Solana (SOL) has launched ZK compression, an innovative feature designed to significantly reduce costs and enhance scalability for developers. Developed in collaboration with Light Protocol and Helius Lab, this tool allows developers to compress on-chain state data, thereby minimizing expenses associated with token and account creation on the Solana network. Massive Scale Improvements On June 21st, Light Protocol partnered with Helius Labs to introduce ZK compression on Solana, aiming to make application development more scalable by compressing on-chain data. This approach stores state roots on-chain while keeping other data on the Solana ledger, leveraging zero-knowledge proofs to ensure data integrity and retrieval through supported RPC providers. Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz highlighted the scalability improvements, stating that the team achieves 10,000x scale improvements by compressing on-chain state. Austin Federa, the Head of Strategy for Solana, emphasized the cost-saving benefits for on-chain account storage, enabling broader creation of on-chain products. Mixed Reactions Despite the advantages , some in the crypto community, like Adam Cochran and Ryan Berckmans, argue that ZK compression resembles a layer-2 (L2) network in functionality. Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko acknowledged similarities to L2 solutions but noted differences in governance and security models. Despite debates about its categorization, the introduction of ZK compression represents a significant advancement for Solana, promising improved scalability and reduced operational costs. This innovation underscores the overall commitment by Solana toward advancing blockchain technology and addressing industry challenges, potentially fostering broader adoption and innovation within its ecosystem.
