We've been talking about this for a while now - and its finally here. ZKcandy is now EVM equivalent.

What does this mean? If you're new to this blog, read on to find out.

Not all EVM chains are EVM-equivalent. Some of them, like ZKcandy when it first launched, was only EVM-compatible. This has little to no effect on end users as their wallets would work mostly fine with chains that are both EVM-compatible and EVM-equivalent.

The difference is mostly in the tools used to build upon these chains. Deploying contracts to ZKcandy required the use of specific tooling to compile smart contracts with bytecode that ZKcandy can process and execute. As a pioneering Elastic Chain, ZKcandy balances both EVM-compatibility and Elastic chain functionality. Now that ZKcandy has achieved EVM equivalence, we continue to anchor ourself in the established realm of Ethereum while continuing to push boundaries with ZKsync's vision for an Elastic Chain.

EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) equivalence means that ZKcandy can now execute Ethereum smart contracts exactly as they would run on Ethereum's mainnet, without requiring developers to modify their code. This compatibility extends to tooling, libraries, and existing development workflows, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for those looking to leverage ZKcandy's scalability and speed.

For developers, this translates to unprecedented functionality: they can deploy existing Solidity contracts, use familiar frameworks, and benefit from ZKcandy's low fees and high throughput without any code or tooling changes. It is now also easier to extend existing Ethereum dapps and projects to ZKcandy. Why not take this opportunity to embrace the Elastic Chain?

With full EVM equivalence, the entire Ethereum development ecosystem is now available for building on ZKcandy. Developers can leverage their existing skills and tools to:

• Hardhat: Write your tests and deployment scripts in the familiar Hardhat environment.

• Foundry: Use this battle-tested, fast, and efficient development tool to compile, test, and deploy your smart contracts to ZKcandy.

• Truffle: Though dated, you can now build, test, and deploy your Dapps on ZKcandy using the Truffle suite.

• Remix IDE: The popular web-based IDE now supports deploying and testing contracts directly on ZKcandy. Simply select ZKcandy as your network and start building.

• VS Code with Solidity: Continue using your favorite code editor with plugins like Solidity by Juan Blanco, which now include syntax highlighting and support for ZKcandy smart contracts..

• Ethers.js: Use this comprehensive JavaScript library to interact with ZKcandy blocks, transactions, and contracts just as you would on Ethereum.

• Web3.js: The original Ethereum library works seamlessly with ZKcandy, providing a familiar interface to interact with the network.

The significance of EVM equivalence cannot be overstated. By eliminating the need for developers to rewrite or adapt their existing code, ZKcandy is:

1. Accelerating innovation: Developers can focus on creating value rather than adapting to new infrastructure, speeding up the pace of development on the network.

2. Preserving Ethereum's development momentum: All the knowledge, experience, and code built on the Ethereum ecosystem can now be directly leveraged on ZKcandy.

3. Enhancing user experience: Users don't need to learn new interfaces or processes to interact with ZKcandy applications.

To all Ethereum developers: your skills and knowledge are more valuable than ever on ZKcandy. Start exploring our documentation, join our vibrant developer community on Discord, and begin building the next generation of scalable, efficient, and privacy-preserving applications.

For those who haven't yet dipped their toes into blockchain development, there's never been a better time to start. With ZKcandy's EVM compatibility and low transaction costs, the barrier to entry has never been lower.