Key takeaways
- Starknet uses Cairo; Solidity contracts cannot be deployed directly to its virtual machine.
- Validity proofs allow execution results to be verified on Ethereum.
- Programmable accounts let applications define how operations are authorized.
What is Starknet?
Starknet supports applications whose execution is verified through cryptographic proofs. It combines Ethereum scaling with a programming environment designed for provable computation. Cairo is the central tool for expressing that logic.
For a product team, selecting Starknet means adopting contracts, accounts and tooling specific to that environment. Changing the RPC address of an EVM application is insufficient. The project scope should cover authorization rules, contract dependencies and asset representation, along with the engineering skills needed to maintain these components after deployment.
How it works
Transactions execute on layer 2 and their results enter a proving process. Starknet’s contracts on Ethereum verify the conditions required to accept the new state. The Starknet operating system defines the execution rules that must be proven.
Accounts are contracts that validate and execute operations, allowing authorization designs beyond a single conventional signature. An integration must check those validations together with events, cross-layer messages and confirmation states. Each stage needs a corresponding product behaviour so users can understand what has actually completed.
An integration should test its chosen wallet, signature formats and any session permissions. Declaring a contract class is also distinct from creating an instance: retaining their identifiers connects source code, deployment and configuration.
What Starknet offers
Starknet can fit applications where programmable accounts or verifiable computation are part of the requirements. It is an alternative for teams prepared to invest in Cairo and maintain a dedicated test suite in that environment.
Selection also depends on compatible wallets, assets and infrastructure. Before expanding development, a representative operation should be implemented from end to end. The prototype reveals which parts of the existing backend can be reused and which need a network-specific integration, providing a more useful scope estimate than a language comparison alone.
An application with repeated actions can assess batching calls or delegating restricted permissions to reduce signature requests. The prototype must establish which contracts, functions and time limits the authorisation permits and how it is revoked. A better experience is useful only if users and operators can understand the scope and regain control after an incident.
Limitations and selection criteria
Moving from EVM to Cairo requires reviewing contract logic and assumptions as well as learning a different syntax. Validity proofs establish that execution follows specified rules; they do not establish that those rules meet the business requirements.
Bridges, sequencing and protocol upgrades also need assessment. If reusing Solidity contracts and integrations is the main priority, an EVM layer 2 may reduce the initial scope. The decision should follow specific capabilities and their maintenance costs throughout the product lifecycle, rather than the proving technology alone.
