The scalability problems with the Ethereum community aren’t any secret, they usually have persevered over the previous few years. This, together with the rising demand for Ethereum-based decentralized functions (dapps), clearly highlights the necessity for scalable and cost-efficient options. Polygon – a outstanding Ethereum scaling resolution – supplies two distinct approaches to deal with the related challenges: Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM. However what are these two options? And what units them aside? For the solutions to those two questions, be a part of us on this article as we examine and discover the variations between Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM!
Overview
In right now’s article, we’ll kick issues off by exploring the intricacies of each Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM. From there, we’ll examine Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM to focus on the principle similarities and variations between these two scaling options. In doing so, we’ll study their architectures, consensus mechanisms, knowledge availability, and so forth. We’ll additionally discover some outstanding use instances for Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM, respectively. Lastly, to prime issues off, we’ll introduce you to Moralis’ Web3 API suite – the final word instrument for constructing Polygon-compatible dapps!
In Moralis’ suite of industry-leading APIs, you’ll discover instruments resembling our free NFT API, the most effective API for crypto costs, and plenty of others. With these APIs, you’ll be able to effortlessly leverage the scalability capabilities of the Polygon ecosystem and construct dapps quicker and smarter.

If that is your ambition, then join with Moralis instantly. You may create an account without cost, and also you’ll acquire rapid entry to all our industry-leading instruments in a heartbeat!
Nonetheless, with out additional delay, let’s kick issues off by exploring the ins and outs of Polygon PoS!
What’s Polygon PoS?
Polygon proof-of-stake (PoS) initially launched as Matic Community in 2017, and it’s a layer-2 (L2) scaling resolution for the Ethereum blockchain. Moreover, this community leverages a PoS consensus mechanism and a “Plasma” framework to create a sidechain working parallel to the Ethereum mainnet. In doing so, Polygon PoS can deal with the scalability problems with the Ethereum community, decreasing transaction charges and growing throughput considerably!

Polygon PoS is among the most well-established protocols inside the Web3 house. The community hosts hundreds and hundreds of decentralized functions (dapps), processes a median of greater than three million day by day transactions, and {industry} leaders are constructing on the chain.
So, what are among the key advantages of constructing on Polygon PoS?
Low Value: Polygon PoS is ready to supply a lot decrease transaction charges in comparison with the Ethereum mainnet, with the common price per transaction being roughly $0.015.Group Help: The community incorporates a extremely lively and engaged neighborhood of builders. What’s extra, Polygon PoS provides 24/7 growth assist. EVM Suitable: Polygon PoS is EVM-compatible, that means you’ll be able to effortlessly deploy dapps from Ethereum to the community and leverage developer instruments you’re aware of when constructing initiatives, together with MetaMask, Truffle, and so forth. Nicely-Established: Polygon PoS is trusted by among the most important manufacturers in Web2 and Web3. Furthermore, with an already-established person base, onboarding new customers to your initiatives is straightforward.
What’s Polygon zkEVM?
Polygon zkEVM is – very similar to Polygon PoS – additionally a decentralized Ethereum L2 scaling resolution. This L2 scaling resolution leverages cryptographic zero-knowledge (zk) proofs to supply validity and quick finality to off-chain transaction computations – a way also called zk-rollup!

Zk-rollups can execute good contracts transparently by publishing zero-knowledge validity proofs, all whereas sustaining opcode compatibility with EVM. Because of this, Polygon zkEVM is totally equal to EVM, that means that the overwhelming majority of current Ethereum instruments, good contracts, and wallets work seamlessly with the community.
Listed here are among the most important advantages of Polygon zkEVM:
Low Value: Polygon zkEVM leverages zero-knowledge proofs to reduce transaction prices. This ends in decrease complete utilization prices for the top customers, offering a extra compelling person expertise. Excessive Efficiency: Polygon zkEVM options quick community finality by way of frequent validity proofs. Furthermore, with excessive efficiency, you’ll be able to create many several types of dapps for a wide range of use instances. EVM Equivalence: With full EVM equivalence, you should utilize any EVM good contracts, wallets, and growth instruments straight on Polygon zkEVM. Because of this, most current Ethereum dapps work seamlessly on the community. Safety: Expertise the safety of Ethereum along with the scalability capabilities of an L2 resolution when working with Polygon zkEVM.
Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM
Now, with an outline of each Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM, let’s discover some key variations between these two L2 options. In doing so, we’ll examine their respective consensus mechanisms, architectures, safety, knowledge availability, and extra.
For a fast overview, right here’s a desk summarizing the important thing similarities and variations between Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM:
Nonetheless, with out additional ado, let’s begin our Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM comparability by carefully analyzing their respective structure!
Structure
Polygon PoS makes use of a Plasma framework and features as a PoS sidechain working parallel to the Ethereum blockchain. Consequently, it supplies a separate community that will increase bandwidth for transactions, decreasing charges and growing throughput in comparison with Ethereum.

Polygon zkEVM leverages a zk-rollup structure that makes use of zero-knowledge proofs to offer an L2 resolution working on prime of the Ethereum community. The zk-rollup know-how permits advanced computations to happen off-chain whereas cryptographic proofs are generated and submitted on-chain.
Consensus Mechanism
Polygon PoS makes use of a PoS consensus mechanism and depends on a set of validators to verify and validate transactions on the sidechain. Additionally, the community options round 100 validators who must stake MATIC tokens to turn out to be eligible to take part. What’s extra, block producers are chosen based mostly on the dimensions of their staked quantity.
Polygon zkEVM, then again, leverages a consensus contract supporting the permissionless participation of a number of coordinators – together with sequencers and aggregators – to supply and validate off-chain transactions in batches which might be later submitted on-chain. Furthermore, staking or particular roles will not be required to take part on this system.
Sensible Contract Compatibility
Polygon PoS provides EVM compatibility, that means you’ll be able to deploy and execute Ethereum good contracts on the sidechain. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that EVM compatibility additionally implies that there could also be some slight variations within the execution setting between the sidechain and the Ethereum mainnet. Consequently, on events when coping with low-level code or advanced dapps, you would possibly must make sure alterations to your good contracts when porting them from Ethereum to Polygon PoS.

However, Polygon zkEVM focuses on reaching EVM equivalence, which suggests an excellent larger degree of compatibility with the Ethereum community. Because of this, Polygon zkEVM lets you deploy and run current Ethereum good contracts on the community seamlessly with none modifications.
All in all, the important distinction is that Polygon zkEVM goals to duplicate the Ethereum execution setting totally, whereas Polygon PoS focuses on providing compatibility with Ethereum good contracts. As such, Polygon zkEVM lets you preserve the identical workflow on the L2 resolution as you’d on the Ethereum mainnet.
Safety
Polygon PoS extremely is dependent upon its validators to safe the sidechain, and it operates independently from the Ethereum mainnet. However, Polygon zkEVM is secured by Ethereum as validity proofs are revealed on-chain, making certain that each one off-chain computations are appropriate and safe.
Knowledge Availability
On Polygon PoS, the state and all transaction knowledge can be found straight on the sidechain. This permits for quick knowledge retrieval and cross-referencing; nevertheless, it comes at a value of additional storage.
Polygon zkEVM incorporates a hybrid resolution providing two choices for knowledge availability:
Validium: Knowledge is saved off-chain, the place solely proofs are saved on the Ethereum mainnet. This technique provides improved storage effectivity.Volition: This can be a hybrid choice the place essential knowledge can optionally be saved on-chain whereas the remainder stays off-chain. This supplies a steadiness between storage effectivity and quick entry.
Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM Use Instances
Each Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM have their very own set of advantages and benefits. And since they’ve totally different capabilities, they’re considerably fitted to totally different use instances. So, let’s take this part to take a look at some outstanding use instances for Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM, respectively!

Polygon PoS options excessive throughput and intensely low charges. Consequently, this makes Polygon PoS the right setting for dapps required to deal with excessive transaction volumes. Some examples embrace Web3 video games, social media dapps, buying and selling platforms, and so forth.
Polygon zkEVM options excessive safety, which the L2 resolution leverages from the Ethereum mainnet. This makes this community best to be used instances like yield farming, high-value DeFi functions, and so forth., the place safety is prioritized over low transaction charges.
With that mentioned, regardless of some slight variations between them, each Polygon PoS and Polygon zkEVM nonetheless supply low charges and excessive safety. Consequently, nothing stops you from constructing excessive transaction quantity dapps on Polygon zkEVM and safe platforms on Polygon PoS.
So, how do you construct initiatives for the Polygon ecosystem?
If you’d like the reply to this question, be a part of us within the subsequent part as we introduce you to Moralis’ Web3 APIs – the final word instruments for constructing Polygon dapps!
Construct Seamlessly on Polygon with Moralis
Moralis is an industry-leading Web3 API supplier, and our enterprise-grade interfaces make Web3 growth as seamless as Web2. Consequently, when working with Moralis, you’ll be able to effortlessly construct on Polygon each quicker and smarter!

In our suite of premier APIs, you’ll discover a number of interfaces for varied use instances. Moreover, all of them assist all main blockchain networks, together with Polygon, Ethereum, BNB Sensible Chain, Arbitrum, and so forth. Therefore, it doesn’t matter when you’re trying to construct an NFT market or a Web3 pockets; we’ve received you lined!
To present you just a few examples, listed here are a few of our most outstanding APIs:
NFT API: Moralis’ NFT API is the {industry}’s premier interface for NFT knowledge. The interface helps greater than three million NFT collections and tokens throughout all main EVM chains, together with Polygon. With single traces of code, you will get all the things from real-time NFT transactions to enriched metadata. Pockets API: The Pockets API is the final word instrument when you’re trying to construct a Web3 pockets or combine pockets performance into your dapps. Additionally, this instrument helps 500+ million wallets and boasts an array of options, unparalleled scalability, and excessive flexibility. Streams API: Moralis’ Streams API is the final word instrument for robotically getting notified about real-time Web3 occasions. With this premier interface, you’ll be able to effortlessly arrange streams to get real-time, customizable updates despatched instantly to your venture’s backend through Web3 webhooks at any time when one thing essential happens on-chain.
Nevertheless, the APIs above are only some examples of outstanding Moralis interfaces. If you wish to discover all of them, take a look at our Web3 API web page!
Additionally, do you know you’ll be able to entry all of our APIs without cost? Merely join with Moralis, and also you’ll be capable of leverage the total energy of blockchain know-how in a heartbeat!
Abstract: Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM
In right now’s article, we in contrast Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM to focus on the similarities and variations between the 2. In doing so, we examined their architectures, consensus mechanisms, knowledge availability, and so forth. You’ll discover a temporary abstract of the comparability within the desk under:
In case you favored this Polygon PoS vs Polygon zkEVM tutorial, take into account studying extra content material right here on Moralis. As an example, take a look at our crypto pockets historical past API information, discover ways to construct a real-time pockets tracker, or discover the highest block explorer API! Additionally, if you wish to construct Polygon initiatives your self, don’t overlook to enroll with Moralis. You may register totally without cost, and also you’ll acquire rapid entry to all our industry-leading APIs!