Polygon zkEVM Layer 2 Guide

Choosing the best Polygon zkEVM Layer 2 option depends on your needs for Ethereum scaling, zero knowledge security, and EVM compatibility. This guide compares 10 leading zkEVM and zk rollup platforms, including Polygon zkEVM, to help developers, gamers, and DeFi users find the top performer for low costs, speed, and migration from Ethereum mainnet.

Polygon zkEVM stands out as a Type 2 zkEVM with bytecode level compatibility, letting developers deploy Solidity contracts directly from Ethereum with tiny tweaks. Launched in March 2023, it commits over $1 billion to zero knowledge scaling, integrating with the AggLayer for shared liquidity across chains. Gaming studios report in game actions dropping from $2-3 on mainnet to under $0.05 here, unlocking viable blockchain play to earn models.

Finality speed: 10-15 seconds via frequent zk proofs. TVL exceeds $850 million, with Polygon Zero delivering the fastest zk proofs for high throughput.

• Full EVM equivalence cuts migration time to hours.
• zkSNARKs ensure instant finality, no 7-day challenges.
• AggLayer connects to custom ZK chains for superchain liquidity.
• Fees stay low at under a penny even during peaks, thanks to zk footprint optimization.
• MATIC (now POL) integrates for gas, but some note slightly higher costs than pure zk rivals.

Bridge assets via the official Polygon portal, but test on testnet first-prover times can lag during network stress despite Boojum like upgrades.

zkSync Era

zkSync Era processes over 27 million transactions monthly, using a custom zkEVM with LLVM compilation for Solidity and Vyper. Matter Labs' Boojum upgrade makes proofs GPU friendly, slashing validator costs while supporting native account abstraction for gasless user ops. DeFi thrives here with lower fees than Polygon zkEVM, drawing high frequency traders.

• 27M tx/month shows real adoption.
• Account abstraction batches tx and sponsors fees natively.
• zkPorter offers off chain storage for sub penny costs.
• Type 3 compatibility needs minor code tweaks but enables multi language support.
• ZK token caps supply for governance and staking.
• Outpaces Polygon in TVL due to incentives.

Expect $0.001 per basic swap; volume tiers drop it further. Developers, use the zkSync CLI for quick deploys, but audit for VM differences.

Scroll

As of mid-2025, Scroll leads zkEVMs with $748 million TVL, offering bytecode equivalent EVM for near identical Ethereum experience. It dominates as the largest zkEVM by market share, prioritizing developer frictionless ports over raw speed tweaks. Users feel mainnet but pay Layer 2 prices.

Transaction costs average $0.0005, with high throughput from optimized proving. No special tools needed-MetaMask and ethers.js work out of the box.

• Bytecode equivalence means zero code rewrites.
• Third largest Ethereum L2.
• Proves batches efficiently for 1-2 second feels.
• Strong focus on security audits.

Ideal for forking Uniswap; connect via Scroll bridge, but monitor sequencer centralization risks common in early zkEVMs.

Starknet

Starknet uses Cairo VM rollups with STARK proofs for quantum resistant scaling on Ethereum, hitting $520 million TVL. It excels in Turing complete contracts for sophisticated DeFi, posting proofs every 12-18 seconds without trusted setups. Unlike EVM focused rivals, it demands Cairo learning but rewards with superior computation.

Proof type: zk STARKs for post quantum safety. Fees hover at $0.002, scaling better for complex ops than SNARK based chains.

• No trusted setup boosts trustlessness.
• Cairo enables infinite loop logic safely.
• High TPS for DEXes and perps.
• STRK token governs upgrades.
• Less EVM compatible-rewrite in Cairo.

Migrate by porting logic to Cairo playground; avoid if Solidity only team.

Linea

Linea delivers zkEVM via zkSNARKs, emphasizing privacy and speed for apps needing Ethereum tools without compromises. It balances EVM compatibility with low latency proofs, attracting devs from Polygon for smoother privacy layers. Finality lands in seconds, undercutting optimistic rollups on certainty.

• $0.003 average tx keeps DeFi viable.
• zkSNARK efficiency for mobile dApps.
• Full wallet support like Argent.
• Growing ecosystem with privacy primitives.
• Integrates MetaMask.

Pro tip: Fees dip 20% on high volumes; bridge ETH first via Linea portal for testing.

Immutable X

Immutable X specializes in zk rollups for NFTs and gaming, enabling gas free mints and trades at thousands TPS. Carbon neutral ops make it eco friendly for mass adoption, integrating with Ethereum wallets. Games scale without player fee complaints.

Zero fees on core NFT actions, with L1 calldata at minimal cost. Throughput hits 9,000 TPS in tests.

• Free NFT minting changes game economies.
• zk proofs for instant confirmations.
• Immutable Passport for easy logins.
• Focused niche crushes generalists.
• Less flexible for non NFT DeFi.

Upload assets via Immutable hub; warn players of bridge delays during hype drops.

Manta Pacific

Manta Pacific modularizes zk privacy with universal circuits and zkSBTs on Polkadot Ethereum bridges. It handles private DeFi at $0.0015 per tx, using zkSNARKs for cross chain identity. Devs build shielded apps without performance hits.

Supports spot, perps, and HFT with low latency. Modular design lets you pick DA layers.

• Privacy by default for trades.
• zkSBTs for soulbound privacy tokens.
• Interoperable across chains.
• Flat low fees scale with volume.
• Emerging, so ecosystem smaller.

Test privacy mixers first; fees include optional priority at 0.0005 extra.

Loopring

Loopring pioneered zkRollups for DEX trading, now at $0.0001 per trade with order book efficiency. It powers bots and wallets with HFT grade speed, posting zk proofs for Ethereum settlement. Smart wallets add account abstraction perks.

• Ultra low fees for 10K+ trades/day.
• Off chain order matching.
• LRC token burns on volume.
• Wallet integrations galore.
• DEX focused, not general compute.

Connect via Loopring Exchange app; high volume users hit near zero after tiers.

zkSpace

zkSpace blends zkEVM with hybrid rollups for cross chain dApps, charging $0.0025 per complex tx. It emphasizes interoperability, linking Ethereum to Cosmos via zero knowledge bridges. Devs chain hop assets mid session.

Throughput scales via recursive proofs. Supports Solidity with extensions.

• Cross chain native.
• Balanced EVM hybrid compatibility.
• Affordable for multi chain DeFi.
• Growing bridges.
• Less mature TVL.

Start with zkSpace bridge; watch for chain specific gas spikes.

Taiko

Taiko pushes fully decentralized zkEVM with community sequencers, at $0.004 per tx. It matches Ethereum opcodes exactly, using zkSNARKs for permissionless proving. Ideal for purists wanting no central points.

Decentralized proposers ensure liveness. Finality in 10 seconds.

• 100% decentralized from day one.
• Exact EVM equivalence.
• TKO token for staking.
• Higher fees for purity.
• Prover network open to GPUs.

Join sequencer pool for discounts; audit decentralization before mainnet bets.

What Makes a zkEVM Layer 2?

zkEVMs use zero knowledge proofs to scale Ethereum by batching transactions off chain and proving validity on L1. Polygon zkEVM's Type 2 version tweaks opcodes like EXTCODEHASH for faster proving while keeping 99% EVM compatibility.

• Type 1: Full EVM, slowest proves.
• Type 2: Minor changes, balanced speed-like Polygon and Scroll.
• Type 3: Compatibility via compilers, fastest-like zkSync.
• zk Rollups beat optimistic ones with instant finality, no fraud challenges.
• Data availability on Ethereum secures funds, but Validiums like Polygon variants offload for 10x cheaper.

Choose based on trade offs: max compatibility sacrifices some speed, pure zk speed needs code ports.

zkEVM vs Optimistic Rollups for Scaling

Optimistic rollups like Arbitrum assume validity (2-4 second feels, $1.8B TVL on Base) but risk 7-day disputes. zk options like Polygon zkEVM prove instantly at 10-15 seconds, inheriting Ethereum security fully.

• zk: Higher upfront compute, sub cent fees long term.
• Optimistic: Easier EVM, but challenge windows delay exits.
• TVL leaders: Scroll ($748M), zkSync (high tx volume), Polygon ($850M+).
• Gaming picks zk for certainty, DeFi mixes both.

Polygon zkEVM edges for EVM ports, zkSync for volume, Starknet for compute heavy.

Getting Started with Polygon zkEVM and Top Alternatives

1. Add the network to MetaMask: RPC at rpc.polygonzkevm.com, chain ID 1101 for mainnet.
2. Bridge ETH or USDC via Polygon's official bridge-expect 10-minute L1 confirmation.
3. Test a swap on Quickswap or Balancer forks; fees under $0.05 confirm scaling wins.
4. For zkSync, enable account abstraction in wallet for gas sponsorship.
5. Deploy Solidity contract via Remix-Polygon/Scroll need zero changes, Starknet ports to Cairo.
6. Monitor via L2Beat dashboard for TVL, sequencer uptime across options.
7. Run a node for Scroll or Taiko to earn proving rewards; GPUs cut costs 50%.
8. Batch tx in gaming dApps on Immutable X for zero player fees.
9. Optimize fees: Use zkPorter on zkSync for off chain data, saving 90%.
10. Audit bridges before large transfers-Polygon Avail enhances DA but test small.