In 2018, five founders united in a small office in Vietnam to create Axie Infinity. They envisioned blockchain games that offered true ownership to players, igniting the start of a new trend. Years later, the launch of Ronin, a blockchain optimized for gaming, enabled Axie Infinity to achieve worldwide success.

Last year, Ronin's upgrade to Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) paved the way for the next generation of web3 games to deploy on the platform. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter with the scaling of Ronin using zkEVM technology.

Ronin Logo

Introducing zkEVM on Ronin

With 1.5 million daily active users (DAU), Ronin stands as one of the largest gaming blockchains globally. This achievement stems from a dedicated focus on onboarding real users, real gamers - real people. The next step in this journey builds on Ronin's core values and leverages the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK) to advance its mission.

In the future, game developers will have the capability to launch their own Layer 2 blockchains on top of the Ronin mainnet. These new Ronin chains will utilize zero-knowledge proofs, facilitating the inclusion of more games, attracting more players, and promoting greater economic freedom.

The integration of zkEVM will align incentives between Ronin Layer 2 chains and the Ronin mainnet. Developers will need to meet the 250,000 RON requirement to operate a Ronin validator before launching their chain. This economic activity on the Layer 2 chains can increase staking rewards for delegators. Shared security and shared rewards will ensure that Ronin's scalability, security, and decentralization improve concurrently.

Ronin Introduces zkEVM to Enhance Web3 Gaming

What is zkEVM?

zkEVM, or Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine, allows a blockchain to process more transactions efficiently without revealing transaction data.

Understanding zkEVM with a Story

Imagine James has a map showing the location of hidden treasure, but his friends doubt its authenticity. James wants to borrow a magic sword from a wizard, who grants the sword only to those proven worthy. Typically, the wizard would make James undergo tests, like slaying a dragon or rescuing a kitten, to prove his worthiness. These tasks take time.

Zero-knowledge proofs (zk-proofs) let the wizard confirm James’s worthiness without making him complete these time-consuming tasks. This allows the wizard to make faster decisions, saving James effort.

zkEVM in the Context of Blockchain

In blockchain, validators are like wizards, responsible for confirming transaction worthiness. zk-proofs enable them to make confirmations faster by processing less information. Less information means less blockspace, allowing validators to handle more transactions in less time and reducing transaction fees for users without exposing much data.

zkEVM Explained

Ronin and zkEVM

Currently, Ronin can manage up to 40 million transactions per day. To scale this to 400 million or even 4 billion transactions, zkEVM is the solution. Picture the Ronin mainnet as it is today, then imagine an infinite web of chains on top. This is how zkEVMs will scale Ronin.

zkEVM increases the variety of games that can be supported on Ronin. While Ronin already supports existing games with low gas costs, the platform's exponential growth requires advanced scalability solutions. Certain games, like fully on-chain games, have unique needs and might want to execute most game actions on-chain. Previously, such games could clog Ronin with transactions, making it challenging to support them.

G3 Examples of Fully On-Chain Games

The Components of zkEVM

The term zkEVM combines two concepts: zero-knowledge proofs and Ethereum Virtual Machines (EVMs). Zero-knowledge proofs are a method to verify blockchain transactions' validity without revealing details. Ethereum Virtual Machines are blockchains using Ethereum's existing infrastructure.

As zkEVM technology is integrated, Ronin’s capacity for handling transactions will multiply, enabling more games and users to benefit from its efficient and secure infrastructure. This advancement will maintain low gas costs and ensure that Ronin remains at the forefront of blockchain gaming scalability.

Zero Knowledge Proofs Explained

What Does This Mean for the Ronin Movement?

If all goes according to plan, the first zkEVM chains are expected to launch in Q1 2025. At that time, developers will have the opportunity to create their own blockchains on top of Ronin. This could lead to the emergence of game-specific chains, such as a Pixels chain, an Apeiron chain, or a Ragnarok chain.

These dedicated chains will provide developers with robust tools to create ownership-driven experiences within their gaming ecosystems. More chains will mean more games, but it also introduces new responsibilities for users.

Ronin Ecosystem

Currently, Ronin hosts a limited number of live games. However, within a year, the growth of Ronin Forge and the implementation of zkEVMs are expected to attract more developers to the ecosystem. These developers will have the capability to design games, decentralized applications (dApps), tokens, and entire ecosystems.

Users will be able to transfer, swap tokens, and trade NFTs across these various chains. However, it is crucial for users to conduct thorough research and accept full responsibility for their on-chain activities. To assist users, an L2 Innovation Zone will be introduced to identify projects with higher risk profiles. Nevertheless, users will remain entirely responsible for their interactions and transactions within the ecosystem.

Ronin Forge Program

Core Benefits of zkEVM

Scalability: zkEVM enables infinite blockspace by enabling economically aligned layer 2 chains to be deployed on top of Ronin.

User experience: Seamless cross-chain experience that allows users to seamlessly tap into applications like Mavis Market and Katana from a zkEVM chain.

Economic Alignment: Potentially higher staking rewards since the L2 sequencer fees go to the validator running the L2 chain. Starting a zkEVM chain requires 250000 RON, potentially increasing demand and utility for RON.

More games: Allows onboarding of game teams with technical needs that require them to run their own distinct chain. Permissionless deployment. Anyone will be able to deploy their games to Ronin, allowing for more competition and faster onboarding.

Ronin developers are enthusiastic about collaborating with the community to explore innovations. For instance, there's anticipation around refining Polygon’s AggLayer, which combines modular and monolithic approaches to blockchain scaling.

Core Benefits of zkEVM

Founders’ Perspective on Ronin’s Evolution

Since its inception, Ronin has strategically partnered with a select group of games poised for success. This focused approach was pivotal in achieving milestones like launching the first two web3 games to exceed 1 million Daily Active Users (DAU). As Ronin looks ahead, the focus shifts towards streamlining the process for rapid game onboarding without unnecessary constraints.

Blockchain technology holds promise for democratizing economic freedom across the internet, a core tenet of crypto’s original promise. However, the industry has historically favored technical innovation over effective distribution and user adoption strategies.

Ronin stands out by successfully integrating millions of mainstream users through gaming. Today, over 17 million gamers hold crypto wallets, many engaging in decentralized finance (DeFi) and conducting their first crypto transactions on Ronin.

Ronin Analytics

The success of Ronin’s strategy is evident: Initially developed for a single game - Axie Infinity - Ronin cultivated a strong community foundation that propelled its expansion into broader markets. This approach echoes the early strategies of industry giants like Amazon and Apple, which focused on building core products before expanding their offerings.

With the introduction of zkEVM technology, Ronin aims to evolve from supporting a few high-quality games to becoming a cornerstone of the entire web3 gaming ecosystem. This advancement opens doors for every significant web3 game to find a home on Ronin, supported by scalable and efficient infrastructure.

Ronin The Blockchain for Gamers

While these technological advancements are exciting, Ronin emphasizes that in web3, community engagement remains paramount. Technology’s true power lies in its adoption and meaningful use by people.

Trung Nguyen, CEO of Sky Mavis, commented: “With the support of Polygon's best-in-class zk tech stack, this collaboration between our two ecosystems will usher in a new era of Web3 gaming. Our ultimate vision is to become the platform where the next billion people will create their first crypto wallet, and we believe that more games will be the gateway to achieving this milestone.” 

Final Thoughts

Ronin has integrated zkEVM and the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK) into its arsenal. However, there remains a journey ahead before gamers can fully experience the benefits of these innovations. Therefore, Ronin remains committed to strengthening its community and enhancing distribution as pivotal factors.

Exciting developments are on the horizon, including upcoming game releases and the recent launch of Ronin Forge. zkEVM represents just the initial phase of Ronin's evolution towards greater scalability and permissionless capabilities. As Ronin continues to ascend, the focus remains on driving forward.