Polygon Labs will stop accepting contributions to its Edge framework (also known as Supernets) and shift its focus to expanding the Chain Development Kit (CDK).
Initially developed as an open source tool under the Apache License 2.0, Polygon Edge facilitated the creation of custom blockchain networks compatible with Ethereum. However, according to a statement, there has been a shift in the team’s development priorities over the past year.
Instead of continuing with Polygon Edge, the focus will now be on the Polygon CDK, a toolkit designed for the development of various Layer 2 ZK-Rollups – networks designed using zero-knowledge proofs that build on other blockchains. Chains using the CDK are expected to be interoperable within a broad network.
Polygon CDK over edge
Several projects, such as Immutable, OKX, Astar, Canto, Palm Network, Aavegotchi, IDEX, Nubank, and Manta Network, have expressed interest in or have plans to use the Polygon CDK to develop their Layer 2 networks.
“Polygon CDK-deployed chains will be interoperable within a broader web of ZK-powered L2s in the Polygon CDK ecosystem, creating a single, unified liquidity pool. These are features that Edge does not natively support and require migration with significant customization,” Polygon Labs said in a statement shared with The Block.
Polygon currently uses two primary scaling methods: a sidechain called Polygon PoS and a zero-knowledge rollup network, Polygon zkEVM.
A key development focus for Polygon Labs is the 2.0 upgrade, a multi-chain ecosystem enhanced with zero-knowledge capabilities. This ecosystem, powered by CDK, is scheduled for release in 2024 and aims to integrate Layer 2 chains based on ZK rollups and facilitate cross-chain communication.
