Canto is Moving from Cosmos to Polygon

Canto, a blockchain platform tailored for decentralized financial applications, is gearing up for a significant protocol transformation

Canto's DeFi Evolution: Zero-Knowledge Transition

The group behind this alternative Layer-1 network is set to embark on a shift towards a zero-knowledge Layer-2 solution integrated with the Ethereum ecosystem, facilitated by the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK).The Polygon CDK represents a versatile codebase explicitly designed for developers seeking to launch their own Layer-2 chains powered by zero-knowledge technology. Developers looking to participate in the Polygon CDK ecosystem will automatically gain access to a shared liquidity pool through a zero-knowledge bridge and an interoperability layer.

Notably, the Canto team highlights that if participants within Canto Commons, the project's governance forum, can reach a consensus, the network stands to leverage the liquidity within the broader Polygon ecosystem and acquire security features from Ethereum. This strategic shift aims to replace the previous reliance on fraud proofs and economic incentives.

Elevating DeFi and Blockchain Through Innovation

The value of Canto's interoperability layer is underscored by Blockworks research analyst Dan Smith. He explains, "Chains that share the same prover and bridge contract can mutually establish trust, facilitating rapid asset transfers without introducing additional trust assumptions. These ecosystems, equipped with enhanced bridging capabilities, effectively enhance the scalability of Ethereum, reducing users' exposure to additional risks associated with third-party bridging solutions."

In practice, Canto will employ Plonky2 to construct its zero-knowledge proofs while retaining its existing proof-of-stake validator set, as detailed in a statement by the development team. The team also assures that validators and stakers within the Canto network will remain unaffected.It's worth noting that the Polygon CDK has found applications beyond Canto. Immutable, a Web3 gaming developer, has been actively experimenting with this technology. Ignatius Widjaja, Product Lead and Principal Blockchain Engineer at Immutable, expresses enthusiasm for incorporating a Type 1 validity prover into their Immutable zkEVM network. He commends Polygon's ongoing enhancements across various core components, spanning the sequencer, prover, and off-chain data availability layer solution, all contributing to the creation of superior modular components.Concluding, Canto's strategic move toward adopting a zero-knowledge Layer-2 solution via the Polygon CDK exemplifies the ever-evolving landscape of the blockchain ecosystem, with an emphasis on heightened security, interoperability, and scalability. This transition has the potential to significantly impact the future of decentralized finance and blockchain applications.