ZKsync Lite, the inaugural zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup network launched on Ethereum, is set to be deprecated next year, as announced by its team, having achieved its intended purpose.
“In 2026, we intend to deprecate ZKsync Lite (also known as ZKsync 1.0), the original ZK-rollup we introduced on Ethereum,” ZKsync stated on X on Sunday. “This is a planned, organized phase-out for a system that has fulfilled its role and does not impact any other ZKsync systems.”
They further noted that ZKsync Lite “was a pioneering proof-of-concept and validated essential concepts related to constructing production ZK systems.”
“It accomplished its task: demonstrate what’s achievable and lay the groundwork for the next generation.”
The technology firm Matter Labs introduced ZKsync Lite in 2020, aiming for rapid transfers and the minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, its inability to support smart contracts limited its functionality.
The network was the first to implement validity proofs that immediately verified the validity of a transaction before transactions were bundled and sent to the Ethereum mainnet for final confirmation.
Matter Labs ceased development on ZKsync Lite in early 2023 after launching its zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM), which supports smart contracts, known as ZKsync Era.
ZKsync mentioned that no immediate action is needed from ZKsync Lite users, and the network continues to function normally. “Funds are secure, and withdrawals to L1 will remain operational throughout the process,” it added.
Its other products remain unaffected, and the team indicated it would soon provide “specific details, dates, and migration guidance” regarding ZKsync Lite.
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Currently, just under $50 million is bridged to the network, as reported by DefiLlama, while L2BEAT data indicates it has seen just over 330 user operations in the last day.
In comparison, DefiLlama reports that ZKsync Era has a total value locked in decentralized finance of $36.4 million, with L2BEAT showing over 22,000 user operations in the past day.
The ZKsync blockchain may see further modifications. Last month, co-creator Alex Gluchowski proposed revising its ZKsync (ZK) governance token to emphasize “economic utility,” linking the token to the network’s fees.
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