Coin Profiles

What Is Scroll? Ethereum ZK-Rollup L2

What Is Scroll? Ethereum ZK-Rollup L2 — concept overview

Last Updated: March 2026

Scroll is a zkEVM Layer 2 built to be as close to native Ethereum as possible. It aims for full EVM equivalence — meaning any Ethereum smart contract works on Scroll without modification, but with ZK-rollup security and lower costs.

History

Co-founded by Sandy Peng and Ye Zhang. Backed by Polychain, Sequoia, and Bain Capital Crypto. Mainnet launched in October 2023. SCR token airdropped in 2024. Scroll prioritizes decentralization and open-source development. See L2 guide and airdrop guide.

How Scroll Works

Scroll uses a zkEVM — a zero-knowledge proof system that’s bytecode-compatible with Ethereum’s EVM. This means developers deploy the exact same Solidity code. ZK proofs verify all transactions mathematically, posting proofs to Ethereum for security. See smart contracts and blockchain guide.

Scroll vs zkSync vs Other L2s

  • Scroll: Closest to native Ethereum EVM equivalence. Community-focused
  • zkSync: Modified EVM with account abstraction. Larger ecosystem. See zkSync guide
  • Arbitrum/Base: Optimistic rollups — simpler but 7-day withdrawal. See L2 guide

Tokenomics

SCR: 1B total supply. Distribution: Community airdrop + ecosystem incentives. See tokenomics.

Pros and Cons

  • Pro: Most Ethereum-equivalent zkEVM (easiest migration for developers)
  • Pro: Open-source and community-focused development
  • Pro: ZK proofs provide strong security
  • Con: Smaller ecosystem than Arbitrum, Base, and zkSync
  • Con: ZK proof generation adds latency
  • Con: Crowded L2 market with many competitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Scroll safe?

Scroll inherits security from its consensus mechanism. Smart contract risks exist on individual dApps, not the chain itself.

How do I use Scroll?

Add Scroll to your wallet (MetaMask for EVM chains), bridge or withdraw assets from an exchange, and interact with dApps.

Is Scroll a good investment?

Evaluate based on ecosystem growth, developer activity, and competitive positioning vs other chains. See our altcoin guide.

Related Articles

Related Articles