Rollups

1 min read

Pronunciation

[rohl-uhps]

Analogy

Imagine a carpool van (the rollup) that picks up many individual commuters (transactions) heading to the same city (Layer 1). Instead of each commuter driving their own car and causing congestion on the main highway, the carpool van takes them all, making just one trip on the highway. The details of who was in the van and where they went are recorded on a manifest (transaction data on ) that anyone can check.

Definition

A scaling solution that bundles (or 'rolls up') many transactions into a single that is then submitted to the . Rollups execute transactions outside but data to , inheriting its security.

Key Points Intro

Rollups are a leading scaling solution that significantly increases throughput by moving computation while keeping data (or data availability references).

Key Points

Execute transactions off-chain but post compressed transaction data (or proofs) to the Layer 1 chain.

The Layer 1 chain ensures data availability, allowing anyone to verify the rollup's state or process withdrawals.

Inherit the security of the Layer 1 blockchain.

Two main types: Optimistic Rollups and ZK-Rollups, differing in their verification methods.

Example

and are well-known on . zkSync and are examples of on . They allow users to transact with much lower and faster times than on directly.

Technical Deep Dive

Rollups move computation (and storage) but keep some data per (for , it's usually call data; for , it's differences and proofs). This data availability is crucial, as it allows anyone to reconstruct the rollup's and ensure its validity, or force withdrawals even if rollup operators misbehave. The for a rollup maintains the root of the rollup and verifies proofs (in ) or handles fraud challenges (in ).

Related Terms

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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