StarkWare has unveiled a groundbreaking new scaling framework known as ZKThreads. The introduction of this technology helps to prevent funds from becoming trapped and enhances the scalability of decentralized applications (DApps), potentially shielding the market from upheavals like the FTX fiasco.
Louis Guthmann, StarkWare’s head of product and market strategy, suggests that this layer-scaling solution has the potential to prevent calamities reminiscent of the FTX incident. ZKThreads assures users that even in downtimes, they will have continuous trading opportunities. For instance, should a centralized exchange fail – a common occurrence – users can automatically trade through the base layer, which would keep markets efficient especially when dealing with leveraged liquidations.
ZKThreads, a product of a collaborative effort with Cartridge, was created as a remedy for fragmentation issues, providing a standardised setting for developing easily verifiable applications. This innovation is a practical execution of StarkWare’s 2021 concept known as ‘fractal scaling.’ The aim is to provide an alternative to existing ZK systems that function independently, resulting in dispersed liquidity, resources, and dwindling app connectivity.
Guthmann believes that the application of ZKThreads brings diverse implications on how DApp development will be approached. He says, “This is opening up a whole new world, as the blockchain space primarily focuses on layer-based scaling. ZKThreads highlights the potential of horizontal scaling as a complementary approach.”
Enabled by StarkWare’s layer-2 solution, Starknet, horizontal scaling via execution sharding operates hand-in-hand with zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs. This technique breaks down tasks into smaller parts, maintaining the accuracy, security, and privacy of each operation. Guthman explains, “ZKThreads rethinks coprocessing by synchronising it with the main chain, avoiding the traditional isolation. This enhances security and trust and creates a seamless fabric of interoperable applications.”
Further reinforcing the prominence of ZK-proofs, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers recently acknowledged a decade-old research paper co-authored by StarkWare founder Eli Ben-Sasson as instrumental in bringing out the first practical use of ZK-proofs.