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id, name, image, section, projectStatus, category, tldr, tags
id name image section projectStatus category tldr tags
plasma-fold Plasma Fold pse active research Integrating folding schemes into plasma-based L2 solutions for efficient and scalable Ethereum transactions.
keywords themes types
plasma
folding schemes
Ethereum
scalability
L2
zero-knowledge proofs
scalability
L2 solutions
zk proofs
research
development

Plasma Fold

Reimagining Plasma with Folding Schemes

Plasma Fold is an experimental Layer 2 (L2) design that combines the original Plasma architecture with modern zero-knowledge folding schemes to dramatically scale Ethereum transaction throughput. By leveraging recent advances in Incremental Verifiable Computation (IVC) and folding-based proof systems, Plasma Fold achieves high-speed client-side proving while keeping on-chain data to a minimum.

Unlike traditional rollups that post extensive transaction data to L1, Plasma Fold operates using a minimal data availability model inspired by Intmax, where only essential metadata—like tree roots and signer indices—are recorded onchain. Validity is ensured through user-generated proofs, making this model far more efficient for resource-constrained environments.

Why Plasma Fold?

Most L2s today struggle to scale without relying on increasingly expensive data availability solutions (e.g., blobs). Plasma Fold offers a low-cost, RAM and proving-speed efficient, high-throughput alternative. Inspired by Vitalik Buterin's vision of a Plasma-EVM hybrid, Plasma Fold explores the use of folding schemes to support lightweight client-side proving—ideal for mobile or browser-based clients. In theory, this architecture could enable transaction rates in the range of 90k260k TPS, matching or exceeding centralized systems like VISA.

Key Innovations

  • Client-Side Proving with Folding Schemes: Users generate IVC proofs on their devices to attest to their own balances and transactions, minimizing trust and computation on the L1.
  • UTXO-Based Design with IVC: Transactions are modeled as UTXO trees, allowing users to maintain and prove their own balances incrementally across time.
  • Minimal Onchain Footprint: Only block roots, nullifier indices, and signer bitmaps are posted on L1—greatly reducing gas costs and data needs, using Intmax low onchain data model.
  • Instant Exits & Offline-Friendliness: Users can exit the system at any time using a locally stored proof. They do not need to stay online between blocks unless actively transacting.
  • Composable and Future-Proof: Designed to eventually support multiple assets, order books, and potentially even programmable features.

Status

  • Stage: Research and Prototyping
  • Target Output: A technical paper and reference implementation
  • Team Lead: Pierre Daix-Moreux
  • Collaborators: Chengru

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