StarkEx Validium excels at minimizing transaction costs and maximizing throughput by storing data availability (DA) off-chain with a committee of Data Availability Committee (DAC) members. For example, dYdX on StarkEx has achieved over 2,000 TPS with fees as low as $0.001 per trade, a direct result of not publishing all transaction data to Ethereum L1. This model is ideal for high-frequency, self-contained applications like order-book DEXs or gaming where cost and speed are paramount.
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Comparisons
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup: Application-Specific vs General-Purpose DA
A technical analysis comparing StarkWare's two scaling architectures: the application-specific StarkEx Validium with Data Availability Committees and the general-purpose StarkNet L2 rollup with on-chain data. We evaluate the critical trade-offs in throughput, cost, security, and decentralization to guide infrastructure decisions.
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introduction
THE ANALYSIS
Introduction: The Core Data Availability Trade-off
Choosing between StarkEx Validium and StarkNet Rollup is a foundational decision that hinges on your application's tolerance for data availability risk versus its need for composability and security.
StarkNet Rollup takes a different approach by posting all transaction data to Ethereum L1, inheriting Ethereum's full security and data availability guarantees. This results in higher per-transaction costs (often 10-100x more than Validium) but enables seamless, permissionless composability. Protocols like zkLend and Nostra can build complex, interdependent DeFi applications on StarkNet, trusting that all state data is permanently and verifiably available on-chain.
The key trade-off: If your priority is ultra-low cost and high throughput for a specific, isolated application, choose StarkEx Validium. If you prioritize maximum security, censorship resistance, and native composability within a broader ecosystem, choose StarkNet Rollup. The choice fundamentally boils down to application-specific optimization versus general-purpose network effects.
tldr-summary
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup
TL;DR: Key Differentiators at a Glance
A direct comparison of StarkWare's two scaling solutions, focusing on their core architectural trade-offs for data availability (DA).
01
StarkEx Validium: Extreme Throughput & Cost
Application-Specific Scaling: Dedicated, customizable instance for a single dApp (e.g., dYdX v3, Immutable X). This enables 9,000+ TPS per application and ~$0.001 transaction fees by keeping data off-chain. Trade-off: Relies on a Data Availability Committee (DAC) for data, introducing a trust assumption. Choose this for high-frequency trading, gaming, or NFT marketplaces where cost and speed are paramount.
02
StarkEx Validium: Sovereign Data Control
Customizable Data Logic: The DAC model allows applications to define their own data availability rules and committee members (e.g., Binance, ConsenSys). This provides flexibility but means liveness depends on the DAC's honesty. Ideal for enterprises or protocols that require a private, high-performance chain-like environment without the overhead of a full L2 network.
03
StarkNet Rollup: Maximum Security & Composability
General-Purpose L2: A shared, decentralized network where all apps (e.g., Ekubo, Nostra) coexist. Data is posted to Ethereum L1, inheriting its full security and censorship-resistance. This enables native composability between protocols. Trade-off: Higher costs (~$0.05-$0.20 per tx) and lower throughput (~100 TPS network-wide) due to on-chain data. Choose this for DeFi protocols, money legos, and applications where security is non-negotiable.
04
StarkNet Rollup: Permissionless Innovation
EVM & Cairo Native: Supports both EVM compatibility via Kakarot and native Cairo smart contracts. Developers can deploy permissionlessly, fostering a large ecosystem. Future-Proof with Starknet Stack: Serves as the settlement layer for appchains and L3s (e.g., Madara). Opt for this if you are building a public, composable dApp or need to integrate with a broad ecosystem like Argent X or Braavos wallets.
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup: Feature Comparison
Direct comparison of application-specific vs general-purpose data availability models on StarkWare's tech stack.
| Metric / Feature | StarkEx Validium | StarkNet Rollup |
|---|---|---|
Data Availability Layer | Off-chain (DAC) | On-chain (Ethereum L1) |
Transaction Throughput (Peak) | 9,000+ TPS | 100+ TPS |
Avg. Transaction Cost | $0.001 - $0.01 | $0.10 - $1.00 |
Settlement & Withdrawal Time | ~12 hours | ~3-5 hours |
Censorship Resistance | ||
Supports General-Purpose dApps | ||
Primary Use Cases | dYdX, Immutable X, Sorare | zkLend, Nostra, Ekubo |
APPLICATION-SPECIFIC VS GENERAL-PURPOSE DATA AVAILABILITY
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup: Performance & Cost
Direct comparison of key performance, cost, and architectural trade-offs for StarkWare's two scaling solutions.
| Metric / Feature | StarkEx Validium | StarkNet Rollup |
|---|---|---|
Data Availability Layer | Off-Chain (DAC) | On-Chain (Ethereum L1) |
Throughput (Peak TPS) | 9,000+ | 100-300 |
Avg. L1 Settlement Cost | $0.01 - $0.10 | $0.50 - $2.00 |
Time to Finality (L1) | ~12 hours | ~2-4 hours |
Censorship Resistance | ||
Supports General Smart Contracts | ||
Primary Use Cases | dYdX, Immutable X, Sorare | dApps, DeFi, NFTs, Gaming |
pros-cons-a
DATA AVAILABILITY SHOWDOWN
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup
A technical breakdown of StarkEx's application-specific Validium versus StarkNet's general-purpose Rollup, focusing on the critical trade-offs of Data Availability (DA).
01
StarkEx Validium: Peak Performance
Application-Specific Optimization: Dedicated sequencer and prover for a single dApp (e.g., dYdX, Immutable X). This enables ~9,000 TPS for a single application and sub-$0.01 fees.
This matters for high-throughput, closed-loop applications like order-book DEXs and NFT marketplaces where cost and speed are paramount.
~9,000 TPS
Per-App Throughput
< $0.01
Typical Tx Cost
03
StarkNet Rollup: Unmatched Security
Ethereum-Level Security: All transaction data is posted to Ethereum L1 as calldata, inheriting Ethereum's full security and decentralization for Data Availability. This is the gold standard for trust minimization.
This matters for DeFi protocols (e.g., Ekubo, Nostra) holding high-value assets and for builders who prioritize censorship resistance over absolute lowest cost.
100%
Ethereum DA
04
StarkNet Rollup: General-Purpose Constraints
Shared, Contended Resources: All dApps (10,000+ contracts) share a single sequencer and prover, leading to network-wide congestion. Performance is ~100 TPS with higher, more volatile fees during peaks.
This matters for developers needing composability between contracts and willing to trade peak throughput for a vibrant ecosystem and stronger security guarantees.
~100 TPS
Network-Wide Throughput
pros-cons-b
DATA AVAILABILITY DECISION MATRIX
StarkEx Validium vs StarkNet Rollup: Application-Specific vs General-Purpose DA
Choosing between Validium and Rollup hinges on your application's tolerance for data availability trade-offs. StarkEx Validium offers lower costs and higher throughput by keeping data off-chain, while StarkNet Rollup provides maximum security by posting all data to Ethereum.
01
StarkEx Validium: Ultra-Low Cost & High Throughput
Off-chain Data Availability: Transaction data is stored by a Data Availability Committee (DAC) or on a separate DA layer (e.g., Celestia). This reduces L1 gas costs by ~90% compared to Rollups. Ideal for: High-frequency trading (dYdX v3), high-volume gaming, and payment applications where cost-per-transaction is critical.
< $0.01
Avg. Tx Cost
9K+ TPS
Theoretical Throughput
02
StarkEx Validium: Security & Trust Assumptions
Primary Trade-off: Users rely on the DAC's honesty for data availability. If the committee withholds data, funds cannot be withdrawn, though proofs remain valid. Mitigations: Use permissionless DACs (e.g., StarkWare's upcoming) or external DA layers. Choose this if: Your users prioritize low fees and your app can operate with this specific, mitigated trust model.
03
StarkNet Rollup: Maximum Security & Composability
On-chain Data Availability: All transaction data is posted to Ethereum L1, enabling anyone to reconstruct state and ensure censorship resistance. This provides the same security guarantees as Ethereum for data. Ideal for: DeFi protocols (zkLend, Nostra), high-value NFT marketplaces, and applications requiring seamless, trustless composability within the StarkNet ecosystem.
Ethereum-level
DA Security
100+
Live dApps
04
StarkNet Rollup: Cost & Scalability Trade-off
Primary Trade-off: Posting calldata to Ethereum incurs significant gas fees, making micro-transactions expensive. Throughput is limited by L1 block space. Mitigations: Data compression (Cairo), future EIP-4844 blobs. Choose this if: Security and decentralization are non-negotiable, and your application's transaction value justifies the L1 data cost.
CHOOSE YOUR PRIORITY
Decision Framework: When to Choose Which
StarkEx Validium for DeFi
Verdict: Choose for high-throughput, high-value applications where cost is secondary to security and data availability. Strengths:
- Full Ethereum Security: Data availability is managed off-chain by a Data Availability Committee (DAC), but fraud proofs and state validity are secured by Ethereum L1.
- Extreme Throughput: 9K+ TPS for payments, 1K+ TPS for swaps, with sub-minute finality.
- Proven Track Record: Powers dYdX (v3), Immutable X, and Sorare, securing billions in TVL. Trade-off: Relies on the DAC's honesty for data availability, introducing a trust assumption. Ideal for applications that can curate or trust a known committee.
StarkNet Rollup for DeFi
Verdict: Choose for permissionless, censorship-resistant DeFi where full Ethereum-level security is non-negotiable. Strengths:
- Maximum Security: All transaction data is posted to Ethereum L1, inheriting its full security and data availability guarantees.
- Composability: A shared, general-purpose L2 enables seamless interoperability between protocols like Ekubo, Nostra, and zkLend.
- Permissionless Innovation: Anyone can deploy a contract, fostering a dynamic ecosystem. Trade-off: Higher L1 data posting costs lead to higher fees per transaction compared to Validium, capping maximum throughput.
verdict
THE ANALYSIS
Final Verdict and Strategic Recommendation
A data-driven breakdown to guide your choice between StarkEx's application-specific Validium and StarkNet's general-purpose Rollup.
StarkEx Validium excels at providing ultra-low transaction costs and high throughput for a single, high-volume application because it uses off-chain data availability (DA) and is purpose-built for a specific state model. For example, dYdX v3, a leading perpetuals exchange, achieved over 2,000 TPS with sub-cent fees by leveraging a StarkEx Validium, demonstrating its power for isolated, high-performance financial applications. This model trades off general composability for raw, dedicated performance and cost efficiency.
StarkNet Rollup takes a different approach by operating as a decentralized, general-purpose L2 with on-chain data availability via Ethereum calldata. This results in a trade-off of higher per-transaction costs (e.g., ~$0.10-$0.50 for a simple swap) for the immense value of a shared, permissionless state. This enables native composability between protocols like Ekubo (AMM), Nostra (lending), and zkLend (money market), fostering a vibrant DeFi ecosystem where applications can seamlessly interact.
The key trade-off: If your priority is maximizing performance and minimizing cost for a single, complex application (e.g., a CEX-grade DEX, a high-frequency game), choose StarkEx Validium. Its dedicated infrastructure is unmatched for this use case. If you prioritize building within or leveraging a composable ecosystem, where security and decentralization are paramount, choose StarkNet Rollup. Its general-purpose, Ethereum-secured environment is the strategic choice for protocols seeking network effects and long-term permissionless innovation.
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