What is Starknet (STRK)?
- Author
- CRYPTO PORT Editorial
- Published
- Updated
- Reading time
- 6 min
In short
Starknet is a zero-knowledge rollup that executes Ethereum transactions off-chain in batches and proves their correctness mathematically. It uses STARK proofs and a purpose-built language called Cairo. Development is led by StarkWare, and the STRK token was distributed in 2024.
Key points
- A layer 2 that batches execution and posts only a validity proof to Ethereum
- Unlike ZK-SNARKs, STARKs require no trusted setup ceremony
- Contracts are written in Cairo, a dedicated language, not Solidity
- STRK is used to pay fees and for governance
Definition
A zero-knowledge rollup that raises throughput by executing Ethereum transactions off-chain and proving the results correct with STARK proofs.
Ethereum's block space is limited, so fees rise with demand. Rollups answer that by moving execution elsewhere and recording only a summary on Ethereum. Starknet belongs to the validity-rollup family, which proves that the summarised results are correct.
It uses STARK proofs. These are larger than ZK-SNARK proofs, but they need no trusted setup ceremony and are considered more resistant to quantum attack. A contract on Ethereum verifies each proof, and only verified results become final.
Contracts are written in Cairo, a language designed to generate STARK proofs efficiently. Unlike EVM-compatible chains, Solidity code cannot simply be ported across. That raises migration cost, but it is the consequence of prioritising a proof-friendly design.
STRK can be used to pay fees and has a role in protocol governance. Operationally, the sequencer that orders transactions and the prover that generates proofs were initially run solely by the founding organisation, and decentralising them is treated as a staged project.
Watch out for
- · While the sequencer is run by a single operator, it can in principle halt or reorder transactions
- · Cairo contracts cannot reuse EVM code or audit practices, so development and review assumptions differ
- · Withdrawing back to Ethereum involves waiting for proof submission and finalisation, plus fees
Frequently asked questions
Does a ZK rollup also give privacy?
No. Typical ZK rollups use zero-knowledge proofs to attest that computation was performed correctly, aiming at throughput rather than confidentiality; transactions remain public.