Key takeaways
- Era is a specific network within the broader ZKsync ecosystem.
- Language compatibility does not remove execution and deployment differences.
- Paymasters let applications define who pays transaction fees and under which conditions.
What is zkSync Era?
zkSync Era moves application execution to layer 2 and uses proofs to verify results on Ethereum. The network belongs to a broader family of ZKsync technologies, so a specification must identify the actual target environment.
That choice affects compilers, deployments and contract dependencies. A Solidity project may retain some of its logic, but must check how it behaves on Era before assuming that every Ethereum pattern transfers unchanged. Naming the network and execution environment is therefore an engineering requirement, not merely a branding detail.
How it works
The network groups operations and produces validity proofs for the resulting state. Contracts can integrate with clients and wallets from the Ethereum ecosystem, while some capabilities depend on the chosen execution environment.
Account abstraction provides programmable authorization rules. Paymasters allow a third party to cover fees under conditions set by the application. That flexibility requires limits on eligible operations and spending, together with an abuse response. Fee payment becomes part of the product’s security design and needs testing alongside the contract’s main business logic.
Contract portability is checked against the actual compiler toolchain and target. Tests should cover contract creation, calls between components and external libraries as well as the ABI. Retaining artifacts and compiler options helps reproduce differences when the same source is maintained on Ethereum and Era.
What zkSync Era offers
Era can fit products looking to scale on Ethereum and improve onboarding through programmable accounts. It is particularly relevant when signing friction or obtaining a gas token interferes with the core user experience.
Our selection process starts with a complete operation, covering authorization, sponsorship, execution and result retrieval. We also check assets and services available on that specific network. Maintaining a paymaster and controlling its budget add operational work that belongs in the comparison with other networks, rather than being treated as a free feature.
Paymasters support fee sponsorship designs. During onboarding, for example, a product can cover the cost of selected actions. This requires funding, eligibility rules and protection against abusive requests; the network is not executing for free. The interface also needs a clear path when sponsorship funds run out or the wallet does not support the selected mode.
Limitations and selection criteria
Using Solidity does not make all ZKsync environments identical or guarantee compatibility with every existing contract. Compilation, contract calls, deployments and libraries that rely on execution details need review against the documentation for the chosen environment.
Validity proofs do not remove bridge risks or application defects either. Other EVM networks may offer a more direct path when minimizing changes to an existing integration is the priority. Where programmable accounts provide a concrete benefit, that benefit should be assessed against the additional operational complexity they introduce.
Also known as
- ZKsync Era
