Rollups vs Sidechains: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Blockchain Scaling

WHAT IS A ROLLUP?

Think of rollups and sidechnains like two different solutions to help block chain like Ethereum deal with traffic congestion. They're both designed to make transactions faster and cheaper, but they take different routes to get there.

KEY FEATURES

Built on top of Ethereum (Layer 2)

Posts data back to Ethereum, keeping security strong

Cheaper and faster transactions

TYPES OF ROLLUPS

1. Optimistic Rollups: These rollups assumes that all transactions are valid and only require validation on the main chain incase of dispute

2. Zero-knowledge Rollups (ZK-Rollups): These rollups use complex cryptography to validate transactions off-chain and then submit a proof to the main chain, ensuring the transactions are valid without revealing any sensitive information.

   PROS: very secure, fast & lower gas fee

   CONS: Still dependent on ethereum for data storage & withdrawal delays.

WHAT IS A SIDECHAIN?

A sidechain is a separate blockchain that runs Parallel to Ethereum, allowing assets to be moved between the two using a bridge. Think of it like a detour that helps reduce congestion on the main road (Ethereum)

KEY FEATURES:

1. Independent chain with it's own rules and security

2. Connected to Ethereum via two way bridge

3. Examples: polygon pos, xDAI,

PROS: Extremely fast and cheap, supports custom features.

CONS: Less secure & bridges can be security risk.