Top ZK Rollup Projects in 2024 - Token Metrics Moon Awards

Crypto Basics

Top ZK Rollup Projects in 2024 - Token Metrics Moon Awards

Uncover the top ZK Rollup technology of 2024 with the Token Metrics Moon Awards. Discover the future of scaling solutions.

Token Metrics Team

8 Minutes

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Index

Overview of Solana Blockchain

Welcome to the Token Metrics Moon Awards, a prestigious cryptocurrency industry accolade that recognizes platforms, projects, and initiatives that have significantly impacted the industry. The latest addition to the Moon Awards is the Top ZK Rollup in 2024.

Selection Process

At Token Metrics, we emphasize our audience, considering them the foundation of our operations. Our selection process is firmly rooted in engaging with the community, ensuring that our awards' results authentically reflect crypto enthusiasts' sentiments and experiences.

Through engagement with our community members, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the Top ZK Rollup in 2024 based on extensive survey data and user votes.

This guide aims to explore ZK Rollups in-depth, highlighting their advantages and considerations, alongside an overview of top ZK rollup projects slated to dominate in 2024.

What are ZK Rollups?

ZK Rollup is a transformative layer-2 scaling solution that enhances blockchain scalability and efficiency by moving computation and state storage off the main chain. They operate by:

Bundling Transactions: Transactions are aggregated into batches and processed off-chain. This method significantly reduces the on-chain footprint, lowering gas costs and increasing throughput.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs: A core feature of ZK Rollups is using zero-knowledge proofs to validate transactions off-chain before finalizing them on the main chain. This ensures that all transactions are legitimate without revealing any underlying data, thus preserving privacy and security.
On-Chain Data Storage: ZK Rollups store transaction data on the layer-1 network while the computation is done off-chain. This approach maintains the integrity and security of the blockchain, leveraging the robustness of the base-layer network for settlement purposes.

Operators play a crucial role in managing these rollups, which can be either a centralized sequencer or a decentralized proof-of-stake system with validators.

This flexibility allows for different governance models, further enhancing the adaptability of ZK Rollups to various blockchain ecosystems.

Moreover, advancements like the zero-knowledge EVM (zkEVM) are pushing the boundaries of what's possible, enabling more complex computations and applications to benefit from the scalability and efficiency of ZK Rollups.

List of Top ZK Rollups in 2024

As the blockchain ecosystem evolves, ZK rollup projects are at the forefront of addressing scalability and efficiency challenges.

Here's a closer look at some of the top ZK rollup projects set to make significant impacts in 2024:

Top ZK Rollups — Image Source - Token Metrics Moon Awards

1. zkSync

In the Moon Awards survey, zkSync secured the top position with 49.8% of the total votes.

zkSync Era emerges as a leading ZK rollup, revolutionizing Ethereum transactions through scalable, low-cost solutions. Its design closely mirrors Ethereum, ensuring a seamless experience for developers and users. Here's a breakdown of its standout features:

Compatibility and User Experience:

Smart contracts in Solidity/Vyper are fully compatible with EVM.
Supports familiar Ethereum clients and wallets like Metamask and TrustWallet.
Web3 API compatibility, easing the transition for Ethereum developers.

Innovative Features and Security:

Transitioning towards decentralization for enhanced security.
Native account abstraction and support for ECDSA signatures.
zkPorter mode offers a balance between high security and reduced fees.

Development and Transaction Efficiency:

Instant confirmations and rapid finality on L1.
Extremely low transaction fees, payable with ERC20 tokens.
Hardhat plugin and custom compilers (zksolc and zkvyper) for streamlined smart contract development.

zkSync Era stands out for its Ethereum-like environment, decentralization roadmap, and innovative features like zkPorter, making it a top choice for those seeking efficient, secure blockchain transactions.

2. Polygon zkEVM

In the Moon Awards survey, Polygon zkEVM secured the 2nd position with 26.7% of the total votes.

Polygon zkEVM emerges as a beacon in the landscape of zk rollup projects, heralding a new era of scalability and security for Ethereum.

This open-source, EVM-equivalent zk-Rollup is not just live but thriving, powered by the cutting-edge Polygon Zero technology. Here's a closer look at its defining attributes:

Key Features:

EVM Equivalence: Maintains full compatibility with Ethereum, allowing existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets to operate without any modifications.
Low Cost: Leverages ZK proofs to drastically reduce transaction costs, making it an economical choice for developers and users.
High Performance: Achieves fast network finality and employs the world's fastest ZK-proof technology for swift and efficient transaction processing.

Security and Scalability:

Inherits Ethereum's robust security at Layer 2, enhanced by L2 batching capabilities.
Utilizes ZK proofs to ensure the validity of transactions, safeguarding user funds against potential threats.

Polygon zkEVM Stats and Resources:

Metrics such as average gas fees, total value locked (TVL), and active wallets are readily available, offering insights into its growing ecosystem.
Developers and enthusiasts can access many resources, including technical documentation, GitHub repositories, and educational materials from Polygon University.

Polygon zkEVM stands out for its technical prowess and commitment to a secure, scalable, and developer-friendly environment, setting a new standard for zk rollup projects.

3. Starknet

In the Moon Awards survey, Starknet secured the 3rd position with 12% of the total votes.

Starknet, a prominent player in the ZK rollup arena, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to enhancing Ethereum's scalability and efficiency.

Notably, Starknet was EIP-4844 ready from the get-go, swiftly enabling the blob function post-Dencun upgrade, dramatically lowering transaction fees to an average of $0.017. This move underscores Starknet's agility and foresight in adapting to Ethereum's evolving landscape.

Innovations and Upgrades:

V0.13.2: Introduces concurrent execution of independent transactions, boosting throughput and minimizing latency.
V0.13.3: Incorporates Cairo Native project by LambdaClass into the Starknet sequencer, facilitating direct execution on x86 architecture. This accelerates transaction execution significantly.
Data Availability (DA) Enhancements: These upgrades enable hybrid DA on Starknet, allowing dApps to store data directly on Starknet rather than Ethereum. This shift reduces end-user transaction costs and optimizes the batching of L1 costs.

Starknet's roadmap reveals a strategic focus on reducing fees and enhancing network performance. Also, Starknet's exploration into Data Availability Compression and the introduction of parallel transaction functionality highlight its dedication to achieving a scalable, efficient, and user-friendly platform.

These advancements are expected to position Starknet as a powerhouse in zk rollup technology, significantly outpacing Ethereum's computational capabilities by the end of 2024.

4. Linea

In the Moon Awards survey, Linea secured the 4th position with 6.3% of the total votes.

Developed by Consensys, Linea is a ZK-Rollup designed to significantly enhance Ethereum's scalability by processing transactions off-chain.

This innovative approach reduces the data each transaction records on-chain and employs zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to verify the validity of transactions without revealing their contents. Here's a closer look at Linea's key features:

EVM Compatibility & User Experience:

Fully EVM-compatible, allowing developers to use the same code for Linea's Layer-2 as they would for Ethereum's Layer-1.
Integration with popular Web3 products such as MetaMask and Infura, ensuring a seamless user experience akin to Ethereum's mainnet but with faster speeds and significantly lower transaction costs.

Scalability & Security Enhancements:

Utilizes lattice-based cryptography for ZKPs, believed to resist quantum computer attacks, providing a secure foundation for transactions.
Offers instant transaction finality with a multi-prover approach to minimize implementation risks, further securing the network.

Innovative Technology & Community Engagement:

Features a new outer proof system, Vortex, for fast proof generation and self-recursion, enhancing transaction privacy and efficiency.
Engages the developer community with initiatives like a major NFT collection launch and a hackathon with prizes up to $50,000, fostering innovation and participation.

Linea's approach to enhancing Ethereum's scalability, security, and user experience positions it as a leading project in ZK Rollup technology, promising a more efficient and scalable blockchain ecosystem.

5. Scroll

In the Moon Awards survey, Scroll secured the 5th position with 3% of the total votes.

Scroll is a pioneering Layer 2 network meticulously crafted by Ethereum developers for their peers, aiming to extend Ethereum's capabilities through cutting-edge zero-knowledge technology and seamless EVM compatibility.

This initiative ensures that existing Ethereum applications can transition to Scroll with minimal friction and at reduced costs, fostering a more efficient blockchain ecosystem. Here's a snapshot of Scroll's standout features:

EVM Compatibility and Ease of Migration:

Bytecode-level compatibility with Ethereum, ensuring a plug-and-play experience for developers.
The simplified migration process for Ethereum apps significantly cut down operational costs.

Innovative Zero-Knowledge Proof Technology:

Utilizes advanced ZK proofs and battle-tested EVM models for enhanced security and reliability.
Regular audits and a multi-layered security approach underscore its commitment to maintaining a secure network.

Community-Centric Development and Scalability:

Open development ethos, closely involving the Ethereum community from the outset.
Plans for decentralized proof and multiple validators to democratize network governance.
It aims to halve cross-chain costs, support EIP 1559 transaction types, and enable parallel EVM execution for superior scalability.

Scroll's architecture, embracing a settlement, sequencing, and proving layer and the possibility of anyone becoming a roller by staking SCR, its native token, highlights its innovative approach to reducing proving costs and ensuring decentralized network participation.

Conclusion

As the blockchain ecosystem continues to grow and encounter new challenges, the advancements in ZK Rollup technology showcased by projects detailed in this guide present a promising path forward.

Projects like zkSync, Polygon zkEVM, Starknet, Linea, and Scroll have been spotlighted not only for their innovative approach to addressing Ethereum's scalability challenges but also for their contributions to a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly blockchain environment.

Their developments mark a pivotal moment in the evolution of layer-2 solutions, reinforcing the essential role of ZK Rollups in the broader adoption and optimization of blockchain technology.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other advice, and you should not treat any of the website's content as such.

Token Metrics does not recommend buying, selling, or holding any cryptocurrency. Conduct your due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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How Risky Are Moonshot Investments?

Token Metrics Team

8 min

MIN

Introduction: The High Stakes of Moonshot Crypto

Moonshot investing in crypto is a double-edged sword. On one side, you have tokens that can 10x, 50x, or even 100x your portfolio. On the other side? Complete capital loss. While these asymmetric bets can lead to explosive profits, they also carry extreme risk—especially for uninformed or impulsive investors.

This guide will break down the risk landscape of moonshots: what makes them so volatile, common pitfalls to avoid, risk management strategies, and how tools like Token Metrics help reduce blind spots when betting on the next big thing.

What Makes Moonshot Investments So Risky?

Moonshots live in the outer rim of the crypto market. They are typically:

Low market cap (<$20M)
Light on liquidity
Not listed on major exchanges
Lacking product-market fit
Speculative or narrative-driven

These factors create an environment where price moves fast—but fundamentals are often thin. You're betting more on potential than proof.

Common Risks in Moonshot Investing

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You must assume every moonshot has some of these risk factors — and plan accordingly.

Risk Profile: Moonshots vs. Blue Chips

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Moonshots = high variance. Don’t treat them like stable assets.

🛡️ How to Manage Moonshot Risk (and Stay Sane)

Use Proper Position Sizing
Never allocate more than 1–3% of your total portfolio to a single moonshot.
Diversify Your Moonshots
Build a “moonshot basket” of 5–10 different bets across categories (AI, DePIN, L1s, Meme, etc).
Set Clear Entry and Exit Plans
Know your take-profit and stop-loss targets before entering.
Track Vesting & Unlock Schedules
Use tools like Token Unlocks to avoid buying before big token dumps.
Don’t Fall in Love With Your Bags
Stay objective. Exit when the narrative fades or fundamentals change.

🧪 Risk Evaluation Checklist

If you answer “no” to 2 or more of these, tread cautiously.

How Token Metrics Minimizes Risk Exposure

Token Metrics helps de-risk moonshots by analyzing over 80+ data points using AI and quant models:

Risk-adjusted momentum scores
Tokenomics evaluations
On-chain behavior analysis
Contract audit status
Community health signals
Bullish/Bearish alerts based on AI

You get a comprehensive view of upside and downside before making a decision.

Mental Models for Risky Investing

“Play with house money” – Take profits early and only risk profits.
“Barbell strategy” – Majority in stable assets, small % in high-risk/high-reward.
“Expected Value (EV)” – Even if 8/10 fail, 1 big win covers losses.
“Don’t chase losses” – Accept failures quickly and move on.

Moonshot investing is mental warfare. Stick to frameworks, not FOMO.

Final Thoughts: Risk is Inevitable — Manage It, Don’t Fear It

The path to 100x gains in crypto will always be riddled with landmines. But risk isn’t inherently bad — it’s the price of asymmetric upside. The real danger is unmanaged risk, impulsive decisions, and poor research.

With the right approach, the right tools, and a clear head, moonshot investing can be one of the most rewarding strategies in crypto.

Just remember: You only need to be right once.

Crypto Basics

Are Moonshots Only Meme Coins?

Token Metrics Team

8 min

MIN

Introduction: The Meme Coin Myth

When most people think “moonshot” in crypto, they think of meme coins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, or Pepe — volatile, viral, and often with no utility. While it’s true that meme coins have historically delivered explosive returns, they’re just one type of moonshot. In reality, some of the best moonshots are deeply technical projects with innovative real-world use cases.

In this blog, we’ll explore why moonshots go far beyond memes, the other types of high-potential assets you should be watching, and how to distinguish hype from substance in your moonshot hunt.

Why Meme Coins Became the Face of Moonshots

Meme coins dominate headlines and retail attention for good reason:

Low entry barriers – Often priced at fractions of a cent
Viral marketing – Driven by memes, humor, and community hype
Explosive gains – SHIB, DOGE, and PEPE all had 1,000x+ runs
Community-driven – Holders often act as evangelists

Because of these qualities, meme coins are often perceived as the only moonshots. But perception doesn’t equal reality.

The Reality: Many Moonshots Are Utility-Driven

Some of the most successful moonshot investments didn’t begin as memes — they were innovative, under-the-radar projects that grew into billion-dollar ecosystems:

None of these were memes — they were tech-focused moonshots.

Categories of Non-Meme Moonshots

Here are several non-meme sectors producing moonshot-level gains:

AI Coins – e.g., Fetch.ai, Render, Akash
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) – e.g., Helium, IoTeX
RWAs (Real-World Assets) – e.g., Centrifuge, Goldfinch
L2 & Interoperability – e.g., Starknet, Hyperlane, Axelar
Privacy Coins – e.g., Namada, Secret Network
Early-stage L1s – e.g., SEI, Monad

These projects combine visionary ideas with real-world applicability — and many began as stealth moonshots before going mainstream.

How to Spot Utility-Based Moonshots Early

Look for:

Unique narrative fit – Aligns with hot macro themes (AI, DeFi 2.0, Web3 infra)
Underexposed – Not yet listed on major CEXs or hyped by influencers
Backed by smart money – VC involvement or known crypto angels
Product roadmap – Testnet/Mainnet imminent or newly launched
Active GitHub or whitepaper – Real builders, not marketers

Meme coins may be powered by emotion — but utility moonshots are powered by execution.

Token Metrics Helps Spot Both Meme & Utility Moonshots

Token Metrics doesn’t just chase hype — it grades thousands of tokens using 80+ data points including:

Momentum and price trends
Community sentiment and buzz
GitHub commits and developer activity
Market cap ranking
AI-generated bull/bear signals
Smart contract risk analysis

This means you can discover both emerging meme coins and tech-driven moonshots based on real metrics — not just Twitter noise.

Can Meme Coins Still Be Valid Moonshots?

Yes — but they should be treated like short-term plays with proper risk management. When timed right (early launch, CEX rumor, meme trend), meme coins can 10x fast. But unlike utility tokens, meme coins often lack long-term sustainability unless they evolve (like DogeX or SHIB ecosystem).

Use tools like Token Metrics AI Signals to time entries and exits.

⚠️ Avoiding the Meme Coin Traps

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Don’t confuse “meme” with “momentum.” Use data.

Conclusion: The Smart Moonshot Portfolio is Diversified

If your moonshot portfolio is 100% meme coins, you're gambling. If it’s 100% early L1s with no traction, you may be stuck waiting years. Smart investors build a balanced basket that includes:

Memes with momentum
Mid-cap undervalued alts
Undiscovered AI, RWA, and DePIN gems
Fundamental plays with strong tokenomics

Meme coins are just one path to the moon — don’t miss the others.

Crypto Basics

How Do I Find Moonshot Crypto Projects?

Token Metrics Team

8 min

MIN

Introduction: The Alpha is in the Early Entry

Everyone wants to catch the next 100x token before it explodes. The real trick isn’t riding the hype — it’s getting in before the hype begins. That’s where the real alpha is. Early entry into promising crypto moonshots gives you a massive edge, but how do you consistently find these hidden gems before they go viral?

This guide breaks down where early-stage opportunities hide, what tools to use, and how smart investors separate real moonshots from noise.

🧭 What Does “Early” Really Mean?

Being early doesn’t mean buying after it’s on Coinbase or featured by YouTubers. It means:

Before centralized exchange listings
Before influencers mention it
Before 1,000 holders
Before mainstream Twitter threads and Reddit buzz

Getting in early usually involves doing the work—but tools and tactics can help.

🔍 Where to Discover Moonshot Projects Early

1. Crypto Twitter (X)

The fastest-moving crypto intelligence hub. Look for:

Threads from micro-cap hunters
“Low cap gems” lists
VCs and founders talking about new trends

2. Token Launch Platforms

These platforms often list early-stage projects before they go mainstream:

CoinList
DAO Maker
Polkastarter
Bounce

3. Reddit & Discord Alpha Groups

Subreddits like r/cryptomoonshots and r/AltcoinDiscussion are full of degens sniffing out new coins. Just beware of shills.
Private Discords like Token Metrics or paid alpha communities provide filtered insights from experts.

4. DEX Tools & On-Chain Analytics

Use DEXTools to track newly listed pairs.
GeckoTerminal and Birdeye are great for Solana and other chains.
TokenSniffer can help check smart contracts and detect rugs.

5. Token Metrics Platform

The Token Metrics AI tools analyze thousands of tokens and surfaces early movers based on:

Momentum
AI grades
Social & on-chain trends
Perfect for filtering low-cap coins based on data, not hype.

🧠 What to Look For in an Early-Stage Moonshot

If it checks 3–5 of these boxes and you’re early? It might be worth a bet.

🔄 Early Signals That a Token May Explode

Watch out for these signals across Twitter, Telegram, and DEX listings:

Price up + volume surging + no CEX listing
New partnerships or ecosystem integrations
Dev activity visible on GitHub
Listings on Token Metrics AI indices
Whale wallet accumulation on-chain

Example: If you see a project listed on GeckoTerminal, surging in volume, mentioned in a Token Metrics Bullish Signal — that’s a sign to dig deeper.

🧰 Tools Every Moonshot Hunter Should Use

Combine tools to validate your picks from multiple angles.

📈 Case Study: How Early Detection Pays Off

Let’s say you spotted Bonk (BONK) on Solana in December 2022:

< $1M market cap
Listed on Birdeye first
Strong meme narrative (Solana’s Shiba)
Picked up by Token Metrics AI scanner
Went viral on Solana Twitter before CEX listings

If you got in pre-hype, your 10x to 50x gains were very possible.

⚠️ Red Flags to Avoid

Even if you’re early, avoid traps:

Anonymous devs + no roadmap = high risk
Too good to be true tokenomics = pump-and-dump
Overly hyped on day 1 = exit liquidity trap
Telegram full of bots = engagement farming
No working product = vaporware

Early doesn’t always mean safe. Do your due diligence.

📊 How Token Metrics Helps You Get In Early

With the Token Metrics platform, you can:

Scan coins with low market cap but high AI ratings
Filter coins by sector, grade, momentum, volume
See bullish and bearish signals before the crowd
Get weekly Moonshot reports from analysts
Track early-stage index performance for emerging themes

That’s how you go from guessing to investing.

🧠 Final Thoughts: Early Access = Edge

In crypto, timing is everything. If you can consistently find promising moonshots before they hit the mainstream, the upside is massive. But it takes strategy, tools, and a data-first mindset.

By combining on-chain signals, AI analysis, narrative momentum, and community validation, you can sharpen your edge — and maybe catch the next Shiba, Pepe, or Solana before the crowd.

Token Metrics Media LLC is a regular publication of information, analysis, and commentary focused especially on blockchain technology and business, cryptocurrency, blockchain-based tokens, market trends, and trading strategies.

Token Metrics Media LLC does not provide individually tailored investment advice and does not take a subscriber’s or anyone’s personal circumstances into consideration when discussing investments; nor is Token Metrics Advisers LLC registered as an investment adviser or broker-dealer in any jurisdiction.

Information contained herein is not an offer or solicitation to buy, hold, or sell any security. The Token Metrics team has advised and invested in many blockchain companies. A complete list of their advisory roles and current holdings can be viewed here: https://tokenmetrics.com/disclosures.html/

Token Metrics Media LLC relies on information from various sources believed to be reliable, including clients and third parties, but cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of that information. Additionally, Token Metrics Media LLC does not provide tax advice, and investors are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors.

All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money you invest, and past performance does not guarantee future performance. Ratings and price predictions are provided for informational and illustrative purposes, and may not reflect actual future performance.

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