L1 Data Posting Costs: OP Stack vs ZK Stack

OP Stack excels at predictable, low-cost data posting by using fault proofs and EIP-4844 blobs. This design minimizes on-chain verification overhead, translating to lower and more stable base fees for users. For example, an Optimism mainnet transaction can post data for under $0.001 during normal network conditions, making it highly cost-effective for high-volume, low-value applications like gaming and social feeds.

ZK Stack takes a different approach by using validity proofs (ZK-SNARKs/STARKs). While generating these proofs is computationally intensive, the compressed proof and state diff posted to Ethereum is extremely small. This results in a trade-off: higher prover costs off-chain for the sequencer, but potentially lower and more predictable final L1 data costs, especially as blob capacity scales. Chains like zkSync Era leverage this for superior finality.

The key trade-off: If your priority is minimizing operational complexity and sequencer overhead with very low, predictable fees, choose OP Stack. If you prioritize cryptographic security guarantees and are willing to manage higher prover infrastructure costs for potentially lower and more rigidly bounded L1 data expenses, choose ZK Stack. The decision hinges on your application's tolerance for prover cost versus its need for cost predictability at the settlement layer.

OP Stack excels at providing predictable, low-cost data availability through its reliance on Ethereum as a canonical data layer. Its fault proof mechanism allows for cheaper transaction posting, with current data posting costs often under $0.01 per transaction on networks like Base and Optimism. This model is battle-tested, supporting over $6B in TVL across its ecosystem, making it ideal for high-throughput dApps like Perpetual Protocol and Synthetix that require stable operating expenses.

ZK Stack takes a fundamentally different approach by using validity proofs (ZK-SNARKs/STARKs) for state verification. While the initial proof generation is computationally intensive, the resulting compressed proofs lead to ultra-efficient final L1 data posting. Networks like zkSync Era and Polygon zkEVM demonstrate this, where the cost of verifying a batch of thousands of transactions can be a fraction of posting the raw data. The trade-off is higher initial prover costs and more complex engineering, but it provides stronger cryptographic security and faster finality.

The key trade-off is cost structure versus security finality. If your priority is minimizing predictable operational costs and faster time-to-market with a proven ecosystem, choose the OP Stack. If you prioritize maximizing long-term data efficiency, inheriting Ethereum's strongest security guarantees, and are prepared for higher initial R&D complexity, the ZK Stack is the strategic choice. For applications where cost certainty is paramount (e.g., high-frequency social or gaming apps), OP Stack leads. For financial primitives and protocols where security is non-negotiable, ZK Stack's architecture is superior.