What is Scroll (SCR)?

By CMC AI
20 January 2026 04:15AM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Scroll (SCR) is an Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 scaling solution using zero-knowledge rollup (zkRollup) technology to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs while inheriting Ethereum's security.

  1. Scales Ethereum – Processes transactions off-chain while verifying proofs on Ethereum.

  2. zkEVM Compatibility – Supports existing Ethereum tools and smart contracts.

  3. Decentralized Governance – SCR tokens enable community-led protocol decisions.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose and Value Proposition

Scroll addresses Ethereum’s scalability limitations by bundling transactions into compressed proofs (zkRollups), reducing congestion and gas fees by ~90%. It prioritizes seamless compatibility with Ethereum’s ecosystem, allowing developers to deploy existing dApps without modifications. This approach aims to democratize access to decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 applications while maintaining Ethereum-level security.

2. Technology and Architecture

Built as a zkEVM (Zero-Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine), Scroll executes transactions off-chain and generates cryptographic proofs verified on Ethereum. Key innovations include:
- EVM Equivalence: Full compatibility with Ethereum’s tooling (MetaMask, Hardhat).
- Decentralized Provers: Multiple participants generate proofs, enhancing censorship resistance.
- Data Compression: Batched transactions minimize on-chain data storage costs.

3. Tokenomics and Governance

SCR serves as a governance token for the Scroll DAO, enabling holders to vote on protocol upgrades, treasury management, and grants. The initial supply is 1 billion SCR, with 7% airdropped to early contributors (October 2024). Token utility includes:
- DAO Voting: Delegates steer ecosystem development.
- Community Grants: Funds builders via initiatives like the Community Council.
- Network Incentives: Future staking for sequencer roles is under discussion.

Conclusion

Scroll merges Ethereum’s security with scalable, low-cost transactions through zkEVM technology, governed by a decentralized community. How might its focus on developer accessibility accelerate adoption in emerging markets like Southeast Asia?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.