ZKsync, the pioneering Ethereum scaling solution developed by Matter Labs, has officially announced plans to retire its original network, ZKsync Lite, in 2026. This move marks a monumental shift in the ecosystem as the company zeros in on newer technologies like ZKsync Era and the ZK Stack.
Why is ZKsync Lite Being Retired?
Launched in June 2020, ZKsync Lite was created as an early zero-knowledge (zk) payment rollup, enabling fast and cost-effective Ethereum transactions. However, with innovations in zkEVM systems — which allow full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility — ZKsync Lite’s capabilities have naturally become outdated.
The retirement is part of a “planned, orderly sunset” for a system that has served as a proof-of-concept. As the Matter Labs team stated on X, ZKsync Lite validated critical ideas that later informed the development of ZKsync Era and the broader ZK Stack, which are now the focus of all future innovations.
A Transition in Action
This transition began gaining traction in February 2023, when ZKsync 1.0 was rebranded to ZKsync Lite. The following month, Matter Labs ceased engineering updates for Lite, refocusing its efforts on ZKsync Era and their zkEVM ecosystem. By 2023, ZKsync Era became the core skeleton of Matter Lab’s next-generation solutions, featuring EVM compatibility and support for decentralized applications (dApps).
Conversely, Lite’s simpler framework, limited to basic transfers, NFT minting, and swaps, did not support smart contracts, which minimized its usability in Ethereum’s rapidly growing space.
What Happens Next?
ZKsync Lite currently holds approximately $50 million in bridged assets within its Layer 1 (L1) contracts. Users have been reassured that withdrawals to Ethereum will remain operational throughout the deprecation process. The team has also committed to sharing detailed timelines and instructions in the coming months.
If you’re an active user of ZKsync Lite, this is the perfect time to begin migrating to ZKsync Era or exploring other compatible zkEVM systems. Matter Labs aims to ensure a smooth transition for projects moving onto these advanced networks.
Why This Matters for Ethereum’s Future
The shift away from ZKsync Lite reflects Ethereum’s evolution toward scalable, efficient, and versatile systems powered by zero-knowledge proofs. By incentivizing communities to consolidate around zkEVM-compatible solutions, developers can build more robust dApps while ensuring flexibility and cost-efficiency.
Recommended Resource
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