Data Availability and Decentralization: New Techniques for zk-Rollups in Layer 2 Blockchain Networks

The scalability limitations of public blockchains have hindered their widespread adoption in real-world applications. While the Ethereum community is pushing forward in zk-rollup (zero-knowledge rollup) solutions, such as introducing the “blob transaction” in EIP-4844, Layer 2 networks encounter a data availability problem: storing transactions completely off-chain poses a risk of data loss, particularly when Layer 2 nodes are untrusted. Additionally, building Layer 2 blocks requires significant computational power, compromising the decentralization aspect of Layer 2 networks. This paper introduces new techniques to address the data availability and decentralization challenges in Layer 2 networks. To ensure data availability, we introduce the concept of “proof of download”, which ensures that Layer 2 nodes cannot aggregate transactions without downloading historical data. Additionally, we design a “proof of storage” scheme that punishes nodes who maliciously delete historical data. For decentralization, we introduce a new role separation for Layer 2, allowing nodes with limited hardware to participate. To further avoid collusion among Layer 2 nodes, we design a “proof of luck” scheme, which also provides robust protection against maximal extractable value (MEV) attacks. Experimental results show our techniques not only ensure data availability but also improve overall network efficiency, which implies the practicality and potential of our techniques for real-world implementation.