Introduction and Agenda Overview:

The call began with an introduction and overview of the agenda, which included four main topics: 

• ZK-PoS Phase 1, 
• Bor Release v1.3.4, 
• PIP-26 (transition from MATIC to POL validator rewards), and
• PIP-39 (validator admissions into the PoS network). 

ZK-PoS Phase 1 involves connecting Polygon PoS to the AggLayer through the invariant proof and a newly proposed consensus proof. 

The Bor release v1.3.4 includes merges from Geth downstream, pulling forward PIP-35 from the Ahmadabad fork, and other improvements. 

PIP-26 discusses aligning the initial POL validator rewards with the original MATIC schedule until June 2025, while PIP-39 focuses on the validator admissions framework for the PoS network.

Discussion on ZK-PoS Phase One:

A significant portion of the call was dedicated to discussing the proposed ZK-PoS Phase 1, which aims to connect Polygon PoS to the AggLayer using a ZK proof of consensus, in addition to a pessimistic proof. This upgrade is intended to generalize how chains settle while protecting chain health and asset integrity. The implementation will involve deploying new contracts for the LxLy unified bridge for token mapping and migrating existing tokens from the PoS portal to the new deployment.

The deterministic deployment plan for moving 500-600 tokens to the LxLy bridge was discussed, considering the use of BLS signatures or full consensus proofs. The community was encouraged to provide feedback on the technical decisions involved. Concerns about the role of proof-of-stake validators with the introduction of the LxLy bridge were addressed, clarifying that checkpoints for the Plasma Bridge and other tokens will continue to go to Ethereum.

Long-term plans to eliminate the trusted prover role in ZK-proof systems were also discussed, with the goal of moving towards decentralized proving mechanisms and infrastructure improvements. The community's feedback was sought to refine the proposals and ensure alignment with decentralization and efficiency goals within the Polygon ecosystem.

Discussion on Bor Release v1.3.4:

The call also covered the upcoming Bor release v1.3.4, which includes updates related to the aborted hard fork, PIP-35 (increasing the minimum gas to 30 gwei for improved user experience), and improvements in the P2P module. The release will incorporate Git upstream version 1.3.6 and address sync and peering issues. Polygon encouraged early adoption of PPS for significant storage and performance improvements. It was also mentioned that the emissions rate will decrease from 3% to 2.5% with the anniversary update on June 30th, along with changes in the way emissions are sent to the stake manager.

Update on PIP-26 and Introduction to PIP-39:

PIP-26, which proposes aligning the initial POL validator rewards with the original MATIC schedule until June 2025, was discussed as a way to honor the social contract with validators and enable a smooth transition to Polygon 2.0. PIP-39, the validator onboarding framework for the PoS network, was introduced by Jackson, who provided an overview of the process. This includes scoring and ranking applicants based on financial stake, experience, and expertise, followed by an interview and a decision by an internal committee. The process has successfully onboarded 10-12 validators within six to eight months.

Tanisha shared insights on the methodology used to determine the scoring weights for validator admission. A survey of high-performing validators was conducted to measure the correlation between various parameters, and a validator percentile analysis identified expertise and stake as significant factors for high performance. The weights for expertise were divided into technical, governance, and outsourced operations. Validators scoring high across these pillars are considered eligible for admission, subject to verification. The admission process aims to be transparent and inclusive, considering factors beyond stake alone to admit diverse validators.

Next Steps:

Feedback is being collected regarding POL Migration timelines, with updates expected at the next VTAB meeting. The next PPGC meeting, scheduled in two weeks, will cover PIP-38 and updates on the Ahmedabad upgrade.

Blockworks Research View

The Polygon Protocol Governance Call (PPGC) #21 covered several crucial topics for the Polygon ecosystem. A major focus was ZK-PoS Phase 1, which aims to connect Polygon PoS to the AggLayer using ZK proofs of consensus. This upgrade intends to generalize chain settlement while safeguarding chain health and asset integrity. It will involve deploying new contracts for the LxLy unified bridge and migrating existing tokens. The team sought community feedback on technical decisions and long-term plans to decentralize the proving process.

The call also discussed the upcoming Bor release v1.3.4, which incorporates updates from Geth, implements PIP-35 (raising minimum gas to 30 gwei), and enhances the P2P module. This release aims to resolve sync and peering issues and includes performance improvements. It was noted that the emissions rate will decrease from 3% to 2.5% on June 30th.

PIP-26 and PIP-39 were also addressed. PIP-26 proposes aligning initial POL validator rewards with the original MATIC schedule until June 2025. PIP-39 introduces a new validator onboarding framework for the PoS network, detailing an admission process that scores applicants based on financial stake, experience, and expertise. The methodology for determining scoring weights was explained, emphasizing the importance of expertise and stake in validator performance.