Ethereum’s First ZK Rollup to Retire in 2026 as 330 Daily Users Decline

ZKsync announced it will formally deprecate ZKsync Lite, Ethereum’s first zero-knowledge rollup network, in 2026 after the system “fulfilled its purpose” as a foundational proving ground for ZK technology. The team described the transition as an “orderly sunset,” emphasizing that the move will not affect any of its newer networks, including ZKsync Era.

Launched as the earliest implementation of a ZK rollup on Ethereum, ZKsync Lite introduced the use of validity proofs, allowing transactions to be verified before being bundled and submitted to the Ethereum mainnet. This mechanism drastically reduced computation demands on the base layer and helped establish ZK rollups as a core scaling solution for Ethereum’s ecosystem.

ZKsync stated that Lite “validated critical ideas” for building next-generation proofs-based systems. Development on the network had already ceased in early 2023 following the rollout of ZKsync Era, the protocol’s zkEVM architecture that supports smart contracts and broader application deployment.

User Funds Secure as Operations Continue

The team noted that ZKsync Lite will continue operating during the transition period and that users do not need to take immediate action. Withdrawals to Ethereum’s Layer 1 will remain available throughout the deprecation process, with full migration guidance scheduled for release in the coming months.

Despite its historical significance, ZKsync Lite’s activity has sharply declined.
Data from analytics platforms show:

• $50 million currently bridged to the network (DefiLlama)
• Only 330 user operations in the past 24 hours (L2BEAT)

By comparison, ZKsync Era—its successor—reports:

• $36.4 million in total value locked in decentralized finance
• Over 22,000 user operations in the past day

The divergence underscores the shift toward more advanced ZK environments as developers prioritize programmability, efficiency, and ecosystem depth.

Governance and Token Changes Ahead

The ZKsync ecosystem may undergo broader realignments beyond Lite’s retirement. In November, co-creator Alex Gluchowski proposed a redesign of the ZK token, suggesting a model that ties token value directly to network economic activity. The framework would position the token more squarely within network fee economics, reflecting a trend among Layer-2 protocols to strengthen financial incentives for long-term participants.

ZKsync Lite’s planned phase-out marks a pivotal transition for the protocol. While the network’s early role was primarily experimental, the system provided critical real-world validation for zero-knowledge scaling—laying groundwork that newer ZK rollups continue to build upon. As ZKsync moves toward a more mature architecture, the shift reflects the broader industry trend toward consolidating resources around scalable, contract-capable rollup ecosystems.