Layer 2 Solutions Explained: Optimism vs ZK

Scalability, Security, Decentralization. Historically, achieving all three at once was nearly impossible, until L2s emerged.

Optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid by default and use fraud proofs only when challenged. This reduces costs but adds withdrawal delays.

ZK-rollups use mathematical proofs to verify correctness instantly. They offer faster withdrawals and better compression, but are more complex to build.

Most experts believe both will coexist. ZK is ideal for long-term scaling, but Optimistic rollups maintain stronger ecosystem maturity today.