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Announcement

Polygon Labs, known for its expertise in scaling networks for Ethereum, has recently redirected its focus towards "Polygon CDK" (Crypto Development Kit) driven by zero-knowledge cryptography (ZK). Previously, the company was associated with "Polygon Edge." However, Polygon Labs has now ceased its support for Polygon Edge, placing a greater emphasis on advancing Polygon CDK, a toolset that empowers the creation of layer-2 blockchains through ZK technology. 

So, What Was Polygon Edge?

Polygon Edge, formerly known as Polygon SDK, is a modular framework that developers can use to launch entirely new blockchains based on any existing Ethereum scaling technology. It was intended to connect the different versions of Ethereum scaling solutions to be able to communicate with one another. Polygon Edge represents a formal tool stack that can help developers create and launch DeFi applications, blockchains, and other user-oriented platforms. With Edge, developers will be able to launch these new apps and chains with ease, helping to evolve Ethereum into a developer-friendly, multichain ecosystem. Polygon Edge went live in May 2021, operating via an Istanbul Byzantine Fault Tolerance (IBFT) consensus mechanism.

To better appeal to all developers, Edge also supports both proof of stake (PoS) and proof of authority (PoA), giving a wider range of possibilities for both private and decentralized applications, blockchains, and platforms. Developers have two types of SDKs from which to choose: an SDK for Ethereum-compatible standalone chains that take charge of their own security and a second stack that operates similarly to that of L2s, which rely on the Ethereum mainnet for functionality. Polygon Edge also offers developers instant finality of transactions and fast block production times, albeit with a small validator set as of 2023.

L2 Scaling Solutions, Source: twitter.com\stevenshi_

Polygon is now devoting more resources to its Layer 2 scaling and ZK-rollups solutions as they offer greater blockchain scaling compared to rollups. As such, it’s beneficial to briefly understand the technological advantages of ZK-rollups for blockchain throughout.

Developers’ ability to launch their own blockchains gives power to projects with specific technology needs that would otherwise have to compete with other projects for the same resources on monolithic networks, such as Ethereum mainnet. Using Polygon Edge, developers have two primary directions within the framework to choose from: secured chains, i.e., Layer 2 blockchains, and standalone Ethereum sidechains. 

Both options offer their own advantages depending on the developer’s needs. Secured chains give developers the advantage of having easy bootstrapping and enhanced security while remaining separated from Ethereum mainnet’s supply/demand struggles. Comparatively, projects with existing resources to bootstrap security or liquidity could enhance throughput and accessibility by simply opting to build out an Ethereum sidechain instead. Sidechains are also highly independent compared to secured chains, as they require their own validator set to confirm blocks.

Framework Structure

The Polygon Edge framework consists of multiple different modules, including:

• Blockchain
• Consensus Mechanism
• Libp2p
• GPRC
• JSON RPC

The blockchain and consensus modules represent the core infrastructure of the framework and are what developers are actively building on top. The remaining modules, including that Libp2b, GPRC, and JSON RPC, are functions within the deeper technical architecture that provide functionality to the blockchain and consensus modules themselves. 

Functions within the deeper technical architecture, Source: Polygon

Collectively, they enable Polygon Edge to allow developers to create and launch their own blockchains. Developers can manipulate these different modules to meet the needs of their own projects, applications, or ecosystems. For example, developers can choose to implement different types of consensus, including proof of stake and proof of authority. While PoS fits many different needs, blockchains that want more privacy and security can implement PoA to formulate secured networks.

Polygon Edge formally launched the framework in May 2021. As of Q4 2023, there are fresh iterations and updates for Polygon Edge that were released to developers via GitHub in the form of Polygon Edge v0.6.2. Additionally, Polygon Edge launched with Kailedo to offer developers additional features and benefits when launching new blockchains.

Polygon Edge and Kaleido, Source: Kaleido

What is Polygon CDK?

Polygon Labs unveiled its groundbreaking open-source codebase, the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK), on August 30, 2023. This initiative should help facilitate the development of zk Layer 2 chains and expand the Polygon L2 ecosystem. One of the standout features of the CDK is its versatility. It supports the development of not only zk rollups but also validiums. Another benefit of the CDK is the customization capabilities. Beyond data availability, developers can tailor various components to their specific needs, including virtual machines, fee tokens, sequencers, whitelisting protocols, and the Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) submission timeframe. This level of adaptability ensures that blockchain solutions can be finetuned to match unique project requirements.

An additional highlight of the Polygon CDK is its innate ability to interface with Polygon 2.0's Interop layer. Any chain birthed using the CDK establishes an automatic connection, similar to OP Chains in Optimism's Super Chain system. The resultant user experience is fluid and unified, giving the illusion of a single cohesive network, even though the reality may involve multiple interconnected networks.

Several frontrunning projects have already adopted the Polygon CDK to drive their initiatives, including Aavegotchi, Immutable, Gnosis Pay, and Palm Network. Their adoption underscores the potential and efficiency of the CDK in contemporary blockchain development.

In essence, Polygon Labs' release of the Chain Development Kit signifies a monumental leap in simplifying and enhancing zk Layer 2 chain development. It accentuates the company's commitment to fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's achievable in the decentralized tech space.

Canto and Astar Plans to Join

Previously an alt-L1, Canto has announced it plans to migrate to a ZK-rollup on Ethereum, harnessing the power of Polygon's Chain Development Kit (CDK). Born as a permissionless general-purpose blockchain, Canto boasts of features like an EVM execution layer and fundamental financial instruments. These include a decentralized exchange, a lending market, and a unique unit of account (NOTE). But, what makes Canto stand out is the Canto Commons—a democratic framework that guides core protocol-level enhancements and development. It champions a decentralized and open model with "protocol public goods."

So, the pertinent question is, what does this significant shift towards an Ethereum ZK-powered Layer 2 signify for the dynamic Canto community? For Canto, this transition is monumental. Once the Canto Commons reaches a consensus, core developers will possess the tools to design a ZK Layer 2 that embodies Canto's foundational principles: an unwavering commitment to permissionless sovereignty and the public availability of liquidity. By utilizing a communal ZK bridge, Canto aims to channel the vast liquidity present in the Polygon ecosystem and tap into a straightforward Ethereum bridge. When it comes to user security, it's bolstered by a top-tier ZK prover currently in use, ensuring cryptographic protection that's a legacy of Ethereum, eliminating dependence on socio-economic motivations associated with fraud proofs.

Additionally, the Astar Network, previously a parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem, has announced Astar zkEVM, its own upcoming move to an Ethereum zk-rollup built using the Polygon CDP.