MIR ZK ROLLUP

Last updated: June 19, 2025, 20:14 | Written by: Laura Shin

The Ethereum blockchain, while revolutionary, faces the persistent challenge of scalability. Mir gathered a team of talented cryptographers and engineers, and after almost two years of work developed the world s fastest ZK scaling technology. The Mir team is now joining Polygon in order to utilize this groundbreaking technology and build our new project - Polygon Zero, a highly-scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK Rollup.High gas fees and slow transaction speeds have long plagued the network, hindering its widespread adoption. The Mir team is joining Polygon in order to create a highly-scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK rollup called Polygon Zero.But what if there was a way to drastically improve Ethereum's throughput without sacrificing security or decentralization?Enter ZK rollups, and more specifically, the groundbreaking work of Mir, now integrated into Polygon. The Mir Protocol (MIR) The Mir Protocol (MIR) is a scaling solution for Ethereum designed to use ZK-roll ups. In fact, the project is in the process of developing additional ZK roll up solutions. Just last month, MIR was acquired by Polygon (MATIC) in a deal valued at around $400 million. Polygon is already one of the cheapest chains in the market.This article explores the transformative potential of the Mir ZK rollup technology, its evolution into Polygon Zero, and its significant implications for the future of Ethereum and the broader blockchain ecosystem.

For nearly two years, a dedicated team of cryptographers and engineers at Mir labored to develop what they believed to be the world's fastest ZK scaling technology. Mir gathered a team of talented cryptographers and engineers, and after almost two years of work developed the world s fastest ZK scaling technology. The Mir team is now joining Polygon in order to utilize this groundbreaking technology and build our new project Polygon Zero, a highly-scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK Rollup.Their vision was a solution that could overcome the limitations of Ethereum and unlock its full potential. On December 9, Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic announced that the project has acquired the Ethereum scaling startup Mir in a $400 million deal. The Mir team of cryptographers and engineers are joining Polygon in order to create a highly-scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK rollup called Polygon Zero. Mihailo Bjelic: Polygon Is Focused on Zero-Knowledge Cryptography as the End Game forNow, this vision is becoming a reality as the Mir team joins forces with Polygon to bring their innovation to the masses.The result is Polygon Zero, a highly scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK Rollup poised to revolutionize the way we interact with the blockchain.This article dives deep into the technology, the acquisition, and what it all means for you.

Understanding ZK Rollups and Their Importance

To fully appreciate the significance of Mir's ZK rollup technology and Polygon Zero, it's crucial to understand the fundamentals of ZK rollups and why they are considered a leading scaling solution for Ethereum.

What are ZK Rollups?

ZK rollups, short for Zero-Knowledge Rollups, are a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum that bundle multiple transactions off-chain and then submit a concise cryptographic proof to the Ethereum mainnet.This proof, known as a ZK-SNARK (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge), verifies the validity of all the bundled transactions without needing to reveal the individual transaction details.This drastically reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed on the main chain, leading to significantly improved transaction throughput and lower gas fees.

In essence, ZK rollups offer the best of both worlds: the security and decentralization of Ethereum's mainnet with the speed and cost-effectiveness of off-chain processing.

Why are ZK Rollups Important for Ethereum?

The limitations of Ethereum's scalability have been a major bottleneck for its growth and adoption.High gas fees make simple transactions prohibitively expensive, while slow transaction speeds lead to congestion and delays. Polygon committed to investing $1 billion in ZK-rollup-related efforts in August and since then has announced two acquisitions worth $650 million: Hermez and Mir. It also recently announced Polygon Miden, a STARK-based Ethereum-compatible rollup, and Polygon Nightfall, a privacy-focused rollup built in collaboration with EY.ZK rollups offer a powerful solution to these problems by:

Increasing Transaction Throughput: By processing transactions off-chain and only submitting a concise proof to the mainnet, ZK rollups can significantly increase the number of transactions that Ethereum can handle per second.
Reducing Gas Fees: The reduced data footprint on the mainnet translates directly into lower gas fees for users.
Maintaining Security: ZK rollups inherit the security of the Ethereum mainnet, as the validity of off-chain transactions is cryptographically verified on-chain.
Preserving Decentralization: Unlike some other scaling solutions, ZK rollups do not compromise the decentralization of Ethereum.

Given these advantages, ZK rollups are widely considered to be a crucial component of Ethereum's long-term scalability roadmap.

The Mir Protocol: A Breakthrough in ZK Scaling Technology

Before its acquisition by Polygon, the Mir team was quietly developing a groundbreaking ZK scaling technology known as the Mir Protocol (MIR). The Polygon team previously acquired Hermez, an EVM-compatible ZK-rollup service, for $200M in August, and then followed with Miden, a ZK- STARK rollup, in November. The Mir team has since joined Polygon in efforts to build a new project dubbed as Polygon Zero, a highly-scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK Rollup.This protocol aimed to address some of the key challenges associated with existing ZK rollup implementations.

What Made the Mir Protocol Unique?

The Mir Protocol distinguished itself through its focus on speed and efficiency.The team's innovative approach to ZK-SNARK generation resulted in what they claimed was the ""world's fastest ZK scaling technology."" This meant faster transaction processing times and lower computational costs for verifying the validity of transactions.

The specifics of the Mir Protocol's technical innovations are complex, but the key takeaway is that it represented a significant advancement in the field of ZK rollup technology.The protocol was designed to be:

Fast: Offering significantly faster transaction processing compared to existing ZK rollup solutions.
Efficient: Requiring less computational power for ZK-SNARK generation, leading to lower costs.
Ethereum-Compatible: Designed to seamlessly integrate with the Ethereum ecosystem.

This combination of speed, efficiency, and compatibility made the Mir Protocol a highly promising solution for scaling Ethereum.

The Mir Protocol (MIR) Token

It's important to note that while the Mir team was developing the Mir Protocol technology, there was also a separate project with the ticker MIR.The Mir Protocol (MIR) mentioned in some resources was described as a scaling solution for Ethereum designed to use ZK-roll ups, and it was stated that the project was in the process of developing additional ZK roll up solutions.While details about this specific ""Mir Protocol (MIR)"" token are scarce, it's essential to distinguish it from the core ZK scaling technology developed by the Mir team that Polygon acquired.The focus of this article is on the latter - the groundbreaking technology now powering Polygon Zero.

Polygon's Acquisition of Mir: A Strategic Move

Polygon's acquisition of Mir was a strategic move aimed at bolstering its efforts to scale Ethereum and solidify its position as a leading provider of Layer-2 solutions.The $400 million deal underscores the importance of ZK rollup technology in Polygon's long-term vision.

Why Did Polygon Acquire Mir?

Polygon recognized the immense potential of the Mir Protocol and the expertise of the Mir team.By acquiring Mir, Polygon gained access to:

Cutting-Edge ZK Technology: The Mir Protocol's advanced ZK-SNARK generation capabilities provided Polygon with a significant competitive advantage.
A Talented Team of Engineers and Cryptographers: The Mir team brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in ZK rollup technology.
Accelerated Development: The acquisition allowed Polygon to accelerate the development and deployment of its ZK rollup solutions.

Furthermore, the acquisition aligned with Polygon's broader strategy of investing heavily in ZK rollup-related technologies.In August, Polygon committed to investing $1 billion in ZK-rollup-related efforts, demonstrating its commitment to this promising scaling solution.

Polygon's Broader ZK Rollup Strategy

The acquisition of Mir is just one piece of Polygon's comprehensive ZK rollup strategy.The company has also made other significant investments in this area, including:

Hermez: Polygon acquired Hermez, an EVM-compatible ZK-rollup service, for $250 million.
Polygon Miden: Polygon announced Polygon Miden, a STARK-based Ethereum-compatible rollup.
Polygon Nightfall: Polygon launched Polygon Nightfall, a privacy-focused rollup built in collaboration with EY.

These acquisitions and in-house developments demonstrate Polygon's commitment to exploring various ZK rollup technologies and providing a range of scaling solutions for Ethereum users.

Polygon Zero: Unleashing the Power of Mir's ZK Technology

The culmination of Polygon's acquisition of Mir is Polygon Zero, a highly scalable, Ethereum-compatible ZK Rollup powered by the Mir Protocol's groundbreaking technology.Polygon Zero represents a significant step forward in Ethereum scaling and promises to unlock new possibilities for decentralized applications (dApps).

What is Polygon Zero?

Polygon Zero is a ZK rollup solution designed to provide Ethereum developers with a fast, efficient, and secure way to scale their dApps.It leverages the Mir Protocol's advanced ZK-SNARK generation capabilities to achieve high transaction throughput and low gas fees.

Key features of Polygon Zero include:

High Scalability: Polygon Zero can handle a significantly larger number of transactions per second compared to Ethereum's mainnet.
Low Gas Fees: The off-chain processing and efficient ZK-SNARK generation result in significantly lower gas fees for users.
Ethereum Compatibility: Polygon Zero is designed to be compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), making it easy for developers to migrate their dApps.
Security: Polygon Zero inherits the security of the Ethereum mainnet, ensuring the safety of user funds and data.

How Does Polygon Zero Work?

The process of using Polygon Zero can be simplified as follows:

Users submit transactions to Polygon Zero.
Polygon Zero batches these transactions together.
A ZK-SNARK is generated, proving the validity of all the transactions in the batch.
The ZK-SNARK is submitted to the Ethereum mainnet.
The Ethereum mainnet verifies the ZK-SNARK, confirming the validity of all the transactions in the batch.

This process allows Polygon Zero to process transactions off-chain and only interact with the Ethereum mainnet for verification, resulting in significant scalability improvements.

Benefits of Using Polygon Zero

Using Polygon Zero offers numerous benefits for developers and users, including:

Improved User Experience: Faster transaction speeds and lower gas fees lead to a smoother and more enjoyable user experience.
Increased dApp Adoption: The scalability and cost-effectiveness of Polygon Zero can attract more users to dApps.
New Use Cases: Polygon Zero unlocks new use cases for dApps that were previously infeasible due to the limitations of Ethereum's mainnet.
Enhanced Security: Polygon Zero's reliance on Ethereum's security provides users with peace of mind.

The Future of Ethereum Scaling with Polygon Zero

Polygon Zero represents a significant step forward in Ethereum scaling and has the potential to transform the blockchain landscape.As more developers and users adopt Polygon Zero, it is expected to play a crucial role in the growth and adoption of decentralized applications.

Impact on the Ethereum Ecosystem

Polygon Zero's impact on the Ethereum ecosystem is expected to be significant.By providing a fast, efficient, and secure scaling solution, it can help to alleviate congestion on the mainnet and make Ethereum more accessible to a wider range of users.This can lead to:

Increased Ethereum Adoption: The improved user experience and lower costs can attract more users to Ethereum.
Growth of the dApp Ecosystem: The scalability of Polygon Zero can enable the development of more complex and demanding dApps.
Innovation in Blockchain Technology: Polygon Zero can inspire further innovation in ZK rollup technology and other scaling solutions.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

While Polygon Zero holds immense promise, it's important to acknowledge potential challenges and considerations:

Complexity: ZK rollup technology is complex, and developers may face a learning curve when integrating it into their dApps.
Security Audits: Thorough security audits are crucial to ensure the safety of Polygon Zero and the funds stored within it.
Adoption: The success of Polygon Zero depends on its adoption by developers and users.

Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of Polygon Zero outweigh the risks, and it is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of Ethereum.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Mir ZK Rollup and Polygon Zero

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the concept of Mir ZK Rollup and its manifestation as Polygon Zero:

What is the difference between ZK-SNARKs and ZK-STARKs?

Both ZK-SNARKs and ZK-STARKs are types of zero-knowledge proofs used in ZK rollups, but they differ in their cryptographic assumptions and performance characteristics. ZK-SNARKs (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge) generally offer smaller proof sizes, but they rely on a trusted setup, which some consider a potential security risk. ZK-STARKs (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge) do not require a trusted setup, making them more resistant to certain types of attacks, but they typically produce larger proof sizes.Polygon utilizes both SNARKs (with Polygon Zero) and STARKs (with Polygon Miden) to cater to different needs and use cases.

Is Polygon Zero fully EVM-compatible?

While Polygon Zero aims for a high degree of Ethereum compatibility, the exact level of EVM compatibility can vary depending on the implementation details.Full EVM compatibility allows developers to seamlessly migrate their existing Ethereum dApps to the ZK rollup without making significant code changes.This is a key consideration for attracting developers to a ZK rollup solution.

How can I start using Polygon Zero for my dApp?

To begin using Polygon Zero for your dApp, you'll need to consult the official Polygon documentation and developer resources.These resources will provide detailed instructions on how to integrate your dApp with Polygon Zero, including information on smart contract deployment, transaction processing, and other relevant topics.Keep an eye out for tutorials, sample code, and community support to help you get started.

What are the transaction fees like on Polygon Zero compared to Ethereum mainnet?

One of the primary advantages of using ZK rollups like Polygon Zero is the significant reduction in transaction fees compared to the Ethereum mainnet.Transaction fees on Polygon Zero are expected to be substantially lower, making it more affordable for users to interact with dApps.The exact fees will depend on network congestion and other factors, but the goal is to provide a cost-effective alternative to the mainnet.

Is Polygon Zero secure?

Security is a top priority for Polygon, and Polygon Zero is designed to be highly secure.It inherits the security of the Ethereum mainnet, as the validity of off-chain transactions is cryptographically verified on-chain.However, like any complex software system, Polygon Zero is subject to potential security vulnerabilities.To mitigate these risks, Polygon conducts thorough security audits and implements robust security measures to protect user funds and data.It's always prudent for users to exercise caution and follow best practices for securing their digital assets.

Conclusion: Polygon Zero - A Game Changer for Ethereum Scaling

The Mir ZK rollup technology, now powering Polygon Zero, represents a significant leap forward in the quest to scale Ethereum.The acquisition of Mir by Polygon was a strategic move that brought together cutting-edge technology and a talented team of experts.Polygon Zero promises to deliver faster transaction speeds, lower gas fees, and enhanced security for Ethereum users.As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to evolve, ZK rollups like Polygon Zero will play an increasingly important role in enabling the widespread adoption of decentralized applications.The combination of Polygon's commitment to ZK technology and the innovative work of the Mir team sets the stage for a brighter future for Ethereum scaling.Key takeaways include the enhanced scalability and reduced transaction costs that will likely drive increased dApp adoption and a more user-friendly experience for the Ethereum community.Keep an eye on Polygon Zero as it continues to develop and revolutionize the way we interact with the blockchain.