What Is Starknet?

1. What Is Starknet?

Starknet is a decentralized Layer 2 scaling solution built on top of Ethereum that leverages ZK-Rollup technology to deliver high throughput, low gas fees, and enhanced scalability — without compromising on security or decentralization. Developed by StarkWare, Starknet uses STARK (Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge) proofs to bundle thousands of transactions off-chain and post a single proof on-chain, significantly reducing Ethereum’s workload. It aims to make Web3 applications faster, cheaper, and more efficient, while inheriting Ethereum’s trustless security.

2. Why Starknet Was Created

Ethereum’s popularity brought network congestion and high gas fees. Users and developers faced a tradeoff between decentralization and performance. Starknet was created to address this by offering:

• Scalability without compromising security
• Lower transaction costs via batching
• Support for complex computations off-chain
• Infrastructure for mass adoption of dApps

3. How Starknet Works

1. Users interact with Starknet-based dApps using Web3 wallets.
2. Transactions are processed off-chain by Starknet Sequencers.
3. A STARK proof is generated to prove that all transactions are valid.
4. This proof is submitted and verified on Ethereum mainnet.
5. Finalized state changes are recorded on-chain securely.
6. Ethereum compatibility enables seamless integration with smart contracts and tools.

4. Key Features of Starknet

• ZK-Rollup scaling powered by STARK proofs
• Ethereum-level trust and decentralization
• Thousands of transactions per second
• Dramatically reduced gas fees
• Native Cairo programming language for scalable smart contracts
• Roadmap to a decentralized sequencer model
• Interoperability with Ethereum infrastructure

5. Who Can Use Starknet?

• Developers building next-generation dApps and zk-powered applications
• Retail users seeking fast and affordable DeFi or NFT experiences
• Enterprises looking for scalable, secure blockchain infrastructure
• Institutions exploring zero-knowledge solutions for privacy and computation
• Crypto enthusiasts participating in staking, governance, and ecosystem growth

6. What Is the $STRK Token?

$STRK is the native utility and governance token of the Starknet ecosystem. It is designed to support decentralized operation and align incentives across stakeholders. Its key functions include:

• Governance – token holders can vote on network upgrades and protocol changes
• Staking – may be used to secure the network and operate decentralized sequencers
• Fee Payments – potential use for covering transaction costs within Starknet
• Incentives – used to reward developers, contributors, and community participants