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In the Ethereum ecosystem, scalability has always been a major concern. As the transaction volume of the Ethereum network continues to increase and Ethereum 2.0 upgrade is still in progress, Layer 2 solutions have become increasingly important. StarkNet is one of the emerging forces in this field, and it has many unique features compared to solutions like Optimistic Ethereum (Optimistic Rollup) and zkSync. This article will delve into the differences between StarkNet technology and these solutions to help readers better understand their advantages and characteristics.

Blockchain Scalability Issues
Scalability issues have been a long-standing challenge in blockchain. Public blockchain networks like Ethereum often face problems such as slow transaction processing speed and high fees when dealing with large-scale transactions and smart contract deployments. These issues not only affect user experience but also limit the development of the blockchain ecosystem.

To address these issues, Layer 2 solutions have emerged. These solutions improve throughput, reduce costs, and improve overall performance by building more efficient protocols and mechanisms on top of the blockchain. StarkNet, Optimistic Ethereum, and zkSync are popular Layer 2 solutions, each adopting different technical approaches to address scalability issues. Next, we will compare them in detail.

StarkNet: Layer 2 Solution Based on zk-STARKs
StarkNet is a Layer 2 solution based on zk-STARKs technology. zk-STARKs is a type of zero-knowledge proof technology known for its strong cryptographic properties and resistance to quantum attacks. StarkNet leverages the advantages of zk-STARKs to achieve breakthroughs in the following aspects:

1. Security
   StarkNet's security is built on zk-STARKs technology, which provides strong cryptographic protection and resistance to quantum attacks. Unlike some Layer 2 solutions that use zk-SNARKs or Optimistic Rollup technology, StarkNet's security is more robustly guaranteed.

2. Scalability
   StarkNet can efficiently process a large number of transactions, achieving high scalability. Compared to some other Layer 2 solutions, StarkNet performs better because it fully utilizes the efficient performance of zk-STARKs technology.

3. Decentralization and Trust Model
   StarkNet adopts zk-STARKs technology, reducing the need for trust in third parties. Compared to Optimistic Rollup, which requires a period of fraud proof submission, StarkNet is more decentralized.

4. Ecosystem and Development
   StarkNet is a relatively new network, but its ecosystem is rapidly growing, especially in the DeFi field. This attracts different types of applications and developers, although its application scope may be limited compared to more mature Layer 2 networks.

5. Developer Experience
   StarkNet uses the Cairo language, providing developers with a unique development environment different from Solidity or Vyper, which fully supports Ethereum. This means developers need to learn a new programming language but can also enjoy the unique features of Cairo.

6. Transaction Costs and Speed
   Different Layer 2 solutions vary greatly in terms of transaction costs and speed. StarkNet uses STARKs technology to achieve cost-effectiveness, although it may have longer proof times compared to some zk-SNARKs-based solutions.

Optimistic Ethereum: Optimistic Rollup Solution
Optimistic Ethereum is a Layer 2 solution based on Optimistic Rollup technology. Its working principle is to submit transactions to the Layer 2 chain and then wait for a "challenge period" during which fraud proofs can be submitted. The characteristics of Optimistic Ethereum include:

1. Security
   Optimistic Ethereum relies on the challenge period to address security issues. This means that after fraud occurs, it takes time to submit fraud proofs and roll back transactions. This design may introduce certain risks in certain cases.

2. Scalability
   Optimistic Ethereum attempts to improve scalability by moving transactions to the Layer 2 chain. However, it may be limited by the challenge period, resulting in performance issues under high load.

3. Decentralization and Trust Model
   Optimistic Ethereum relies on the challenge period to maintain decentralization and trust models. This may require more trust as fraud detection takes time.

4. Ecosystem and Development
   Optimistic Ethereum is part of the Ethereum ecosystem, so it can leverage the existing developer community and tools. This gives it an advantage in terms of ecosystem and development.

5. Developer Experience
   Optimistic Ethereum supports Ethereum's Solidity programming language, allowing developers to continue using familiar tools and languages for development.

6. Transaction Costs and Speed
   Optimistic Ethereum attempts to reduce costs and improve speed by moving transactions to the Layer 2 chain. However, speed and costs may still be limited due to the existence of the challenge period.

zkSync: zk-Rollup Solution
zkSync is a Layer 2 solution based on zk-Rollup technology. It improves performance and scalability by aggregating transactions and submitting them to the Ethereum main chain using zero-knowledge proof technology. zkSync has the following features:

1. Security
   zkSync relies on zk-Rollup technology, which provides strong security and cryptographic properties. Similar to StarkNet, it has a high reputation in terms of security.

2. Scalability
   zkSync improves scalability by aggregating and submitting transactions to the main chain. Its performance is usually higher than the Ethereum main chain, but it may be constrained by some technical limitations.

3. Decentralization and Trust Model
   zkSync achieves a high level of decentralization through zk-Rollup technology, as all verifications are done on-chain without the need for third-party trust.

4. Ecosystem and Development
   zkSync, as an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, can fully leverage the existing ecosystem and developer community. This gives it an advantage in terms of ecosystem and development.

5. Developer Experience
   zkSync supports Ethereum's Solidity programming language, allowing developers to use familiar tools and languages for development.

6. Transaction Costs and Speed
   zkSync reduces costs and improves speed by moving transactions to the Layer 2 chain. Compared to StarkNet, its performance may be closer to traditional Ethereum transaction speeds.

Conclusion
In the field of Layer 2 solutions, StarkNet, Optimistic Ethereum, and zkSync have adopted different technical approaches to improve Ethereum's scalability and performance. Each solution has its unique advantages and characteristics, suitable for different types of applications and developers.

StarkNet stands out with its security based on zk-STARKs and high scalability, but it may require developers to learn a new programming language. Optimistic Ethereum leverages the Ethereum ecosystem and developer community, but security and performance may be limited by the challenge period. zkSync combines performance and decentralization while supporting Ethereum's Solidity language.

The final choice depends on the project's requirements and priorities, and developers and users should choose the most suitable Layer 2 solution based on specific circumstances. Regardless of the chosen solution, the development of Layer 2 technology will provide more possibilities for the future of the Ethereum ecosystem.