StarkWare Open-Sources Cairo Programming Language for StarkNet

StarkWare's Open-Source Initiative

StarkWare, a prominent developer in Ethereum scaling technology, has open-sourced its native programming language, Cairo. This marks the beginning of a comprehensive plan to make its entire technology stack accessible to the public. Currently, Cairo allows for the compilation and execution of basic programs, with more advanced features, such as StarkNet smart contracts, expected soon.

Cairo 1.0 and StarkNet Integration

Cairo 1.0, a Turing-complete language, supports verifiable computation and is set to be integrated with StarkWare's Layer-2 scaling solution, StarkNet, by 2023. StarkNet is recognized for its ability to bundle numerous transactions, significantly reducing Ethereum's gas fees while maintaining security. The network's activity has seen a consistent rise due to these capabilities.

Advancements and Industry Impact

The decision to open-source comes amid criticism from competitors like zkSync regarding StarkWare's previous privacy. By making Cairo public, StarkWare aims to enhance transparency and community participation. Future updates will enable more complex functionalities, such as writing smart contracts and using various system calls and library functions.

StarkWare's Strategic Moves

Recently, StarkWare, valued at $8 billion, launched its STRK token on the Ethereum mainnet, fueling speculation about a possible user airdrop. Additionally, the company announced a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible scaling solution named Kakarot, developed in Cairo and set to deploy on StarkNet. This zkEVM scaler is a critical component in Ethereum scaling, an area where StarkNet is intensifying efforts to catch up with competitors like zkSync and Polygon.

Conclusion

StarkWare's open-sourcing of Cairo and other strategic initiatives underscore its commitment to transparency and innovation within the Ethereum ecosystem. As a leader in Layer-2 scaling solutions, these moves highlight StarkWare's dedication to community engagement and technological advancement.