Planned Sunset for Pioneering ZK-Rollup
ZKsync Lite, the pioneering zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup network launched on Ethereum, is slated for deprecation next year, according to an announcement from its team. This planned retirement signifies the completion of its initial purpose.
"In 2026, we plan to deprecate ZKsync Lite (aka ZKsync 1.0), the original ZK-rollup we launched on Ethereum," the ZKsync team stated via X on Sunday. "This is a planned, orderly sunset for a system that has served its purpose and does not affect any other ZKsync systems."
The team emphasized that ZKsync Lite "was a groundbreaking proof-of-concept and validated critical ideas related to building production ZK systems."
"It did its job: prove what’s possible and pave the way for the next generation."
Origins and Limitations of ZKsync Lite
Developed by the technology company Matter Labs, ZKsync Lite was introduced in 2020 with the aim of facilitating fast transfers and the minting of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). However, its functionality was constrained by a lack of support for smart contracts, which limited its broader application.
The network distinguished itself by being the first to implement validity proofs, which enabled the instant verification of transaction validity before transactions were batched and sent to the Ethereum mainnet for final confirmation.
Transition to ZKsync Era and User Impact
Matter Labs ceased development on ZKsync Lite in early 2023, shifting its focus to the launch of ZKsync Era, its zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) solution that supports smart contracts.
Users of ZKsync Lite are not required to take any immediate action, as the network continues to operate normally. "Funds remain safe, and withdrawals to L1 will keep working through the process," the announcement assured.
The deprecation of ZKsync Lite will not impact other ZKsync products. The team has stated that more specific details, dates, and guidance for migration from ZKsync Lite will be provided soon.
Network Activity and Future Developments
Current data from DefiLlama indicates that approximately $50 million is bridged to the ZKsync Lite network. In contrast, L2BEAT data reveals that ZKsync Lite has processed just over 330 user operations in the past 24 hours.
By comparison, ZKsync Era boasts a total value locked of $36.4 million and has facilitated over 22,000 user operations in the same period.
This development follows recent proposals for changes within the ZKsync ecosystem. Last month, ZKsync co-creator Alex Gluchowski suggested a revamp of its ZKsync (ZK) governance token to emphasize "economic utility," potentially linking the token's value to network fees.