Ethereum's Pioneer ZK-Rollup, ZKsync Lite, Set for 2026 Sunset

ZKsync Lite, the first zero-knowledge rollup on Ethereum, is slated for deprecation in 2026. This planned shutdown marks the end of an era for the groundbreaking technology that paved the way for current ZK systems. The protocol will transition its focus to the more advanced ZKsync Era and ZK Stack chains, ensuring continued innovation in Ethereum's scaling solutions.

Key Takeaways

• ZKsync Lite, Ethereum's inaugural ZK-rollup, will be retired in 2026.

• The deprecation is an orderly sunset, with no immediate action required from users.

• Funds remain secure, and withdrawals to Layer 1 will continue throughout the process.

• ZKsync will provide detailed migration guidance and specific dates in the coming year.

From Proof-of-Concept to Legacy

Launched in December 2020, ZKsync Lite served as a critical proof-of-concept, validating key ideas for production ZK systems. It addressed Ethereum's scalability issues by processing transactions off-chain and submitting cryptographic proofs to Layer 1. The protocol gained significant traction, especially after Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin endorsed its work in late 2025, calling it "underrated and valuable."

This endorsement boosted institutional interest and positioned ZKsync as a key player in Ethereum's scaling strategy. ZKsync evolved from Lite to ZKsync Era in March 2023, introducing the first publicly available zkEVM. The ZKsync 3.0 upgrade further transformed the ecosystem into an "Elastic Network" of interconnected ZK chains.

Institutional Adoption and ZK Technology

While ZKsync Lite phases out, the broader ZKsync ecosystem continues to attract significant institutional attention. Major financial institutions like Deutsche Bank and UBS are exploring ZKsync technology for applications such as asset tokenization and tokenized gold investments. Projects like Tradable have successfully tokenized billions in private credit on ZKsync, highlighting the network's capability for real-world asset protocols.

The Ethereum Foundation's "Ethereum for Institutions" initiative further supports enterprise adoption of zero-knowledge proofs and related privacy technologies.

Navigating Security Challenges

The deprecation announcement follows a period of security incidents. In April 2025, an attacker exploited an airdrop contract, minting millions in ZK tokens. The hacker later returned most of the stolen assets. Shortly after, the official ZKsync and Matter Labs X accounts were compromised, spreading phishing links and false regulatory warnings.

These events occurred amidst a broader trend of significant crypto hacks in early 2025, underscoring the ongoing security challenges within the digital asset space. Despite these incidents, ZKsync emphasizes that ZKsync Lite's sunset is a planned transition and does not impact its other active systems.

Sources

• Ethereum’s First ZK-Rollup ZKsync Lite to Shut Down in 2026, Yahoo Finance.

• ZKsync to deprecate ZKsync Lite in 2026, sunsetting Ethereum's first ZK rollup, The Block.

• ZKsync to Retire Its Original Ethereum Rollup Next Year, Yahoo Finance.

• Ethereum Founder Breaks Silence With Major Upgrade Proposal — TradingView News, TradingView.