Crypto glossary
Volition
A volition is a hybrid scaling design that lets users choose whether their data goes on-chain like a rollup or stays off-chain like a validium.
A volition combines two data modes under one validity-proof system. Some accounts or transactions publish their data on Ethereum, gaining full rollup security, while others store data with a committee or external layer, paying less in exchange for trusting the data holders. Both share the same state and proofs, so assets can interact across the two modes.
The idea, popularised by StarkWare and also explored in early zkSync designs, answers a practical question: not every action deserves the same security budget. A trader moving large sums might choose on-chain data, while a game logging thousands of small actions can opt for the cheaper mode. It lets one network serve both without forcing a single compromise.
The flexibility adds complexity. Users must understand which mode their funds sit in, since assets in the off-chain mode carry validium risks such as freezing if data is withheld. Few production networks expose the choice clearly to end users, and the term is sometimes used loosely for any chain that supports alternative data availability.
Example
On a volition-based exchange, a fund keeps its treasury account in rollup mode for maximum safety, while its market-making bot runs in validium mode to cut costs on thousands of daily orders.