Blockchain scalability remains a critical challenge in 2025, as demand for faster, cheaper, and more efficient decentralised applications (dApps) continues to surge.

Layer 1 networks alone can’t keep pace with this growth, highlighting the necessity of Layer 2 solutions.

Rollups have emerged as the leading Layer 2 innovation, compressing transactions off-chain while maintaining the robust security of Layer 1.

Today, Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) is transforming the landscape again, lowering barriers and enabling projects of all sizes to deploy their rollups quickly and securely.

In this blog, we’ll explore how rollups work, the different types available, their technical architecture, a comparison of popular rollup stacks, and key industry trends shaping the future of blockchain scalability.

Let’s get started.

What Are Rollups?

Rollups are Layer 2 solutions designed to solve blockchain’s scalability issues by moving most transaction processing off-chain.

Multiple transactions are bundled together and then submitted to Layer 1 in a single batch, accompanied by proofs or transaction data, depending on the rollup type.

This significantly reduces congestion and transaction costs while leveraging the secure and decentralised nature of Layer 1.

By bundling transactions off-chain and securing them on Layer 1, there are different rollup types that offer tailored solutions balancing scalability and security.

Different Types of Rollups

There are different types of rollups, each with its own approach to scaling and securing. Here are the two main categories of rollups powering blockchain scalability today:

Optimistic Rollups

Optimistic rollups assume transactions are valid by default and post complete transaction data to Layer 1. They incorporate fraud-proof mechanisms, allowing challenges during a specified window.

Advantages

• Easier to build on existing smart contract platforms like Ethereum’s EVM.
• Supports general-purpose smart contracts with high compatibility.
• Usually offers larger scalability gains compared to some alternatives.

Examples: Optimism, Arbitrum

Zero-Knowledge (zk) Rollups

Zk-rollups utilise cryptographic proofs (zk-SNARKs/zk-STARKs) to ensure transaction validity instantly, eliminating the need for challenge periods.

Advantages

• Near-instant finality and improved security guarantees.
• Typically lower data and gas costs on Layer 1.
• Strong privacy potential through advanced zk-proof techniques.

Examples: zkSync, StarkNet, Loopring

Grasping these distinctions in rollup types sets the stage to dive deeper into the technical architecture behind rollups, about how their components work together to deliver fast, secure, and efficient transaction processing.

Let’s see the architecture behind it.

Technical Architecture: Inside the Rollup Stack

To truly appreciate how rollups scale blockchain networks, it’s essential to understand their technical architecture and the building blocks that enable Layer 2 scaling.

Rollups function

Here are the core functions that make rollups effective:

• Batching transactions off-chain: Multiple user transactions are grouped into a single batch. This reduces the number of individual transactions that the main chain has to process.
  
• Processing transactions on Layer 2: Execution occurs outside Layer 1, in specialised environments optimised for speed and cost.
  
• Submitting proofs or data on-chain: Depending on the rollup type, cryptographic proofs or transaction data are posted back to the Layer 1 chain for validation, ensuring security and trustlessness.

This layered approach allows rollups to offload heavy computation and data storage, drastically improving throughput while leveraging Layer 1’s security.

Core Components of the Rollup Stack

Let’s break down the essential pieces that form the rollup architecture:

Execution Environments

These are where smart contracts and transactions run off-chain. Common execution environments include:

• EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine): The most widely used, offering compatibility with Ethereum smart contracts and tooling.
  
• WASM (WebAssembly): Gaining popularity for its flexibility and performance, especially in non-EVM chains.

Data Availability Layers

This component ensures that transaction data is accessible and verifiable by anyone. Popular options include:

• Ethereum Mainnet: The default Layer 1 provides secure data availability.
  
• Celestia: A modular blockchain focused solely on data availability and consensus, enabling specialised rollups to operate efficiently.
  
• EigenDA: A newer data availability layer optimised for high throughput and low latency, designed to complement rollups.

Network Infrastructure and User Interaction

A rollup’s infrastructure connects the technical backbone with real users. Here’s what makes smooth transactions and interaction possible:

• Sequencers: These are off-chain entities responsible for ordering and batching transactions before submitting them to Layer 1.
  
• Bridge: Bridges connect Layer 2 rollups with Layer 1 or other blockchains, enabling assets and data to move freely across chains.
  
• RPC Nodes and Explorers: RPC nodes provide interfaces for dApps and wallets to interact with Layer 2 rollups, while explorers allow users to track transactions and on-chain activity transparently.
  
• Wallets: User wallets are integrated to support Layer 2 transactions seamlessly, often abstracting complexity and reducing fees.

Rollup architecture influences how projects select rollup stacks, each optimising speed, security, and flexibility differently.

Knowing these differences helps compare and choose the best fit for your needs.

Comparing Leading Rollup Stacks

With the rise of Rollup-as-a-Service, choosing the right rollup stack has become critical.

Different rollup frameworks come with unique strengths, architectures, and deployment options tailored to varied use cases.

Here’s a comparative overview of some of the most prominent rollup stacks in the ecosystem today:

These comparisons emphasise the growing importance of modularity and customisation in rollup technology, helping projects build scalable and adaptable solutions.

With this foundation, it’s important to explore the key industry trends and insights driving the evolution and future of rollups.

Trends, Insights, and the Future of Rollups

Modular Blockchains Driving Scalability

One of the biggest breakthroughs Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) brings to blockchain scalability is modularity combined with deep customisation.

This flexibility empowers projects to build rollups perfectly tailored to their unique needs without reinventing the wheel every time.

Whether it’s the execution environment, data availability layer, or transaction sequencing, each part can be selected, upgraded, or replaced independently.

Advantages

• Faster development and deployment: Teams can pick pre-built modules optimised by experts, speeding up rollup launch timelines dramatically.
• Future-proof upgrades: Modular rollups can evolve seamlessly by swapping out components as technology advances, without a full rebuild.
• Interoperability: Modular designs make it easier to integrate with other blockchain infrastructure, Layer 1 networks, and third-party tools.

Growth of zk-Rollups and Privacy Applications

Zk-rollups are scaling rapidly by efficiently moving computation off-chain and posting compact proofs on-chain, enabling thousands of transactions per second while drastically lowering gas fees compared to Layer 1.

Their near-instant finality enhances user experience, driving strong adoption with networks like zkSync surpassing 1 million active users.

Interoperability and Universal Bridges

Universal bridges, such as Hop Protocol and LayerZero, are pioneering this space by enabling fast, secure, and cost-effective transfer of assets and data across disparate chains.

This interoperability reduces friction for users and developers, fostering a truly connected multi-chain environment.

These trends highlight how rollups are boosting scalability, privacy, and interoperability across blockchains.

As the technology matures, its real-world applications grow, leading us to explore the key use cases where rollups are making a difference.

Use Cases: Real-World Impact of Rollups

Finance

• Rollups, such as optimistic rollups, enable secure off-chain transaction processing, reducing latency & gas fees by up to 90% compared to Layer 1.
• Enhance encryption and real-time transaction monitoring to meet PCI-DSS and other financial regulations.
• Immutable audit trails provided by rollups support compliance and fraud detection; for example, JPMorgan’s Onyx platform uses Layer 2 tech for secure transaction settlement.

Cloud Computing

• Zero-trust models combined with rollup-based data verification reduce security breaches; Gartner reports zero-trust adoption is projected to grow 60% by 2025, with blockchain enhancing auditability.
• Rollups enable transparent, automated security audits by providing verifiable transaction data off-chain.

These examples show how rollups boost security and efficiency across industries. If you’re ready to launch your own rollup, here’s the essential toolkit to help you get started.

Resources, Tools, and Getting Started

Rollup deployment is streamlined by resources such as:

• Developer Frameworks: OP Stack, Arbitrum SDK, zkSync SDK
• Data Availability Layers: Celestia, EigenLayer
• Infrastructure Tools: RPC nodes, blockchain explorers

Utilising these resources simplifies rollup implementation, enabling quicker market entry.

Scaling the Future with Rollups

Rollups and Rollup-as-a-Service are rapidly becoming foundational for blockchain scalability, privacy, interoperability, and enterprise adoption.

As technology advances, modular and zk-rollups will lead the next generation of blockchain innovation, delivering unparalleled speed, security, and adaptability.

To learn how to build and deploy your own secure rollup, check out our comprehensive guide with practical insights and expert tips.