Zilliqa integrates and makes EVM native, launches Ethereum Bridge 

Zilliqa, a high-performance, proof-of-stake blockchain using a unique sharding mechanism, is now compatible with Ethereum.

Zilliqa is EVM compatible

In an update on May 19, Zilliqa said they have integrated the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) on the mainnet, making the machine native to their blockchain. Because of this incorporation, Zilliqa said the development is a massive step and would increase the number of developers working on its rails.

Considering the interoperability with Ethereum, which is by far the most active smart contracting platform by total value locked (TVL), Zilliqa developers can now deploy decentralized applications (dapps) on the PoS blockchain and connect with those launched on the legacy smart contracting platform.

Zilliqa, while announcing this integration, observes that the EVM has been key in creating a thriving ecosystem that has seen Ethereum create vibrant decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible token (NFT), and even gaming sub-sectors.

Specifically, by integrating EVM and allowing Zilliqa dapps to be compatible with those launched on Ethereum, Valeriy Zamaraiev, the head of Distributed System Engineering at Zilliqa, said the goal is to ensure token transfer is not complex and conversion “extraneous”.

“This is a complete implementation of EVM compatibility with all the APIs, and most of the dApps will not require any adaptation. We have a better implementation than many layer-2 blockchains because one of the things that we’ve decided is to make EVM native to the Zilliqa ecosystem.”

Exploring Zilliqa through an Ethereum bridge

Zilliqa users will utilize the “Ethereum Bridge” that the team said is secure. It works in a bidirectional manner. While developers from Zilliqa can transfer tokens to Ethereum, those in Ethereum wishing to deploy on Zilliqa can deploy without necessarily making changes to their code.

By deploying on Zilliqa, developers from Ethereum can test some of the platform’s features, including high scalability due to sharding. Additionally, developers will also explore Zilliqa’s native language, Scila. Already, the platform has initiatives and programs to support developers wishing to launch their solutions on the Zilliqa platform.

Early this year, Zilliqa launched a web3 gaming console for users to play blockchain games launched on its platform. Its developers said the console is easy to use and could spur the adoption of blockchain technology as it also integrates a crypto wallet and supports token mining.