Jan 8, 2025

Starknet Launches SN Stack for Custom Rollup Chain Development

Starknet has launched its SN Stack, enabling developers to create customized validity rollup chains. Key features include:

Customizable parameters such as block times and sizes
Components like Starknet OS, CairoVM, and Blockifier execution engine
Frameworks Madara for appchains and Dojo for on-chain gaming apps
Integration with StarkWare's sequencer infrastructure, soon to be open source

Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder of StarkWare, emphasized the ease and low cost of building with ZK-STARK cryptography compared to optimistic rollups. ZK-STARKs do not require a trusted setup, although their proof sizes are larger.

A proof-based interoperability solution leveraging the upcoming open-sourced prover Stwo is under development.

Currently, Paradex is the only existing rollup built on SN Stack.

Rollup Stacks Overview

Ethereum initiated a rollup-centric roadmap in 2020 to enhance scalability via L2 chains.
Optimism introduced OP Stack in late 2022, with Arbitrum's "Orbit" and Zksync's ZK Stack following in 2023.
Commonware announced an "anti-framework" stack for more modular blockchain development.
Optimism holds a significant market position with over 50 rollup and Validium chains utilizing its technology.
Revenue-sharing options are available for rollups using Optimism’s stack.

No monetization model for SN Stack has been revealed yet; Starknet plans to announce details in the future.