zkSync to Shut Down zkSync Lite in 2026: End of an Era for Ethereum’s First ZK-Rollup

The decision marks a “planned and orderly sunset” for the system that five years ago became the very first production ZK-rollup on Ethereum. The announcement was made by Matter Labs on December 7, 2025, via an official post on X.

Launched in June 2020, zkSync Lite was the pioneer ZK-rollup focused on fast token transfers, atomic swaps, and NFT minting.

As the team stated: “It was a groundbreaking proof-of-concept that validated core ideas behind building production-grade ZK systems. It fulfilled its mission: proved what was possible and paved the way for the next generation.”

However, the lack of smart-contract support severely limited its potential in the DeFi and dApp era, leading to the halt of active development in March 2023 - immediately after the launch of zkSync Era, a full-featured zkEVM rollup with arbitrary smart-contract support.

Full Focus on zkSync Era and ZK Stack

Going forward, all zkSync efforts will be concentrated on zkSync Era and the modular ZK Stack framework, which enables the creation of custom ZK chains, including private enterprise solutions (Prividiums). “This is the first step toward consolidating resources around systems built on ZK Stack, Prividiums, and the broader zkSync network,” the team emphasized. The Lite shutdown will not only affects other products - Era remains fully operational - and will be accompanied by a detailed migration plan to be published in early 2026.

According to L2BEAT, zkSync Lite currently holds around $50 million in bridged assets and processes fewer than 200 transactions per day, a sharp decline driven by migration to more feature-rich platforms. User funds remain secure, and withdrawals to Ethereum L1 will continue uninterrupted until the very end. “Nothing changes today, and no immediate action is required,” the team reassured.

zkSync Era Metrics

In contrast to the legacy Lite network, zkSync Era continues to show signs of life despite fierce L2 competition. As of December 8, 2025 (DefiLlama data):

• TVL: $36.89 million (+0.92% in 24h)
• 24h DEX volume: $409,639 (−10.94% over 7d)
• 24h perpetuals volume: $114.35 million (+2.03% over 7d)
• 24h fees: $14,646 (of which $11,619 went to applications)
• Transactions processed in the last 24h: >22,000 (over 100× more than Lite)

While TVL remains modest compared to 2024 peaks above $1 billion, Era retains its position as a key player in the ZK ecosystem, hosting projects like SyncSwap and Manta Network. Analysts suggest the Lite migration may inject additional liquidity, though the overall L2 market remains volatile post-Dencun upgrade and amid competition from Optimism and Arbitrum.

Nostalgia Meets Optimism

The news sparked a wave of discussion across Crypto Twitter. Users fondly remember Lite as “the pioneer that made ZK real,” while agreeing migration is inevitable. Popular suggestions include using LayerSwap for cheap bridging (~4 cents per tx) to withdraw remaining funds.

@HouseofZK called it “the end of an era, but a step forward for the entire ZK ecosystem.”

Mainstream crypto media coverage has been largely positive - Cointelegraph framed it as “mission accomplished,” while others see it as natural evolution of the L2 landscape. Some observers link the move to co-founder Alex Gluchowski’s recent ZK token reform proposal (tying token utility directly to network fees), viewing Lite’s sunset as part of broader economic strengthening. Critics, however, point to Era’s relatively low TVL as a warning sign, with a few X users joking that “closing Lite might just be the beginning.”

Overall, the community treats the decision as a mature consolidation of resources needed to compete long-term.

What’s Next for Users & Developers?

1. Users: Check Lite balances via the official bridge and prepare for 2026 migration. Withdrawals remain free and safe.
2. Developers: Migrate dApps to zkSync Era or ZK Stack - EVM compatibility makes porting straightforward.
3. Investors: Watch for ZK token updates; the upcoming reform may significantly boost utility.

The shutdown of zkSync Lite is not an end, but evolution. In a world where ZK technology is defining Ethereum’s future, such steps highlight the industry’s growing maturity.