ConsenSys Partners With StarkWare

Tom Carreras

Jun. 29, 2022

Zero-Knowledge rollups are being increasingly integrated into the Ethereum network.

Shutterstock cover by Quardia

Key Takeaways

ConsenSys and StarkWare have entered a partnership.
Infura and MetaMask are integrating StarkNet, allowing developers and users to build and explore the Layer 2 solution.
StarkNet is expected to help Ethereum reach a throughput of 100,000 transactions per second.

Software companies ConsenSys and StarkWare are now offering a StarkNet integration on both Infura and MetaMask.

“An Incredibly Significant Step Forward for StarkNet”

ConsenSys and StarWare are partnering up.

According to ConsenSys’ blog post, the two software companies are integrating StarkNet to Infura and MetaMask, a move which brings Zero-Knowledge rollup technology to two of the most fundamental pillars of Ethereum’s blockchain ecosystem.

MetaMask is a popular decentralized, non-custodial browser wallet for Ethereum; Infura is an infrastructure provider for blockchain developers. StarkNet is a decentralized Zero-Knowledge Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, meaning that it provides a side-chain for Ethereum protocols and users to operate upon while avoiding expensive gas fees (StarkWare believes fees will be 100 to 200 times cheaper).

The ConsenSys blog post indicates that the advantages of building with StarkNet on Infura include low fees, high security, fast finality, self-custody, and a positive user experience. The integration was called an “incredibly significant step forward for StarkNet” by StarkWare cofounder Eli Ben-Sasson.

Meanwhile, MetaMask is now connected to StarkNet through its MetaMask Snaps system, which allows developers, among other things, to link the wallet to otherwise incompatible non-EVM networks. The StarkNet snap enables MetaMask users to make transactions on StarkNet without having to create new accounts.

The blog noted that Infura is only making StarkNet available to a small group of users for the time being. The MetaMask integration on the other hand is completely open to developers.

It also warned users that StarkNet is still being tested and “may experience service interruptions.”

Major Ethereum protocols have already started expanding to StarkNet, including MakerDAO, which should finish integrating the Layer 2 solution by early 2023. Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has previously stated that StarkNet could help the network achieve 100,000 transactions per second.

Disclosure: At the time of writing, the author of this piece owned ETH and several other cryptocurrencies.

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