Polygon Labs Acquires ZK Firm Toposware To Boost Blockchain Research

Key Points:

• Polygon Labs acquires Toposware for zero-knowledge tech advancement.
• Toposware’s expertise bolsters Polygon’s AggLayer and zkEVM projects.
• Acquisition aligns with Polygon’s strategy to lead in the zero-knowledge space

Polygon Labs acquires ZK firm Toposware, enhancing its ZK development team and interoperability capabilities. The specifics of the deal remain undisclosed.

Polygon Labs has acquired blockchain research company Toposware in what is the third major purchase of a zero-knowledge (ZK) technology firm in three years, all to further ZK research and development.

The specifics of the transaction have not been disclosed, but the move underscores how Polygon Labs is resolute in pioneering the ZK space.

Polygon Labs Acquires ZK Firm Toposware to Strengthen Capabilities

Toposware’s addition to Polygon Labs will enhance the latter’s already-strong ZK development team. The ZK talent and engineering expertise brought in by Toposware will enhance the innovation in developing the AggLayer, Polygon CDK, Polygon zkEVM, and potentially Polygon PoS, pending the community’s approval.

Another important aspect of this is that Toposware has contributed to the Type 1 prover development that forms a performant upgrade to the wider Ethereum ecosystem. This Type 1 prover upgrade allows any EVM chain to be a ZK proof-based chain and to connect to Ethereum.

Additionally, it allows existing chains to use the Type 1 prover for upgraded security guarantees or to connect to the AggLayer—a service that allows a network of sovereign blockchains to be proved ZK-optimal.

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Significance of Toposware’s Contribution to Ethereum Proving in Polygon Labs Acquisition

Building on this, the Type 1 prover has shown cost-effective Ethereum proving. As of the February announcement, the average cost per transaction was $0.0029, and the cost to prove an Ethereum block was $0.534.

The acquisition will further the plan for the Polygon Labs team, driven by community consensus, to connect the Polygon PoS network to the AggLayer over the next few months, followed by a network upgrade to a ZK-secured chain. The significance of Toposware in these developments will thus be felt.

The acquisition falls under the Polygon Labs strategy to further strengthen its zero-knowledge arsenal, mainly in developing the AggLayer, which will heighten interoperability capabilities of ZK-powered Ethereum Layer 2s.

Toposware was last valued between $20 million and $30 million, according to The Block. Previous buys in the ZK space from Polygon Labs come after its $250 million acquisition of Hermez Network and the $400 million purchase of Mir Protocol.