The Great Layer 2 Migration: How Polygon is Bringing Outside Ecosystems into Ethereum

The Polygon Chain Development Kit (Polygon CDK), developed by Polygon Labs, is an evolving set of blockchain tools engineered for scalability, interoperability, and advanced functionality. Key to its design is Layer 2 solutions; aiming to uplift blockchain transactions by relocating some transaction processing off the Ethereum mainnet with the goal of easing congestion and reducing gas fees. The Polygon CDK boasts key benefits including Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility, the integration of Zero-Knowledge Proofs for enhanced privacy and security, blockchain interoperability, customizable blockchains, open source and permissionless protocols, scalability, cost-efficiency, and a community-driven development philosophy. Notably being adopted within the growing Web3 community and blockchain ecosystems like Immutable, Astar Network and Canto. The continued evolution and adoption of Polygon CDK forecast an engaging multichain future full of potential for blockchain networks to interoperate seamlessly, paving the way for a decentralised financial future and the continued development of Web3.

What is Polygon CDK?

Polygon CDK, or the Polygon Chain Development Kit, is a powerful set of tools and technologies designed to enhance the scalability, interoperability, and functionality of blockchain. It is developed by the team at Polygon Labs and has gained significant attention and adoption within the Web3 community.

One of the primary functions of Polygon CDK is to facilitate the creation of Layer 2 solutions on top of the Ethereum blockchain. Layer 2 solutions are designed to improve the scalability and speed of blockchain transactions by moving some of the transaction processing off the Ethereum mainnet while maintaining a strong connection to it. This helps in alleviating congestion and high gas fees on Ethereum.

The key benefits of Polygon CDK:

EVM Compatibility: Polygon CDK ensures compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, which is the runtime environment for executing smart contracts on the Ethereum network. This compatibility allows developers to build and deploy dApps on Polygon CDK with ease, using the same tools and programming languages they are familiar with on Ethereum.

Zero-Knowledge Proofs: Polygon CDK integrates Zero Knowledge proofs, a cutting-edge cryptographic technique, to enhance privacy, security, and scalability. ZK technology allows for efficient transaction validation without revealing sensitive data, making it possible to process a large number of transactions quickly and securely.

Interoperability: Polygon CDK is designed to foster interoperability between various blockchain networks. It provides a bridge between different chains, enabling assets and data to flow seamlessly between them. This interoperability is crucial for creating a connected and versatile blockchain ecosystem.

Customizable Blockchains: Developers can use Polygon CDK to create customizable blockchains tailored to their specific use cases and requirements. These blockchains can retain their independence while benefiting from the security and liquidity of the broader Polygon ecosystem.

Open Source and Permissionless: Polygon CDK is an open-source technology, meaning that the underlying code is freely available for anyone to inspect, use, and contribute to. It is also permissionless, allowing developers to innovate and build upon it without requiring approval from a centralized authority.

Scalable and Cost-Efficient: By offloading transactions to Layer 2 solutions built with Polygon CDK, blockchain networks can significantly increase their scalability and reduce transaction costs. This makes it more affordable for users to interact with dApps and DeFi platforms on the network.

Community-Driven Development: The development and improvement of Polygon CDK are often community-driven, with various projects and teams collaborating to enhance its features and capabilities. This fosters a dynamic ecosystem of innovation around Polygon CDK.

What ecosystems are using Polygon CDK?

Although Polygon CDK is relatively new, many blockchain ecosystems are already migrating to an Ethereum Layer 2 powered by Polygon.

Immutable

Immutable was one of the first to leverage Polygon Zero Knowledge technology. Immutable zkEVM is an EVM compatible ZK-rollup powered by Polygon technology that will make developing Web3 games faster, easier and less risky for large game studios and independent developers alike.

The Immutable zkEVM Testnet went live in August. Existing smart contracts and Solidity code can be migrated directly into Immutable’s zkEVM Testnet environment for free. The Mainnet release is expected in Q4 of 2023.

Astar Network

Astar Network is another blockchain project that has joined forces with Polygon to leverage ZK technology. Astar's introduction of Astar Supernova, a Zero Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine, marks a significant milestone in its journey.

Astar Network, rooted in the Polkadot ecosystem, initially aimed to create a cross-chain smart contract environment to empower enterprises and dApp developers. With Astar Supernova, they're enhancing their cross-chain capabilities while ensuring compatibility with Ethereum's ecosystem.

Canto

Canto, initially launched as a Layer 1 permissionless general-purpose blockchain, provides essential financial infrastructure, including decentralized exchange services, lending markets, and a native unit of account. The Canto Commons framework drives its decentralized development, fostering innovation and community driven enhancements.

The migration of Canto to an Ethereum ZK-powered L2 using Polygon CDK reflects the growing interest in building blockchains dedicated to real-world assets. It signifies a significant shift toward a "neofinance" future, where blockchain efficiencies, accessibility, and composability can be harnessed for off-chain assets.

The Multi-Chain Future on Polygon

As projects like Immutable, Canto and Astar embrace Polygon CDK's capabilities, we see a promising future for onboarding new blockchains into the unified ecosystem of Polygon . The ability to seamlessly migrate to Ethereum's Layer 2 and tap into its vast liquidity pools offers a significant advantage.

The growing trend of integrating Zero Knowledge proofs into blockchain ecosystems enhances security and scalability without compromising on trustlessness. This paves the way for a future where blockchain networks can interoperate effortlessly, unlocking new possibilities for decentralized finance, enterprise adoption, and web3 development.

The Polygon Labs team has hinted that many more blockchain ecosystems will be announcing the use of Polygon CDK soon. The future of Polygon is looking bright and it will be interesting to see which blockchains adopt Polygon technology moving forward.