This repository hosts internal research conducted by the =nil; Foundation on the design and implementation of the zkSharding protocol—an architecture tailored for multi-chain systems applied to Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) scaling.
🔗 Implementation repo: NilFoundation/nil
This collection includes technical documents grouped by topic, each exploring different aspects of zkSharding and multi-chain L2 systems. These materials were originally created for internal purposes.
We are sharing this research publicly as a contribution to the Ethereum and zkRollup community—supporting learning, debate, and further innovation in the field of decentralized scalability.
Note: This repository does not represent the full extent of our internal research. It is a curated subset selected for public release.
- These materials were developed for internal research and may not be perfectly adapted for outside readers.
- We do not guarantee the correctness, completeness, or security of the research presented.
- Use of these materials in production systems is strongly discouraged without independent review and validation.
- Some links may be broken—we apologize in advance.
The repository is organized into topic-based directories:
Technical blog posts summarizing and communicating our research to a broader audience.
Research on the economic design of zkSharding-based L2s, including incentive models, cost structures, and game theory.
Mechanisms for L2-to-L1 interaction (DA, zkProofs, etc.)
Research on the complexity and coordination challenges of systems made up of multiple blockchains.
Discussions and models around the "native rollup" paradigm and its intersection with zkSharding.
Documents that were target to public presentation.
Foundational research on the architecture, constraints, and mechanisms behind the zkSharding L2 rollup system.
Slides from different public events.
Each document includes the name of its author(s) for attribution and potential follow-up.
We hope this research is useful as a public good. Please feel free to cite, critique, or build upon it as part of your own exploration of zkRollups and Ethereum scaling.