What is StarkNet?
StarkNet is a permissionless, general-purpose ZK-rollup for Ethereum, developed by StarkWare Industries. Unlike most L2s that run EVM-compatible code, StarkNet uses its own programming language called Cairo — specifically designed for writing provable programs optimized for zero-knowledge proofs.
StarkNet launched on Ethereum mainnet in November 2023 and is one of the leading ZK-rollup ecosystems.
Cairo: Not EVM
The biggest differentiator of StarkNet is that it doesn’t run Solidity. Instead, it uses Cairo, a Rust-like language designed for STARK proofs:
| Aspect | Cairo (StarkNet) | Solidity (EVM) |
|---|---|---|
| Paradigm | Rust-like | JavaScript-like |
| Proof optimization | Built for STARK proving | Requires translation layer |
| Performance | Very high compute throughput | Moderate |
| Developer onboarding | Steeper learning curve | Large existing talent pool |
| EVM compat | No (requires transpilation) | Native |
Cairo’s advantage: Programs written natively in Cairo are inherently more efficient to prove with ZK technology. EVM-compatible ZK-rollups must translate EVM operations into a provable format, adding overhead.
Cairo’s disadvantage: Most Web3 developers know Solidity. Convincing them to learn a new language is a significant adoption barrier.
How StarkNet Works
Users submit transactions to StarkNet ↓ Sequencer orders + executes transactions (in Cairo VM) ↓ Prover generates a STARK proof (validity proof) ↓ STARK proof compressed to SNARK (cheaper to verify on L1) ↓ Proof verified on Ethereum L1 → state finalized
StarkNet uses STARKs (Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge), which don’t require a trusted setup — unlike SNARKs. This is a security advantage.
StarkNet vs Other ZK-Rollups
| Feature | StarkNet | zkSync Era | Polygon zkEVM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Cairo | Solidity (Type 2) | Solidity (Type 3) |
| Proof system | STARK → SNARK | Boojum (STARK) | Plonky2 |
| Trusted setup | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| EVM compat | No | Yes (near) | Yes (etype 3) |
| Compute focus | High-throughput | General | EVM parity |
The STRK Token
StarkNet’s governance token STRK launched in February 2024 with a large airdrop:
- 729M tokens (7.29% of supply) distributed to early users
- Eligibility based on StarkNet activity + Ethereum ecosystem contributions
- Controversial: many airdrop recipients sold immediately, causing price decline
- Token used for governance voting and staking (future)
StarkNet Ecosystem
Notable protocols on StarkNet:
- JediSwap — DEX
- zkLend — lending protocol
- Avnu — DEX aggregator
- MySwap — community DEX
- Braavos / Argent X — StarkNet-native wallets
TVL has been lower than expected for a major L2, partly due to the Cairo learning curve limiting developer adoption.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths:
- Highest computational throughput among L2s (optimized for STARK proving)
- No trusted setup required (STARKs are transparent)
- Cairo enables novel applications (AI, gaming, heavy compute)
- Strong backing (StarkWare valued at $8B)
Limitations:
- Cairo adoption barrier — most devs need to learn a new language
- Not EVM compatible (tools, libraries, wallets differ)
- Lower TVL than Optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism)
- Centralized sequencer (decentralization roadmap in progress)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I deploy Solidity contracts on StarkNet? A: Not natively. StarkWare offers “Kakarot” — a zkEVM built on StarkNet that runs Solidity — but it’s still in development.
Q: Is StarkNet faster than zkSync? A: For computation-heavy workloads (gaming, AI), yes — Cairo + STARK is optimized for this. For simple transfers and swaps, the difference is negligible.
Q: Why does StarkNet use a different language? A: Because ZK proofs work differently from regular computation. Cairo is designed to produce programs that are efficient to prove mathematically, which would be harder with Solidity.