Practice Test Geeks(CBSA) Certified Blockchain Solution Architect Practice Test
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Blockchain Scalability & Performance Flashcards

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  1. What is the key difference between a ZK-Rollup and an Optimistic Rollup?

    Answer: ZK-Rollups use zero-knowledge validity proofs for instant finality; Optimistic Rollups use fraud proofs with a challenge period

    ZK-Rollups generate cryptographic validity proofs (zk-SNARKs or STARKs) enabling immediate finality, whereas Optimistic Rollups rely on a fraud-proof challenge window before finality.

  2. In the context of Ethereum scaling, what is 'Plasma'?

    Answer: A Layer 2 framework for creating child chains that periodically commit compressed state roots to the Ethereum main chain

    Plasma is a framework, proposed by Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Poon, for spinning up child chains anchored to Ethereum's main chain for scalable off-chain computation.

  3. What is the primary scalability trade-off when simply increasing blockchain block size?

    Answer: Higher hardware requirements for running full nodes raise centralization risk

    Larger blocks demand more storage, bandwidth, and processing power, making it harder for smaller operators to run full nodes and pushing the network toward centralization.

  4. Which technology category enables separate blockchain networks to transfer tokens and arbitrary data with each other?

    Answer: Cross-chain interoperability protocols (e.g., Polkadot, Cosmos IBC)

    Cross-chain interoperability protocols such as Polkadot's XCMP and Cosmos's IBC enable different blockchains to communicate and transfer assets or messages.

  5. In blockchain performance, what does 'finality' mean?

    Answer: The guarantee that a confirmed transaction is irreversible and permanently recorded on the blockchain

    Finality is the property that once a transaction is sufficiently confirmed, it cannot be reversed, rolled back, or altered.

  6. What is the purpose of EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding) in Ethereum's scaling roadmap?

    Answer: To introduce blob-carrying transactions that allow Layer 2 rollups to post data to Ethereum at significantly lower cost

    EIP-4844 adds a new blob transaction type that allows rollups to attach large data blobs at a fraction of the cost of regular calldata, making Layer 2 solutions much cheaper.

  7. What does 'throughput' specifically measure in a blockchain performance context?

    Answer: The volume of transactions the network can process per unit of time

    Throughput measures the total transaction volume a blockchain can handle within a given timeframe, most commonly expressed as transactions per second (TPS).