Step-by-step guide of deploying contracts on: zkSync Era, Base, Scroll

In this article, you will find 3 guides of deploying contracts on zkSync Era, Base, and Scroll.

Let’s get started!

zkSync Era

Deploy price: ~5$ in ETH Deploy difficulty: Classic method (code) - difficult. Thirdweb method - easy.

Classic method:

Download Visual Studio Code from the official website: https://code.visualstudio.com/
Choose English language and leave the checkboxes in their default state.
After the installation, create a folder on your desktop named zksync

Launch VSCode and open this folder

Download & install Node.js from its official website. During the installation, leave the settings unchanged. Afterwards, restart your PC.
Go back to VSCode, press CTRL + J to open the terminal.
Insert the following command into the terminal:

npm init -y

If you have such output, then everything is fine:

Insert the following command and wait till the installation finishes

npm add -D typescript ts-node @types/node ethers@^5.7.2 zksync-web3@^0.14.3 @ethersproject/hash @ethersproject/web hardhat @matterlabs/hardhat-zksync-solc @matterlabs/hardhat-zksync-deploy

Insert the following command which will install the OpenZeppelin contract library:

npm install @openzeppelin/contracts

Press “+” and create the file hardhat.config.ts

Insert the following code in hardhat.config.ts and press CTRL + S to save the file:

import "@matterlabs/hardhat-zksync-deploy";
import "@matterlabs/hardhat-zksync-solc";

module.exports = {
  zksolc: {
    version: "1.3.5",
    compilerSource: "binary",
    settings: {},
  },
  defaultNetwork: "zkSyncMainnet",

  networks: {
    zkSyncMainnet: {
      url: "https://zksync2-mainnet.zksync.io",
      ethNetwork: "mainnet",
      zksync: true,
    },
  },
  solidity: {
    version: "0.8.17",
  },
};

Press on another “+” and create the contracts folder. Press on this folder and create the contract.sol file in it. Any parameters (those in “ “ quotes) you can customize according to your needs (full token name & ticker). Insert the following code:

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.9;

import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/access/Ownable.sol";

contract Roccrypto is ERC20, Ownable {
    constructor() ERC20("roccrypto", "rocc") {
        _mint(msg.sender, 100 * 10 ** decimals());
    }

    function mint(address to, uint256 amount) public onlyOwner {
        _mint(to, amount);
    }
}

Press CTRL + S to save your file
Here we create a simple ERC-20 Token with the ticker rocc. Any other contracts can be used from OpenZeppelin documentation. However, in order to deploy them, we have to understand JavaScript/TypeScript programming languages. If you want to deploy some other contracts which are not mentioned in this guide, and you don’t know any of this programming languages - use ChatGPT. It will easily write the deploy.ts script for the contract you want to deploy.
https://docs.openzeppelin.com/
Compile the contract by inserting the following command:

npx hardhat compile

If you have such output, then everything is fine:

Open the zksync folder and create a new folder named deploy. In that file we must create the typescript file deploy.ts. Insert the following code and change the 0x123… addreess, to which the tokens will be minted. Press CTRL + S:

import fs from "fs";
import { utils, Wallet } from "zksync-web3";
import * as ethers from "ethers";
import { HardhatRuntimeEnvironment } from "hardhat/types";
import { Deployer } from "@matterlabs/hardhat-zksync-deploy";

const PRIV_KEY = fs.readFileSync(".secret").toString();

export default async function (hre: HardhatRuntimeEnvironment) {
  console.log(`Running deploy script for the Roccrypto contract`);

  const wallet = new Wallet(PRIV_KEY);

  const deployer = new Deployer(hre, wallet);
  const artifact = await deployer.loadArtifact("Roccrypto");

  const roccryptoContract = await deployer.deploy(artifact, []);
  console.log("constructor args:" + roccryptoContract.interface.encodeDeploy([]));

  const contractAddress = roccryptoContract.address;
  console.log(`${artifact.contractName} was deployed to ${contractAddress}`);

  // Mint some tokens to an address.
  const to = "0x123..."; // Адрес куда минтить токены.
  const amount = ethers.utils.parseEther("10"); // Сколько токенов нужно заминтить на этот адрес
  const mintHandle = await roccryptoContract.mint(to, amount);
  await mintHandle.wait();

  console.log(`Minted ${amount} tokens to ${to}`);
}

Create a file named .secret in general zksync folder. We have to insert a private key from which the contract will be deployed. Keep in mind, that your address has to have a balance of ~5$ in ETH in zkSync Era mainnet. It is highly not recommended to hold a signifficant balance if you are unsure about your next actions. Please test first and then deploy on multiple accounts. I am not responsible for your funds.
Finally, deploy the contract with the command:

npx hardhat deploy-zksync

We’ve successfully deployed our contract and minted some rocc tokens to our address.

Thirdweb method:

You can also deploy zkSync smart contracts by using Thirdweb. If you simply don’t like the classic method - you better use this one.

Go to Thirdweb website and find the contract we need - Token

https://thirdweb.com/explore

Press Deploy now

Fill in the details of our token and make sure to select zkSync Era Mainnet.
Press Deploy Now and sign the transaction.

That’s it, we’ve successfully deployed our contract:

Base

Deploy price: FREE (Goerli ETH) Bridge: bridge.base.org/deposit Deploy difficulty: Easy

To begin with, use the bridge to obtain ETH to your wallet.

Go to Chainlist, find Base Goerli Testnet, and connect your wallet to it. Make sure you switched the network afterwards.

Go to OpenZeppelin Contracts Wizard.
Choose ERC-20 token and fill in the parameters according to your preferences. Check the boxes for Mintable and Burnable

Press Open in Remix
Check the box for Auto compile

Choose Injected Provider - Metamask and connect the wallet to the website.

Press the Deploy button and confirm the transaction in Metamask

Now we have successfully deployed the contract on Base! However, to avoid repeating the same contracts every time, I suggest experimenting and deploying different ones.

Scroll

Deploy price: FREE (Goerli ETH) Bridge: scroll.io/bridge Deploy difficulty: Easy

To begin with, use the bridge to obtain ETH to your wallet.

Go to Chainlist, find Scroll Alpha Testnet and connect your wallet to it. Make sure you switched the network afterwards.

Go to OpenZeppelin Contracts Wizard.
Choose ERC-20 token and fill in the parameters according to your preferences. Check the boxes for Mintable and Burnable