ZK Stack

The ZK Stack is a modular, open-source framework developed by the team behind ZKsync Era for building custom ZK-powered Layer 2 and Layer 3 blockchains, known as Hyperchains. It provides the core components—such as the zkEVM virtual machine, ZK-proof system, and data availability modules—required to launch a sovereign, interoperable blockchain that inherits Ethereum's security through ZK Rollup technology. Unlike a monolithic chain, the ZK Stack allows developers to choose and configure components like the sequencer, prover, and data availability layer to suit specific use cases, from high-throughput DeFi applications to private enterprise networks.

A core architectural principle of the ZK Stack is hyperbridging, which enables seamless, trust-minimized communication between all Hyperchains in the ecosystem. This creates a network of interconnected chains, or a Hyperchain, where assets and messages can be transferred with the same security guarantees as on the parent chain. This interoperability is powered by native ZK proofs, eliminating the need for external bridging protocols and their associated risks. The framework is designed for sovereignty, giving each Hyperchain's community control over its governance, tokenomics, and upgrade path while remaining part of a unified, scalable network.

The practical use cases for the ZK Stack are diverse. Projects can deploy application-specific chains (appchains) optimized for gaming or social media, enterprise chains with custom privacy features, or Layer 3 chains that settle to a ZKsync Era Layer 2 for even lower costs. By abstracting away the immense complexity of zero-knowledge cryptography and blockchain consensus, the ZK Stack lowers the barrier to launching a secure, Ethereum-aligned chain. Its open-source nature and modular design position it as a foundational tool in the modular blockchain landscape, competing with other stack-based solutions like the OP Stack by offering ZK-proof-based security and native interoperability as its key differentiators.

The ZK Stack works by providing developers with a comprehensive set of modular components—including a zkEVM, a Data Availability (DA) layer, a sequencer, and a prover—that can be configured and deployed to create sovereign, yet connected, blockchains. This modularity allows teams to choose their own virtual machine, data availability solution (like using Ethereum L1, a DAC, or a validium), and governance model, while still leveraging the shared security and native interoperability of the ZK Stack's underlying ZK-proof technology. The core innovation is the ZK Rollup architecture, where transaction batches are compressed and their validity is proven off-chain before a succinct Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is posted to a base layer, typically Ethereum.

A key operational principle is the concept of Hyperbridges, which enable seamless, trust-minimized communication between any two Hyperchains built with the ZK Stack. Unlike traditional bridges that require separate trust assumptions, Hyperbridges leverage the same cryptographic security as the chains themselves, using ZK-proofs to verify the state of the origin chain on the destination chain. This creates a unified network of networks where assets and messages can be transferred with the same finality and security as within a single chain. The shared L1 settlement layer, often Ethereum, acts as a hub for proof verification and dispute resolution, anchoring the entire ecosystem's security.

From a developer's workflow, using the ZK Stack involves selecting and configuring the desired components via its open-source codebase, then deploying a new chain. This chain operates with its own tokenomics, governance, and fee models, but its state transitions are continuously proven by a decentralized network of provers. The resulting proofs are then verified on a settlement layer, finalizing the chain's state. This design empowers projects to launch application-specific Layer 3 chains or full-featured Layer 2 networks that balance sovereignty—controlling their own sequencer and DA—with the ability to tap into a broader, interoperable liquidity and user pool across the ZK Stack ecosystem.

Developed by the team behind zkSync Era, the ZK Stack provides the foundational components—such as a ZK-rollup sequencer, zkEVM prover, and data availability layer—to launch sovereign, highly customizable chains. Unlike monolithic frameworks, it embraces a modular architecture, allowing developers to select and configure components like consensus mechanisms, data availability solutions, and tokenomics to suit specific use cases, from gaming to DeFi to enterprise applications. This approach grants hyperchain creators sovereign control over their technology stack and governance while ensuring seamless connectivity.

The core innovation enabling this interoperability is ZK-powered native bridges. Hyperchains built with the ZK Stack can communicate trustlessly and instantly without relying on external bridging protocols. This is achieved through shared ZK proofs and a shared bridging hub, which validates state transitions across the network. This creates a cohesive hyperchain ecosystem where assets and data can flow between chains with the same security guarantees as moving within a single chain, effectively solving the fragmentation problem common in multi-chain environments.

From a developer's perspective, the ZK Stack offers a balance of flexibility and security. Teams can fork and modify the codebase to create a sovereign chain with its own validator set and governance, or they can launch as a ZK Stack chain that leverages the shared security of the zkSync Era mainnet for sequencing and proving. This modular security model allows projects to choose their trade-offs between decentralization, throughput, and cost, all while being part of a larger, connected network with a unified liquidity pool and user experience.