What is Starknet?

Starknet is a Layer2 scalability solution that was born within the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem. This project, known as a "zk-Rollup" or "Validity Rollup", aims to improve the speed and affordability of transactions on the Ethereum network by processing most transaction operations outside of Ethereum and providing proof of those transactions to the mainnet. Developed by Stark Ware Industries, is a company with extensive experience in the blockchain cryptography sector and has been backed by important investors such as Sequoia Capital, Paradigm and Coatue.

starknet, zk-Rollups for Ethereum

A moment ago we mentioned that starknet It is a “Validity Rollup” or “zk-Rollup” that operates on the Ethereum network. This is with the goal of processing most transaction operations outside of Ethereum and then providing proof of those transactions to the main network. So, starknet It manages to significantly reduce the load on Layer1 (Ethereum on-chain) and enables the ability to have faster and cheaper transactions.

This is possible because starknet works like a «Layer2 of commits». That is, everything that is done in starknet (Layer2), is sent as a cryptographic commit to Layer1 (in this case Ethereum), where it is then written in the block information and is recorded perennially as if it were just another Ethereum transaction. Once the commit reaches Layer1, anyone who has access can take the proof and verify it using zero-knowledge proofs, more precisely, using zk-STARKs, a development devised by starknet and its greatest contribution to the ZKP cryptography (Zero Knowledge Proofs).

Best of all, this test does not reveal any information about the operations executed in starknet. It only provides the "necessary and sufficient" information to verify that the operations in the commit are correct. The rest of the information is totally private, which makes starknet It is a powerful Layer2 of privacy. In addition to providing you with enormous security, all thanks to its use of ZKP. All this while continuing to offer compatibility with Ethereum, a capacity to generate secure and private smart contracts thanks to Cairo and its Cairo Virtual Machine (CMV), among other great advances.

Thanks to this starknet has become one of the great Layer2 of Ethereum. With a Total Value Locked (TVL) of more than 700 million dollars, a trading volume that exceeds one trillion dollars, and a strong DeFi ecosystem and dApps developing within it. All of this is an example of the enormous potential that starknet is capable of achieving and offering to its users and developers.

Main features of starknet

As you can see starknet It has enormous advances to make all this possible. Advances among which we will highlight:

• Low costs: one of the main characteristics of starknet is that the operations you perform on this network are cheaper than on Ethereum. Additionally, future updates such as Volition and EIP 4844 will further reduce the costs of such operations in the future.
• Speed ​​and efficiency: Being a Layer2, starknet It assures its users and developers speed and efficiency superior to what you could see in networks like Ethereum.
• Easy to use for developers: another big point in favor of starknet is that network development tools make it much easier to develop decentralized applications using ZKP. This is made possible by Cairo, a StarkNet native programming language that makes developing using ZKP cryptography much easier and more secure.
• CVM (Cairo Virtual Machine): with starknet It runs on its own virtual machine (VM) called Cairo VM (CVM), allowing innovation beyond the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). All the new unique capabilities that fall on this VM. starknet can offer to its users and developers.
• Paymaster: allows users to choose how to pay transaction fees, following the guidelines set out in EIP 4337 and supporting gasless transactions, improving user accessibility.
• Governance: the foundation starknet oversees the governance of starknet, allowing members to influence the protocol by voting on changes through starknet Improvement Proposals (SNIP).
• zk-STARK: uses zk-STARK (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent ARguments of Knowledge) testing to provide low gas fees without compromising the security of Ethereum, and has demonstrated a successful testing track record.
• STRK native token: starknet is scheduled to launch its own native token called STREET and will be used to cover transaction, governance and participation fees within the network starknet.

How Starknet works: Navigating its capabilities

Now that we know a little more about starknet and its main characteristics, it is time for us to know them in greater depth and how as a whole they allow us to starknet work

zk-STARK, the cryptographic core

zk-STARK (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent ARguments of Knowledge) is a zero-knowledge proof system that allows a party to prove the truth of a statement without revealing any additional information beyond the truth of the statement itself. It is highly scalable and transparent, meaning it can handle a large volume of transactions and provide proof efficiently.

When using zk-STARK, starknet can be done with a number of benefits, including:

• Better scalability: zk-STARK enables the efficient processing of a large volume of transactions, contributing to the scalability of blockchain networks such as starknet.
• Better privacy: by providing zero-knowledge proofs, starknet allows verification of calculations without revealing sensitive information, improving transaction privacy.
• Extended Security: zk-STARK improves transaction security by ensuring the integrity and validity of transactions while maintaining privacy.
• Efficiency: By moving calculations off-chain and using zk-STARK, the efficiency of blockchain networks is improved by processing a greater volume of transactions off the main chain.

Testers and Validators

Within starknet, “testers” and “validators” play crucial roles in transaction processing and verification. Here is the detailed information about these roles:

• Testers (ZK Operators): These are those in charge of preparing zk-STARK tests for transactions in starknet, orchestrating the Merkle tree data structure to create accurate and reliable tests. Its main function is to develop cryptographic proofs that guarantee the accuracy and reliability of transactions, which contributes to the integrity and security of the network.
• Validators: They act as scrutineers of authenticity, confirming the validity of ZK tests, which is essential for the integrity and accuracy of contract execution. They ensure the legitimacy of transactions and the secure execution of contracts, playing a crucial role in the verification and validation of ZK proofs.

Validation Process

The validation process in starknet involves transaction verification and computational testing to ensure the integrity and accuracy of operations within the network. This process is crucial to maintaining the security and reliability of decentralized applications (dApps) running on starknet. Below is an overview of the validation process:

• Sending transactions: Users send transactions to starknet for processing, which may involve various operations within decentralized applications or smart contracts.
• Test generation: Operators, also known as “probers,” generate zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) for transactions. These tests are cryptographic evidence that the calculations performed are valid without revealing sensitive information.
• Test verification: Validators play a key role in the validation process by verifying the authenticity and accuracy of ZK proofs submitted by operators. They ensure that calculations and transactions comply with predefined rules and are valid within the network.
• Consensus and purpose: Once ZK tests are validated, a consensus mechanism within starknet finalizes transactions, ensuring they are added to the blockchain in a secure and tamper-proof manner.
• Execution and settlement: Validated transactions are then executed and the resulting state changes are settled within the network, updating the ledger and relevant smart contracts accordingly.

Cairo and Cairo VM

Another important part in the functioning of StakNet is Cairo and its VM, Cairo VM (CVM). Below is a detailed explanation of Cairo and Cairo VM within starknet:

Cairo

Cairo is a high-level language that has been developed to offer a secure and efficient environment for the creation of smart contracts in starknet. Its main features include:

• Security and verification. Cairo is designed with a focus on security and verification. Its design focuses on reducing the possibility of errors and vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
• Efficiency. Cairo is optimized for efficient execution on the Cairo VM, meaning that contracts written in Cairo can be executed efficiently, reducing gas costs and improving performance.
• Ease of use. Although it is a powerful language, Cairo is designed to be accessible, with clear syntax and development tools that make it easy to create and maintain smart contracts.

Cairo VM

For its part, Cairo VM is the virtual machine that runs smart contracts written in Cairo. Some important aspects of the Cairo VM are:

• Efficient execution. Cairo VM is optimized for efficient execution of contracts written in Cairo, contributing to the scalability and efficiency of starknet.
• Security. Like the Cairo language, the Cairo VM focuses on the security and integrity of smart contract execution, which is critical for the reliability of decentralized applications in starknet.
• Interoperability. Cairo VM is designed to be interoperable with the Ethereum network, enabling the execution of smart contracts on a Layer2 with the security and reliability of the mainnet.

In summary, Cairo and Cairo VM are crucial components of starknet, providing a secure, efficient and scalable environment for the creation and execution of smart contracts on the Ethereum network.

STRK Token

The STRK token is the native token of starknet. The launch of this token, scheduled for February 20, 2024, involves a distribution spanning around 1,3 million eligible wallets, with a total supply of 10 billion tokens.

The main function of the STRK token is to drive community participation and project governance in starknet, allowing users, developers and contributors to the ecosystem of starknet, as well as Ethereum builders, stakeholders and open source developers, to participate in the network. Additionally, the distribution of STRK tokens aims to prioritize StarkNet users, contributors, and developers first, promoting a culture of inclusivity in the development space at large.

Tokens will be allocated into nine categories, and ecosystem participants will use the tokens for governance, paying fees, with use for staking planned in the future. In summary, the STRK token plays a fundamental role in the decentralization and governance of starknet, allowing the active participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the ecosystem.

STRK Token Distribution

The STRK token distribution is designed to promote diverse participation and reward a wide range of contributors within the network starknet. Some key aspects of the STRK token distribution include:

• Scope and duration. The distribution will take place from February 20 to June 20, covering nearly 1.3 million eligible wallets, allowing users to claim their tokens over a four-month period.
• Quantity and purpose. More than 700 million STRK tokens, representing 7% of the total supply of 10 billion, will be distributed, highlighting the foundation's commitment to decentralization and community governance in the ecosystem. starknet.
• Eligibility. Eligibility to claim STRK tokens extends to various segments of the community, including early adopters of starknet, Ethereum contributors and open source developers, who have played integral roles in advancing and testing Stark-based technology.
• Community initiatives. La starknet Foundation has spearheaded several community initiatives to encourage participation and decentralization in the ecosystem, including the “devonomys” program and future efforts such as rebates and subsidies to incentivize ecosystem activity.

In summary, the STRK token distribution focuses on broad inclusion and rewarding diverse contributors, and is supported by initiatives to strengthen community participation and decentralization in the ecosystem of starknet.

Conclusion

starknet represents a significant advancement in the Ethereum ecosystem, offering a Layer2 solution that leverages zero-knowledge cryptography to improve the scalability, privacy, and efficiency of decentralized applications.

With its focus on security, decentralization and community governance, starknet is well positioned to play a pivotal role in Ethereum's future as a Layer 2 network. Additionally, its native token, STRK, and inclusive distribution demonstrate a commitment to community participation and decentralization, laying the foundation for a robust ecosystem. and diverse.

In this way, the continued development and adoption, starknet has the potential to significantly contribute to the expansion and utility of Ethereum, establishing itself as a leading Layer2 network in the blockchain ecosystem.