Celestia to integrate with Polygon CDK for data availability in 2024

December 12, 2023 Coin Telegraph

OKX launches Ethereum layer-2 testnet using ZK-based Polygon CDK

November 14, 2023 Coin Telegraph

The “X1” network will be part of the Polygon ecosystem and use zero-knowledge proofs to bridge assets from Ethereum.

Crypto exchange OKX has launched a testnet for an upcoming Ethereum layer-2 network named “X1,” according to a Nov. 14 announcement. The network is being developed using the Polygon chain development kit (CDK) and will use zero-knowledge proofs to validate deposits and withdrawals between layers.

OKX is the sixth-largest centralized crypto exchange by volume, with over $1.8 billion in trading volume per day, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Its token, OKB, has a current market cap of over $3.6 billion, making it one of the top 30 cryptocurrencies. When a mainnet version of the new network is launched, OKB will be the native coin used to pay gas fees on it, the announcement stated.

X1 is being developed using the Polygon CDK, potentially making it part of the broader Polygon ecosystem that includes Polygon zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine, Polygon PoS, Near, Manta Pacific and other networks. According to the announcement, OKX will also be a core contributor to the Polygon CDK software going forward and will “invest substantial engineering resources to enhance the technology stack for Ethereum scaling solutions.”

OKX chief innovation officer Jason Lau claimed that the new network will help to onboard new users to Web3, stating:

“X1 will be a key pillar of our efforts to educate and bring our users on-chain and into the world of Web3. This scalable and accessible network is perfect for developers, who can build on X1 to deliver user-friendly world-class consumer Web3 applications, all while maintaining interoperability with other networks and ecosystems.”

OKX is also the creator of OKT Chain, an Ethereum sidechain that uses OKB as its native coin. It isn’t the only exchange to build its own network: Binance launched BNB Chain in 2019, and Coinbase launched its layer-2 “Base” network on Aug. 9.

ZK-focused Manta Pacific opts out of OP Stack for Polygon CDK

October 16, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

Manta Pacific’s ZK-application-focused network will integrate with the Polygon ecosystem through the Chain Development Kit software.

Manta, a blockchain network focusing on zero-knowledge (ZK) applications, will migrate its software from OP Stack to Polygon CDK, according to an October 16 announcement. This means that Manta will not be integrated into the upcoming Optimism Superchain and will instead become part of the Polygon ecosystem.

*Manta Pacific block explorer. Source: Manta.*

Manta network is an Ethereum layer-2 focusing on zero-knowledge-based applications, including digital identity and privacy solutions. It launched a mainnet on September 12 and has processed more than 500,000 transactions.

Manta was originally developed as an optimistic rollup that uses the OP Stack software developed by Optimism Labs. This software is intended to help create a “Superchain” of interconnected networks that will share the same security model. However, it faces competition from the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK), which employs a different security model but is also used to create a web of interconnected blockchain networks.

In its announcement, Manta said it chose to migrate to Polygon CDK for three reasons. First, with Polygon CDK, deposits and withdrawals can be processed quickly, as they don’t require a period of time for fraud proofs to be submitted. “Finality can happen in minutes or seconds, rather than days,” the announcement stated. This is because “CDK leverages the security of math rather than the social-economic incentives of fraud proofs.”

Secondly, Manta claimed that Polygon CDK is more “modular” and “sovereign” than alternatives, giving the team more flexibility as it continues to build out features. Thirdly, using Polygon CDK will allow developers to create a “trustless ZK bridge to Ethereum.” Over the long run, this bridge will allow users of different Polygon CDK networks to access each other’s liquidity, making the network part of a larger ecosystem.

The Polygon ecosystem originally consisted of just the Polygon Proof of Stake network. On March 27, the Polygon team launched a second network, Polygon zkEVM. In June, they announced plans to integrate these two networks into a new ecosystem called “Polygon 2.0.”

The Optimism ecosystem added a second network on August 9, as Coinbase launched Base network. On October 3, the Optimism team launched a fraud-proof system that's intended to be used throughout its ecosystem.

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