unique home for Web3 gaming into late 2025.
3. zkSync Era, Best for Universal EVM‑Compatible Scaling
zkSync Era claims third place as the best general-purpose ZK rollup solution. Developed by Matter Labs (co‑founded by Alex Gluchowski) starting in 2020, this project rebranded from zkSync 2.0 to zkSync Era in February 2023 and has since delivered full EVM compatibility, enabling nearly all existing Ethereum smart contracts to run unmodified.
The network supports high throughput: initial benchmarks cited around 2,000 TPS with block times near 1.3 seconds, and the architecture is evolving into an “Elastic Chain”, enabling app‑specific scaling.
The 2025 roadmap targets a further leap to 10,000 TPS and sub‑$0.0001 per‑transaction fees on ERC‑20 transfers. In March 2025, zkSync Era introduced batch proof optimizations in version 4.0, reducing ZK‑rollup gas costs by up to 40% amid rising Layer‑2 fee pressures.
Governance and security are essential: zkSync Era recently migrated to a new Gateway settlement layer, though manual proof‑system pauses have occurred (e.g., late July 2025). The introduction of ChonkyBFT, a committee‑based BFT consensus protocol, underlines the project’s focus on low‑latency and simplified consensus mechanisms.
Users often highlight zkSync Era’s smooth smart contract migration, strong security model, and evolving batch efficiency on Reddit and developer forums.
4. Polygon zkEVM, Best for Ethereum-Like Developer Experience with ZK Security
Polygon zkEVM earns fourth place as the best ZK rollup project for replicating the Ethereum developer experience, while delivering zero-knowledge proofs’ performance and security benefits.
Developed by Polygon Labs and launched in March 2023, it was the first ZK rollup to offer full EVM equivalence, meaning smart contracts, tooling, and infrastructure built for Ethereum can run with no code changes (unlike zkSync Era, which introduced minor compatibility adjustments). This makes Polygon zkEVM uniquely attractive for teams migrating from Ethereum with minimal disruption and maximum compatibility.
The rollup’s cryptographic design leverages zk-SNARKs, zk-STARKs, and custom zkASM logic to efficiently generate validity proofs. These proofs batch and verify multiple transactions off-chain with L1 Ethereum finality. These innovations have reduced gas fees by over 90% compared to Ethereum, with average transaction costs around $0.005 as of mid-2025. Polygon zkEVM ensures data availability through the on-chain publication of transaction data and ZK proofs, which are bolstered by a governance system involving multi-sig and timelocks.
On Reddit, some community voices have raised concerns about marketing versus reality, pointing out that: “Polygon lied about being EVM‑equivalent, their zkEVM is actually EVM‑compatible.” Here, “EVM equivalence” implies perfect parity with Ethereum, while “EVM-compatible” suggests some subtle differences remain, an important nuance for devs porting complex smart contracts.
5. Taiko, Best for Decentralized Ethereum-Equivalent Rollup Technology
Taiko is the best for achieving true decentralization while maintaining full Ethereum equivalence. Unlike most Layer‑2 networks that rely on centralized sequencers, Taiko implements a based, permissionless rollup architecture where Ethereum Layer-1 validators handle block sequencing, boosting data integrity, censorship resistance, and aligning directly with Ethereum sequencing logic.
Founded by Daniel Wang in March 2022, Taiko advanced rapidly through its public testing lifecycle, beginning with Alpha‑1 in December 2022 and completing four major testnet phases in 2023. It introduced innovative ZK rollup technology, including the Based Contestable Rollup (BCR) and Based Booster Rollup (BBR) frameworks, which optimize fairness, throughput, and protocol safety.
On the security front, Taiko operates a multi-proof architecture. It began with TEE-based validity proofs and gradually incorporated zkVM-based cryptographic proofs from partners like Succinct and RISC Zero. As of late 2024, about 3% of rollup blocks used ZK proofs. The roadmap projected 10–25% ZK coverage by March 2025, and this milestone has now been achieved: approximately 21% of all rollup blocks are currently validated using zero-knowledge proofs, confirming steady progression toward full ZK-rollup status.
On Reddit, community sentiment praises Taiko’s unique blend of decentralization and integrity. One reflection noted: “Taiko stood out for eliminating centralized sequencers, preserving Ethereum’s core ethos.”
ZK Rollups vs. Optimistic Rollups: How They Differ and What to Choose
As Layer-2 scaling solutions become central to Ethereum’s future, the debate between ZK rollups and Optimistic rollups is more relevant than ever.
Both approaches aim to reduce transaction costs, increase throughput, and enhance blockchain scalability by processing transactions off-chain. However, they differ significantly in their core mechanisms, performance, and ideal use cases.
ZK Rollup |
Optimistic Rollup |
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|---|---|---|
| Proof Mechanism | Validity proofs (e.g., zk-SNARKs or zk-STARKs) are used to verify every batch of transactions instantly. | Uses fraud proofs, where transactions are assumed valid unless challenged during a dispute window. |
| Security | High. Each batch is cryptographically verified before being accepted on Ethereum. | Medium. Relies on honest actors to challenge invalid transactions during 7 days. |
| Scalability | High. Supports bundling thousands of transactions off-chain into a single proof. | High. Also supports batching, but dispute resolution adds overhead. |
| Speed / Finality | Medium. Finality is immediate, but proof generation introduces some delay. | High. Faster transaction speeds for users, but finality is delayed (typically 1 week). |
| Cost Efficiency | Medium. Gas fees are significantly lower than L1, though proof generation is resource-intensive. | Low cost. No ZK proof generation, so fees are even lower in many cases. |
| Complexity | High. Requires advanced ZK rollup technology, which is harder to implement. | Medium. Simpler architecture and more mature tooling. |
| Data Availability | Strong. Transaction data and validity proofs are published on-chain. | Strong. It also posts data on-chain, but it depends on challenge-response games. |
| Privacy Potential | High. Supports private transactions and advanced use cases like identity and shielding. | Low. Primarily designed for public execution without privacy layers. |
To help navigate which scaling solution fits your use case, here’s a comparison table based on real-world needs:
| ZK Rollups | Immediate transaction finality without waiting periods. Strong data integrity and provable correctness. Better suited for apps needing privacy, identity layers, or sensitive data. To reduce gas fees while preserving security guarantees. Ideal for DeFi protocols, stablecoins, and apps that require guaranteed validity and instant settlement. |
| Optimistic Rollups | Faster user experience with near-instant transaction execution. Lower development complexity and mature tools. Best for building decentralized exchanges or automated market makers with minimal overhead. Suitable for broader blockchain networks that tolerate delayed finality. When building dApps that do not rely on zero-knowledge proofs or enhanced transaction privacy. |
Methodology: Our Criteria for Selecting the Best Zero-Knowledge Rollups in 2025
To identify the top ZK rollup projects in 2025, we evaluated each project based on real, measurable impact within the blockchain ecosystem, prioritizing solutions demonstrating security, scalability, decentralization, and practical adoption. The following criteria were applied systematically across all projects:
- Execution of transactions off-chain – We prioritized ZK rollup networks that process and execute transactions off Ethereum Layer-1, while maintaining correctness via validity proofs.
- Support for existing Ethereum smart contracts – Projects offering full compatibility with existing Ethereum smart contracts were favored for smoother developer adoption.
- Gas fees and cost-efficiency – Solutions that significantly reduce transaction costs and gas fees while preserving Ethereum-level security scored higher.
- Transaction speeds and throughput – We analyzed transaction speeds, throughput, and time to immediate transaction finality, especially when bundling high volumes of transactions off-chain.
- Security and cryptographic integrity – Implementing strong cryptographic proofs, including zk-SNARKs or zk-STARKs, and resistance to centralized control or censorship were critical evaluation points.
- Data availability and transparency – We considered whether rollup blocks include full transaction details and whether rollups publish data availability proofs on-chain.
- Decentralization and trust assumptions – Rollups that avoid dependence on a centralized entity or challenge-based security models (as optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid) scored higher.
- Scalability and efficiency of rollup layers –We prioritized ZK rollup projects that contribute to scaling solutions for broader blockchain networks, support multiple off-chain transactions, and improve efficiency.
- Real adoption and developer ecosystem – Projects supporting automated market makers, decentralized exchanges, and other high-impact use cases already integrated into real-world blockchain apps were considered.
FAQ
What are ZK rollups?
ZK rollups are scaling solutions that bundle multiple transactions off-chain, generate zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs), and submit a validity proof to the main blockchain. This approach reduces transaction costs, improves transaction throughput, and ensures data integrity without revealing sensitive data.
Which blockchain uses ZK-rollups?
Ethereum supports ZK rollup solutions through networks like zkSync Era, Polygon zkEVM, Linea, and Scroll. These systems process transactions off-chain and verify them on Ethereum using ZK proofs. Ethereum’s smart contract support enables widespread adoption of ZK rollups.
How do ZK rollups verify transactions off-chain while maintaining security?
ZK rollups work by generating zero-knowledge proofs that mathematically confirm a batch of valid transactions was processed correctly. These proofs are created off-chain and submitted to Ethereum Layer-1, allowing the protocol to verify off-chain transactions without re-executing them. This results in faster finality, greater transaction efficiency, and enhanced security, all without trusting a centralized entity.
Why are ZK rollups critical for scalable and fair blockchain applications?
ZK rollups are designed to reduce transaction fees, support fair trade execution, and offer efficient cross-chain communication by offloading transactions from the Ethereum mainnet. Some even use a custom virtual machine or familiar programming languages to enable users and developers to interact seamlessly. ZK rollups help create efficient, private, and future-proof applications by ensuring validated transactions and supporting scalable, transparent arguments.
What coins use ZK rollups?
Coins like IMX, ZKS, and TAIKO are native to top ZK rollup projects. ETH is also widely used for gas and transactions across ZK rollups.
Are ZK rollups possible on Bitcoin?
In theory, yes, but practically, ZK rollups are not feasible on Bitcoin due to limited smart contract functionality. Bitcoin lacks native support for ZK rollup contracts and proof of validity. Some experimental research explores sidechains or external ZK integrations, but none are live.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helped you discover the top ZK rollup projects shaping the next wave of Ethereum scalability. These platforms offer theoretical improvements and are actively delivering immediate transaction finality, lower gas fees, and seamless support for existing Ethereum smart contracts.
By leveraging ZK rollup contracts, multiple off-chain transactions, and advanced transaction execution models, these solutions set the new standard for performance, scaling solutions, and blockchain scalability. Whether you’re building DeFi apps, enabling private transactions, or exploring various ZK rollup solutions, the future is here, and zero-knowledge rollups power it.
