Ethereum Rollup Scroll Now Lets Users Exit Independently, Becoming ‘First’ to Hit Decentralization Milestone

Scroll said Monday it has become the first Ethereum Layer 2 using zero-knowledge proofs to reach a critical development stage, allowing users to post transactions without relying on a central operator.

In a post to X, Scroll touted its advances in security, scalability, and decentralization after claiming the project had reached “Stage 1” in its development.

“While Scroll has always had a fully functional zk proof system, users previously had to trust the centralized sequencer to avoid censorship or downtime,” it said. “That’s no longer the case.”

Scroll used to require users to trust a central system to process their transactions without blocking or delays—now, even if that system fails or censors, transactions can still go through, according to the project.

Scroll’s Euclid upgrade, which users voted to approve earlier this month, keeps the system running even if the primary operator stops or tries to block user actions.

Rollups typically start at Stage 0 with full team control, move to Stage 1 where smart contracts take over but a safety council can step in, and reach Stage 2 when the system runs entirely on code with no central authority.

If the operator blocks a user or shuts down, the transaction can still be included and sent to Ethereum. This fixes a big problem for tools like Scroll.

They need to create proofs for each group of actions, but these proofs could only be so big. If a user sends a sizable action, it could end up disrupting the whole system.

Working with Axiom—a project that helps smart contracts verify past blockchain data—Scroll built a new tool called OpenVM, which breaks down large actions into smaller, provable pieces.

Instead of being at risk of failing, larger proofs could “just take longer to prove,” Scroll explained in its post.

To keep users safe, all system changes must be voted on and then wait three days before they apply. This gives users time to exit if they don’t like the changes.

The Euclid update establishes a 12-person safety team called the Security Council, which mandates strict rules.

At least nine members must agree to do anything, and at least seven of them must not work for Scroll. Only two council members from Scroll are permitted to sit on the council.

Despite the improvements, Scroll has had its fair share of problems. Launched in 2023, it went to market later than competitors like zkSync Era and Polygon zkEVM.

Still, Scroll says it’s now “looking forward” to Stage 2, which would limit what any one group can do in an emergency, even the Security Council.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair