ZKsync, the Ethereum scaling solution developed by Matter Labs, announced on Monday that it will retire ZKsync Lite, its first-generation zero-knowledge rollup network, in 2026.
The team described the move as a “planned, orderly sunset” for a system that has fulfilled its purpose and no longer fits the long-term vision of the ZKsync ecosystem.
Launched in June 2020, ZKsync Lite, also referred to as ZKsync 1.0, was one of Ethereum’s earliest ZK-rollups designed specifically to enable fast and affordable payments.
It served as a pioneering proof-of-concept during the early stages of zero-knowledge technology adoption, demonstrating that production-ready ZK-rollups could operate effectively on Ethereum.Â
Matter Labs said ZKsync Lite played a key role in validating critical ideas that shaped the development of more advanced ZKsync systems.
“This is a planned, orderly sunset for a system that has served its purpose and does not affect any other ZKsync systems,” the team wrote on X. They emphasized that the retirement is limited to ZKsync Lite and does not impact ZKsync Era or any other components of the broader ecosystem.
Despite the decision, ZKsync clarified that no immediate action is required from users. Operations on ZKsync Lite will continue as normal during the transition period. User funds remain fully secure, and withdrawals to Ethereum Layer 1 will remain functional throughout the deprecation process.
The development team plans to release a detailed roadmap in 2025 outlining the exact timeline and steps required for the orderly phase-out.
The retirement reflects a broader evolution in ZKsync’s technical strategy, as the project shifts its focus to more advanced and scalable systems like ZKsync Era, which supports smart contracts, higher throughput, and modern developer tooling.
ZKsync Lite’s upcoming sunset marks the conclusion of an important early chapter in Ethereum’s ZK-rollup history,
one that proved what was possible and laid the groundwork for the next generation of zero-knowledge technology.