Polygon Labs Shifts Development Focus from Edge to CDK for Layer 2 ZK-Rollups

• Polygon Labs has officially announced the cessation of contributions to its Edge framework, previously known as Supernets.
• The decision is part of a strategic pivot by Polygon Labs, indicating a shift in development priorities over the past year.
• The spotlight now shifts to the Chain Development Kit (CDK), signaling a move away from Edge.

Polygon Labs has announced the discontinuation of contributions to its Edge framework, also known as Supernets.

The decision is part of a significant pivot in the development priorities of the Polygon team, redirecting their attention to the expansion of the Chain Development Kit (CDK).

Polygon Edge, initially conceived as an open-source tool under the Apache License 2.0, served the purpose of creating custom blockchain networks compatible with Ethereum. However, recent developments indicate a shift in the team’s focus over the past year.

Polygon CDK Takes Center Stage

The spotlight now turns to the Polygon CDK, a toolkit specifically crafted for the development of Layer 2 ZK-Rollups. These networks, built using zero-knowledge proofs, are designed to be interoperable within a broad network.

The decision to prioritize CDK over Edge aligns with Polygon’s vision for a unified ecosystem of ZK-powered Layer 2 solutions.

Several noteworthy projects, including Immutable, OKX, Astar, Canto, Palm Network, Aavegotchi, IDEX, Nubank, and Manta Network, have expressed interest in leveraging the Polygon CDK for the development of their Layer 2 networks.

Polygon Labs clarified that CDK-deployed chains would seamlessly integrate within the broader web of ZK-powered Layer 2s in the Polygon CDK ecosystem, creating a unified pool of liquidity. These features, Polygon notes, are not natively supported by Edge and necessitate migration with substantial modifications.

Currently, Polygon employs two primary scaling methods: Polygon PoS, a sidechain, and Polygon zkEVM, a zero-knowledge rollup network. The 2.0 upgrade, a key focus for Polygon Labs slated for release in 2024, aims to establish an ecosystem of multiple chains enhanced with zero-knowledge capabilities.