Scroll: The Native zkEVM Layer 2 for Ethereum | $1.1B TVL | Nuclear SEO
Introduction: The Next Generation of Ethereum Scaling
Scroll is a native zkEVM Layer 2 solution designed to scale Ethereum by providing a secure, high-throughput, and low-cost environment that is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). By leveraging zero-knowledge proofs, Scroll offers a scaling solution that maintains the security and decentralization principles of the Ethereum mainnet. The project has rapidly gained traction, boasting a Total Value Locked (TVL) of $1.1 Billion and serving a growing community of 680,000+ users.
The core mission of Scroll is to make Ethereum feel like a single, unified chain. It achieves this by creating a Type 2 zkEVM, which is fully equivalent to the EVM at the bytecode level. This means developers can seamlessly migrate their existing Ethereum smart contracts and tools without needing to rewrite code or change their development workflow. This commitment to EVM equivalence is a critical differentiator in the competitive Layer 2 landscape.
Scroll Ecosystem Metrics
Scroll's growth is underpinned by strong on-chain activity and economic security. The following metrics, current as of December 2025, highlight its position as a leading Ethereum scaling solution:
| Metric | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $1.1 Billion | The total value of assets locked in Scroll's smart contracts, demonstrating significant user trust and capital deployment. |
| Active Users | 680,000+ | The number of unique wallet addresses that have interacted with the network, indicating a vibrant and expanding user base. |
| Transactions Per Second (TPS) | 3,000+ | The peak transaction throughput achieved by the network, showcasing its capacity for high-volume operations. |
| Average Transaction Fees | $0.05 - $0.60 | The typical cost range for a transaction, offering substantial savings compared to Ethereum mainnet. |
The Power of the Scroll zkEVM
The heart of Scroll's technology is its zkEVM (Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine). A zkEVM is a virtual machine that can generate zero-knowledge proofs to verify the correctness of program execution. Scroll's implementation is a Type 2 zkEVM, which aims for full EVM equivalence.
This equivalence is crucial because it ensures that: 1. Compatibility: All existing Ethereum tooling (Metamask, Hardhat, Truffle, Ethers.js, etc.) works out-of-the-box. 2. Security: The security guarantees of the EVM are preserved, minimizing the risk of unexpected contract behavior. 3. Developer Experience: Developers can deploy their Solidity code without any modifications, drastically reducing the friction of migrating to a Layer 2.
Scroll's architecture is composed of three main components: * The Scroll Node: Handles transaction sequencing, execution, and commitment to the Ethereum mainnet. * The Roller Network: A decentralized network of provers that generate the zero-knowledge proofs for batches of transactions. * The Bridge: Facilitates secure and trustless movement of assets between Ethereum and Scroll.
The use of zero-knowledge proofs ensures that the state transition on Scroll is cryptographically verified, meaning the security of the Layer 2 is mathematically guaranteed by the Ethereum mainnet, not by a set of trusted operators. This is a fundamental shift from optimistic rollups, which rely on a challenge period.
Security, Decentralization, and the Prover Network
Security in a zk-Rollup is paramount. Scroll's security model is multi-layered:
- Proof Generation: The Roller Network is responsible for generating the validity proofs. Scroll is committed to decentralizing this network, allowing anyone with the necessary hardware to become a prover and earn fees. This prevents a single entity from censoring transactions or generating fraudulent proofs.
- Data Availability: All transaction data is posted to the Ethereum mainnet as
calldata. This ensures that anyone can reconstruct the Scroll state, a property known as data availability, which is essential for the security of any rollup. - Smart Contract Verification: The core smart contracts on Ethereum that verify the proofs and manage the bridge are open-source and have undergone rigorous audits.
The decentralization of the prover network is a key focus for Scroll. By making the proving process permissionless and competitive, Scroll ensures that the network remains robust and censorship-resistant. The current throughput of 3,000+ TPS is a testament to the efficiency of the decentralized prover system.
The Growing Scroll DApp Landscape
The seamless EVM compatibility has led to rapid adoption by established Ethereum projects. The Scroll ecosystem is diverse, including:
- DeFi: Decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, and yield aggregators.
- NFTs and Gaming: Low transaction costs make minting and in-game transactions viable.
- Infrastructure: Oracles, wallets, and block explorers.
The 680,000+ users are drawn to the combination of low fees and the familiar Ethereum environment. The average transaction fee of $0.05 - $0.60 makes micro-transactions and complex DeFi strategies economically feasible for the average user.
Comparison Table 1: Scroll vs. Leading zk-Rollup Competitors
Scroll operates in a highly competitive space, primarily against other zk-Rollups. Its commitment to a Type 2 zkEVM sets it apart from competitors that may have different levels of EVM compatibility.
| Feature | Scroll | zkSync Era | Starknet |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVM Compatibility | Type 2 zkEVM (Bytecode Equivalence) | Type 4 zkEVM (Language Equivalence) | Custom VM (Cairo Language) |
| TVL (Approx.) | $1.1 Billion | $650 Million | $150 Million |
| Technology | Zero-Knowledge Proofs (zk-SNARKs) | Zero-Knowledge Proofs (zk-SNARKs) | Validity Proofs (STARKs) |
| Developer Migration | Easiest (Full EVM Tooling) | Easy (Solidity/Vyper) | Requires Cairo Language |
| Decentralization | Decentralized Prover Network (In Progress) | Centralized Sequencer (In Progress) | Centralized Sequencer (In Progress) |
Comparison Table 2: Scroll vs. Leading Optimistic Rollup Competitors
While zk-Rollups and Optimistic Rollups have different security models, they compete for the same user base. Scroll's instant finality (once the proof is verified) offers a key advantage over the challenge period of Optimistic Rollups.
| Feature | Scroll | Optimism | Arbitrum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Model | Validity Proofs (Cryptographic) | Fraud Proofs (Economic) | Fraud Proofs (Economic) |
| Withdrawal Time | Fast (Minutes to Hours) | 7-Day Challenge Period | 7-Day Challenge Period |
| TVL (Approx.) | $1.1 Billion | $6.2 Billion | $2.8 Billion |
| EVM Compatibility | Type 2 zkEVM | EVM Compatible | EVM Compatible |
| TPS (Peak) | 3,000+ | 4,000+ | 10,000+ |
How to Start Using Scroll
Getting started with Scroll is straightforward due to its EVM compatibility.
- Bridge Assets: Use the official Scroll Bridge or a third-party bridge (like Orbiter or Synapse) to move ETH or other tokens from Ethereum mainnet to the Scroll network.
- Configure Wallet: Add the Scroll network to your MetaMask or other EVM-compatible wallet. The network details are standard and easily found on the official documentation.
- Transact: Start interacting with DApps on the Scroll ecosystem, enjoying the low fees and fast transaction finality.
- Deploy Contracts: Developers can deploy their existing Solidity contracts using standard tools like Hardhat or Foundry, pointing them to the Scroll RPC endpoint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is the primary difference between Scroll and other Layer 2 solutions? Scroll's primary difference is its focus on being a **native Type 2 zkEVM**, which means it is fully equivalent to the Ethereum Virtual Machine at the bytecode level. This ensures maximum compatibility with existing Ethereum infrastructure and developer tooling, making migration seamless.
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How does Scroll achieve its high TPS of 3,000+? Scroll achieves high throughput by bundling hundreds of transactions off-chain into a single batch, generating a zero-knowledge proof for the entire batch, and submitting only the proof and the state change to Ethereum. This drastically reduces the load on the mainnet.
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What is a "Type 2 zkEVM" and why is it important? A Type 2 zkEVM is one that is fully equivalent to the EVM, meaning it supports all EVM opcodes and precompiles. It's important because it allows developers to use their existing Solidity code and tools without modification, ensuring the highest level of compatibility and security.
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Is Scroll decentralized? Who runs the sequencer and prover network? Scroll is on a path to full decentralization. Currently, the sequencer is centralized for stability, but the **prover network is already permissionless and decentralized**, allowing anyone to contribute computing power to generate proofs. The sequencer will be decentralized in a future phase.
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What is the average cost of a transaction on Scroll? The average transaction fee on Scroll is typically between **$0.05 and $0.60**, depending on network congestion and the complexity of the transaction. This is significantly lower than Ethereum mainnet fees.
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How does Scroll ensure the security of bridged assets? The security of bridged assets is guaranteed by the zero-knowledge proofs. The bridge contract on Ethereum only accepts state updates that are accompanied by a valid, cryptographically verified proof, ensuring that no malicious state transition can occur.
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When was the Scroll mainnet officially launched? The Scroll mainnet was officially launched in **October 2023**, following extensive testing on its pre-alpha, alpha, and Sepolia testnets.
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What is the role of the "Roller Network" in Scroll's architecture? The Roller Network is the decentralized group of provers that generate the zero-knowledge proofs for transaction batches. They are essential for the security and scalability of the network and are incentivized with transaction fees.
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How does Scroll compare to Optimistic Rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism? Scroll uses **Validity Proofs** (zk-Rollup), which provide instant cryptographic finality, whereas Optimistic Rollups use **Fraud Proofs** and require a 7-day challenge period for withdrawals, making Scroll's withdrawal process much faster.
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Can I deploy my existing Ethereum smart contracts on Scroll without changes? Yes, due to Scroll's Type 2 zkEVM architecture, you can deploy your existing Solidity smart contracts and use all standard Ethereum developer tools without any modifications.
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What is the current Total Value Locked (TVL) on the Scroll network? The current TVL on Scroll is **$1.1 Billion**, reflecting its rapid growth and the confidence of users and protocols in its security and scalability.
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What are the main competitors of Scroll? Scroll's main competitors in the zk-Rollup space are **zkSync Era** and **Starknet**, as well as the leading Optimistic Rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism.
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Does Scroll have its own native token? As of December 2025, Scroll does not have a publicly launched native token. The network currently uses ETH for gas fees, aligning with the Ethereum ecosystem.
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What is the significance of the "native" in "native zkEVM"? The term "native" emphasizes that Scroll is built from the ground up to be a true extension of Ethereum, with a deep commitment to EVM equivalence and leveraging Ethereum's security as its foundation.
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How does Scroll handle transaction ordering and censorship resistance? Scroll is working towards a decentralized sequencer model, which will use a mechanism like a distributed committee or a rotating leader to ensure fair transaction ordering and maximize censorship resistance, moving away from the current centralized model.
Technical Deep Dive: The Proof System and Equivalence
The technical complexity of a Type 2 zkEVM is immense. Scroll's implementation involves translating EVM execution traces into a form that can be proven by a zero-knowledge circuit. This is achieved through a multi-layered proof system:
- Chunk Proving: The execution trace is broken down into smaller chunks.
- Aggregation: Multiple chunk proofs are aggregated into a single, smaller proof.
- Final Proof: The final proof is submitted to the Ethereum mainnet for verification.
This hierarchical proof system is what allows Scroll to achieve high throughput (3,000+ TPS) while keeping the cost of verification on the Ethereum mainnet low. The system is designed to be highly parallelizable, which is key to the decentralization of the Roller Network.
Conclusion: Solidifying Ethereum's Scalability Future
Scroll has firmly established itself as a critical component of Ethereum's scaling roadmap. By delivering a high-performance, low-cost, and fully EVM-compatible environment, it is accelerating the adoption of decentralized applications. The impressive $1.1 Billion TVL and 680,000+ users are clear indicators of its success. As the network continues its path to full decentralization, particularly with the sequencer, Scroll is poised to become the definitive native zkEVM Layer 2 for the next era of web3.
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