ZKsync Protocol Upgrade v25: Quality of life improvements, and more.

[dutterbutter]

ZKsync Era is upgrading and has exciting news for builders and users!

Following our last upgrade (Protocol Version 24, VM version 1.5.0), which introduced the Bridgehub and the P256Verify precompile, we've focused on implementing key improvements and optimizations to enhance security, gas efficiency, and alignment with Ethereum best practices.

This effort has culminated in ZKsync’s first-ever ZKsync Improvement Proposal (ZIP)! 🎉

TL;DR;

• New protocol defences: This upgrade delivers multiple quality of life improvements to enhance the development experience and optimize network performance:
  • Custom Errors: String-based reverts have been replaced with custom errors, resulting in more efficient gas usage and better insights into reverts.
  • Stricter Solhint Rules: Enforced stricter solhint rules for improved code quality and consistency, including explicit visibility requirements, naming conventions, and function complexity limits.
  • Floating Compiler Versions: Introduced floating compiler versions for interfaces and libraries, enhancing compatibility across ecosystem projects without needing an exact version match.
  • Gas Optimizations: A range of gas-saving techniques have been implemented, including caching array lengths in loops, using unchecked arithmetic operations, and packing variables more efficiently.
  • Pubdata Charges: Chains can now charge more for pubdata in L2 → L1 logs to cover the overhead of interacting with L1, ensuring more accurate fee allocations.
• It may not seem like a big upgrade, but it’s still an important one: it makes ZKsync even safer and makes future development easier.

We will update this post when this upgrade is expected to start and it will be completed 24h after the start time when the new batches are finalized on L1.

⚠️ IMPORTANT:

• Mandatory update for External Nodes: All partners must update their Era nodes to v25.0.0 by the following deadlines:

  • Testnet: October 31, 10:00 UTC
  • Mainnet: November 10, 10:00 UTC
  • These dates are only relevant for ZKsync Era chain, dates for other ZK chains will be announced separately. Nonetheless, you can update your nodes for the non-Era ZK Chains in the same timelines

  Please note that the upgrades may happen later on these dates, but we guarantee they will not occur earlier.

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Relevant links:

• https://github.com/matter-labs/zksync-era/releases/tag/core-v25.0.0
• https://forum.zknation.io/t/draft-zip-protocol-defense/201
• [DO NOT MERGE]: Release v25 protocol defense matter-labs/era-contracts#774