---
description: >-
  Explore the Validium Network, a flexible, open-source framework designed for
  creating sovereign ZK-powered Ethereum rollups, known as ZK chains, utilizing
  the foundational technology of Validium.
---

# Overview

***

The Validium Network is a comprehensive framework aimed at revolutionizing the development of Ethereum rollups through its modular design and open-source nature. Based on the pioneering work of Validium Network Era, the Validium Network extends the core functionalities to enable developers to build custom ZK chains—Layer 2 (L2) and Layer 3 (L3) solutions—that are tailored to specific needs while ensuring compatibility and interoperability within the Ethereum ecosystem.

## Core features of the Validium Network

### Sovereignty

The Validium Network is built on the principle of sovereignty, granting developers complete control over their ZK chains. This means that developers can:

* **Customize Chain Features**: Tailor aspects such as transaction rules, data availability, and consensus mechanisms to suit specific use cases or performance requirements.
* **Own the Code**: Have full rights to the underlying code, providing the freedom to modify or enhance the chain as needed without external constraints.

### Seamless connectivity

Despite each ZK chain's independence, the Validium Network ensures that they do not operate in isolation. Instead, ZK chains are part of a cohesive network, linked by hyperbridges that facilitate seamless interactions:

* **Trustless Interoperability**: Hyperbridges allow for secure and reliable communication between different ZK chains without needing to trust a central authority, making interactions as trustless as those on Ethereum itself.
* **Fast and Cost-Effective**: Communication and asset transfers between ZK chains are designed to be both rapid (completed within minutes) and economical (incurring costs equivalent to a single standard transaction).
