According to Josh Neuroth, the Vice President of Product at Quicknode, Layer-2 (L2) scaling solutions known as zero-knowledge (ZK) rollups can potentially solve the most pressing issues in blockchain technology. Hence, the buzz around them is “well-founded.” He added that unlike the speculation-driven non-fungible token (NFT) frenzy, interest in ZK rollups is grounded in their technical merits and capacity to improve blockchain infrastructure.

ZK Rollups: A Foundational Technology

In his written responses sent to Bitcoin.com News, Neuroth asserts that because ZK rollups provide tangible benefits in the form of transaction throughput and data confidentiality, these L2 solutions are more of a foundational technology than a fleeting trend. Furthermore, as the technology behind these L2 solutions matures and more projects adopt them, the Web3 space will likely see lasting improvements in blockchain performance and user experience.

Meanwhile, Neuroth said he agreed with Bitcoin maximalist David Sorey’s suggestion that ZK rollups represent the missing piece for scaling and privacy within the Bitcoin network. He explained that ZK rollups ultimately “help Bitcoin overcome current limitations and compete with other blockchain networks offering advanced features.”

Regarding the long-awaited convergence between decentralized finance (defi) and traditional finance (tradfi), Neuroth emphasized the importance of releasing “more developer-friendly solutions” to bridge the gap in Web3. Furthermore, the Quicknode VP claimed that simplifying Web3 complexities and providing improved add-ons enhance the prospects of integrating defi and tradfi

In other responses shared with Bitcoin.com News, Neuroth highlighted Quicknode’s Rollup as a Service (RaaS) platform, which streamlines the deployment and scaling of blockchain rollups. Below are the rest of the Quicknode VP’s answers to the questions sent.

Bitcoin.com News (BCN): Last February, Bitcoin maximalist David Sorey stated his realization that the original chain needs to be transformed for it to succeed as a monetary revolution. He cited zero-knowledge (ZK) rollups as the missing piece for scaling and privacy that will allow Bitcoin to carry its users over the finish line. Do you agree with Sorey that the Bitcoin network needs ZK rollups to succeed as a monetary revolution?

Josh Neuroth (JN): David Sorey’s perspective is insightful, and I agree that ZK rollups can play a significant role in the evolution of Bitcoin. ZK rollups provide a solution for scalability and privacy, addressing two critical challenges for Bitcoin’s broader adoption as a global monetary system. By enabling more efficient transactions and enhanced privacy, ZK rollups can help Bitcoin overcome current limitations and compete with other blockchain networks offering advanced features.

BCN: There’s an ongoing, heated debate about ZK rollups, with many industry participants comparing it to the NFT frenzy of 2020-2021 that has since cooled. From an individual perspective, what are your thoughts on the current ZK rollup hype sweeping the blockchain space?

JN: The buzz around ZK rollups is well-founded, given their potential to solve some of the most pressing issues in blockchain technology, namely scalability and privacy. Unlike the NFT frenzy, which was primarily driven by market speculation, the interest in ZK rollups is grounded in their technical merits and their capacity to improve blockchain infrastructure. ZK rollups offer real, tangible benefits for transaction throughput and data confidentiality, making them a foundational technology rather than a fleeting trend. I believe that as the technology matures and more projects adopt ZK rollups, we’ll see lasting improvements in blockchain performance and user experience.

BCN: Your platform Quicknode is actively involved in implementing ZK rollups and supporting a wide range of blockchain protocols. Can you tell our readers exactly the role that Quicknode is playing, citing examples of some ways it has provided support in the industry, and in what ways the firm is rendering the support?

JN: At QuickNode, our mission is to provide the most robust and scalable infrastructure for blockchain projects. We support ZK rollups by offering the best-in-class RPC access, node hosting, and API services that developers need to implement this technology efficiently. For instance, our platform ensures high transaction volumes and maintains privacy standards through reliable data indexing. Additionally, QuickNode offers essential tools like faucet services and marketplace add-on support, which are crucial for developers building on ZKRollup-enabled networks. By simplifying these technical aspects, we enable projects to focus on innovation and enhance the overall user experience.

BCN: The blockchain industry is making a conscious effort to bridge decentralized finance (defi) with traditional finance (tradfi). Achieving that would undeniably improve the adoption of blockchain technology and other associated solutions. In your opinion, what technical challenges hinder the convergence of defi and tradfi?

JN: Bridging DeFi and TradFi presents several technical challenges. At QuickNode, we believe that creating more developer-friendly solutions can significantly address these hurdles. Robust and secure APIs are essential for interoperability between blockchain networks and traditional financial systems. Additionally, achieving high transaction throughput and low latency is critical for financial transactions, posing scalability issues that the current blockchain infrastructure continuously strives to overcome.

Moreover, integrating DeFi with TradFi requires simplifying the complexities of Web3, offering better add-ons, enhanced developer support, and abstracting the underlying technical complications. Focusing on these areas can make the integration smoother and more accessible for developers and users.

BCN: Can briefly tell our readers about Quicknode’s RaaS platform and how it simplifies the development process?

JN: QuickNode’s Rollup as a Service (RaaS) platform is designed to simplify the deployment and scaling of blockchain rollups. Our RaaS product provides developers with essential tools such as top-tier RPC access, sequencer support, faucet services, and marketplace add-ons. These tools eliminate the need for extensive infrastructure management, allowing developers to focus on building their applications. Our platform handles the complexity of setting up and maintaining nodes, significantly reducing development time and costs. By offering these comprehensive services, QuickNode enables developers to streamline their workflow and accelerate their project timelines.

Our RaaS platform is perfect for both enterprise customers and smaller development teams. For enterprise customers, the ability to quickly deploy and scale blockchain rollups without worrying about infrastructure management is invaluable. They can leverage our robust infrastructure to ensure high performance and reliability, allowing them to focus on their core business operations and innovations. Our platform provides the scalability needed to handle large-scale applications, making it ideal for enterprises aiming to deploy complex and high-traffic blockchain solutions.

For smaller development teams, QuickNode offers an accessible and cost-effective solution to build and test their applications in a testnet environment. Our user-friendly interface and comprehensive support make it easy for teams to set up and manage their rollups, even with limited resources. The availability of essential tools like faucet services and marketplace add-ons ensures that smaller teams have everything they need to develop, test, and refine their applications without the overhead of managing infrastructure.

This enables them to innovate rapidly and bring their ideas to life with minimal barriers to entry. By catering to both ends of the spectrum—enterprise customers and smaller development teams—QuickNode’s RaaS platform ensures that all developers have the resources and support they need to succeed in the dynamic and evolving blockchain landscape.