Starknet, a prominent Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has recently achieved Stage 1 decentralization, a significant milestone in its development. This accomplishment, as outlined by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin's framework, positions Starknet as the largest zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup network by Total Value Locked (TVL), narrowly surpassing zkSync. The platform's progress underscores its commitment to scalability and security within the blockchain ecosystem.
The achievement of Stage 1 decentralization signifies that Starknet now operates with reduced oversight, implementing changes such as the establishment of a security council and mechanisms to prevent censorship. This development is crucial for the network's long-term autonomy and resilience. Starknet's underlying technology, ZK-STARKs (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge), enables massive throughput and low transaction costs by validating off-chain transactions while maintaining Ethereum's security.
According to L2beat data, Starknet currently holds $629 million in TVL, placing it just ahead of zkSync's $610 million within the ZK-rollup category. This leadership within the ZK-rollup space has been highlighted by community members, with one user, br0th3r 0d1n, stating in a recent tweet, "> STARKNET is the number 1 ZK tech leader. nobody is questioning this. STARKNET = ZK."
While Starknet leads among ZK-rollups, it is currently ranked fifth overall among all Layer 2 networks by TVL, behind optimistic rollups like Coinbase's Base, which commands a significantly larger market share. Starknet's unique approach involves the use of Cairo, a Turing-complete programming language optimized for ZK-proofs, which allows developers to build scalable decentralized applications.
StarkWare, the developer behind Starknet, continues to push for further decentralization, with co-founder and CEO Eli Ben-Sasson expressing ambitions to reach Stage 2, which would represent full autonomy and community governance. The platform is also expanding its ecosystem, recently partnering with Lombard Finance to integrate Bitcoin liquid staking tokens, aiming to position itself as an "L2-Squared" solution combining Bitcoin and Ethereum. This strategic move is expected to further drive growth and innovation within the DeFi space.