Yigit Taha OZTURK 
In the race toward true decentralization, not all blockchain projects move at the same pace. But for Ethereum-based scaling solutions, one name just took a significant step forward: Starknet. With recent developments, the network is proving it’s more than just another layer-2 player.
According to a framework proposed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, Starknet has now reached “Stage 1” decentralization, marking a shift to limited governance and operational independence.
And the timing couldn’t be better — Starknet has also emerged as the largest ZK-rollup-based layer-2 network by total value locked (TVL).
Starknet Leads ZK-Rollups With $629 Million TVL
With a TVL of $629 million, Starknet now outpaces close competitor ZKsync, which holds $610 million, as reported by L2Beat. This positions Starknet at the forefront of ZK-rollup technologies in terms of locked value, making it a benchmark among zero-knowledge scaling solutions.
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The project’s advancement to “Stage 1” decentralization was supported by technical measures like the implementation of a security council and censorship resistance mechanisms. Starknet has also adopted validity proofs, allowing cryptographic verification of all transactions via smart contracts — a core difference from the fraud-proof model used by Optimistic rollups.
Stage 2 In Sight, With Eyes On Bitcoin
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson stated that the long-term vision is to reach “Stage 2” decentralization, where the network will be fully autonomous and community-driven. Only a few small layer-2 networks have achieved this so far.
Interestingly, Ben-Sasson also mentioned that Starknet’s ambitions extend to Bitcoin, suggesting parallel development on the world’s largest blockchain.
Currently, the entire layer-2 ecosystem holds around $44.2 billion in value, though it remains down 20% year-to-date. Base, Coinbase’s Optimistic rollup, leads the sector with $14.7 billion in locked assets, accounting for a 33% market share.
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