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The Ronin gaming blockchain, led by Sky Mavis, is set to launch Ronin zkEVM, a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) layer-2 chain, which aims to support more users and help its game studio partners scale by boosting speed and scalability for Web3 games.
The Evolution of Ronin: From Axie Infinity to zkEVM
Ronin, originally built by Sky Mavis for the popular play-to-earn game Axie Infinity, has grown to become the largest gaming blockchain with 1.5 million daily active users. In 2018, five founders joined forces to build Axie Infinity, sharing a vision of ownership-infused blockchain games that would catalyze the birth of an industry. Years later, Ronin’s launch marked the birth of a blockchain optimized for gaming, enabling Axie to take the world by storm.
Last year, Ronin upgraded to Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), paving the way for the next generation of web3 games to deploy on the platform. And now, Ronin begins a new chapter by integrating zkEVM technology using the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK) to continue forging ahead on its mission of onboarding billions of gamers.
Ronin zkEVM is a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) layer-2 chain that enables game developers to create their own zkEVM blockchains on the Ronin network without needing independent security and consensus mechanisms.
Key Features of Ronin zkEVM
Scalability
Ronin zkEVM aims to significantly boost the scalability of the Ronin network. Currently, Ronin can handle up to 40 million transactions per day, but with zkEVM, this capacity could increase to 400 million or even four billion transactions daily. This scalability is crucial for supporting a growing number of games and users.
User Experience
The integration of zkEVM will enhance the user experience by enabling seamless cross-chain interactions. Users will be able to transfer assets, swap tokens, and trade NFTs across different layer-1 and layer-2 games with low gas fees and high transaction speeds.
Economic Alignment
Ronin zkEVM introduces economic incentives for developers and validators. To launch a zkEVM chain, developers need to stake 250,000 RON tokens, aligning their interests with the main Ronin chain. This staking requirement also increases the utility and demand for RON tokens, potentially leading to higher staking rewards for validators and delegators.
Security
The use of zero-knowledge proofs in zkEVM ensures robust security by allowing transactions to be validated without revealing underlying data. This enhances privacy and reduces the risk of data breaches.
Impact on the Gaming Ecosystem
Originally built for Axie Infinity, the Ronin blockchain has expanded to support a broader gaming ecosystem. With the introduction of zkEVM, more game developers can deploy their own layer-2 blockchains on Ronin, fostering innovation and increasing player engagement. Sky Mavis CEO Trung Nguyen outlined a vision for a unified Web3 gaming ecosystem that facilitates seamless asset transfers, token swaps, and NFT trading across Layer 1 and Layer 2 games, all while offering low gas fees.
The collaboration with Polygon, a leading Ethereum scaling solution, is a strategic move to leverage Polygon’s advanced zkEVM technology. This partnership is expected to enhance Ronin’s appeal to game studios and further solidify its position as a premier destination for Web3 gaming. Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal praised the impact of Polygon CDK, noting that Ronin’s combination of cutting-edge tech, extensive distribution, and strong user engagement makes it an attractive destination for game studios.
Thoughts
With 1.5 million daily active users, Ronin is already the largest gaming blockchain globally. The introduction of zkEVM marks an exciting new chapter that will open the door to more games, more players, and greater economic freedom in the Web3 gaming space.
While the technology is still in development, with a potential release in Q1 2025, Ronin zkEVM powered by Polygon’s CDK sets the stage for the next evolution of blockchain gaming at scale.
