ZKsync has officially launched Atlas, its most advanced infrastructure upgrade yet, marking a turning point in how blockchain systems can operate at scale.
Recognised by Ethereum developers for its technical design and performance, Atlas introduces major improvements to transaction speed, finality, and interoperability.
This update delivers more than just speed; it reshapes how enterprises, institutions, and developers interact with blockchain systems.
With one-second proof finality, support for multiple virtual machines, and a high-performance sequencer, Atlas moves ZKsync closer to its vision of connecting sovereign onchain systems into one secure network.
This article will explain what Atlas is, what makes it special, and how it benefits users across different sectors.
What is Atlas?
Atlas is the latest upgrade to the ZK Stack, the modular blockchain framework built by Matter Labs for deploying high-performance chains anchored to Ethereum. It represents a new phase in the ZKsync roadmap, focusing on scalability, real-time performance, and developer flexibility.
At its core, Atlas introduces a redesigned transaction sequencer capable of handling between 25,000 and 30,000 transactions per second. This leap forward is powered by a complete restructuring of the system architecture to make it simpler, faster, and more efficient.
The new sequencer focuses on three core dimensions: throughput, latency, and simplicity. It reduces unnecessary functions, streamlines how data is processed, and separates system states to ensure each component operates independently without overloading others.
This structure allows developers to replay blocks, improve reliability, and maintain consistency across the network.
Initial performance tests have shown that Atlas can handle around 23,000 transactions per second during high-frequency operations, and about 15,000 per second for standard token transfers.
For simple ETH transfers, the performance peaks at more than 40,000 transactions per second with very low inclusion time.
A central part of the upgrade is Airbender, a proving system built using the RISC-V framework. Airbender generates zero-knowledge proofs in about one second, giving Atlas one-second finality for each block.
This enables transactions to be verified nearly instantly, offering users cryptographic assurance without requiring intermediaries. The proofs are then settled to Ethereum within minutes, combining the speed of off-chain systems with the security of the main Ethereum network.
The integration of Airbender also makes Atlas one of the most efficient blockchain infrastructures available. Airbender can prove any program compiled to RISC-V, meaning it can support a range of virtual machines.
This flexibility allows developers to choose the environment that best fits their application, starting with full EVM equivalence.
As a result, existing Ethereum applications can deploy directly on ZKsync with minimal adjustments while maintaining the same logic and security standards.
Atlas also introduces an architecture where the same code is compiled for both execution and proving. It uses x86 for the sequencer and RISC-V for generating proofs, ensuring that what is executed is exactly what is verified.
This design reduces potential vulnerabilities and simplifies auditing, an essential factor for enterprises that rely on transparent and verifiable systems.
Beyond its technical achievements, Atlas reflects ZKsync’s broader vision of connecting both public and private chains within one ecosystem.
The upgrade ensures that these systems can communicate securely, exchanging data and value with cryptographic guarantees of correctness. Ethereum developers have acknowledged this approach as a major step forward in achieving true scalability while maintaining decentralisation.
How Does It Benefit Users?
For users, Atlas provides a faster, cheaper, and more reliable experience. The upgraded sequencer enables transactions to be processed almost instantly, with inclusion times as low as 250 milliseconds in some cases.
This means that payments, trades, and other interactions feel as immediate as traditional financial systems, while still benefiting from blockchain transparency and security.
The combination of the new sequencer and Airbender’s one-second proof generation also ensures that finality happens much faster. Once a transaction is sent, it is confirmed in a single second and finalised to Ethereum within minutes.
This feature eliminates one of the biggest pain points in blockchain adoption: the waiting period between transaction submission and confirmation.
It also reduces the risks associated with pending transactions, such as front-running or reordering, making the network more secure for high-value operations.
For developers and enterprises, Atlas creates new possibilities. The multi-virtual-machine support allows teams to build chains that suit their specific needs.
Financial institutions can run private blockchains with enhanced privacy and regulatory compliance while still being able to connect with public liquidity through ZK proofs.
Startups can deploy specialised chains for gaming, payments, or real-world asset tokenisation, confident that they are operating with low costs and high throughput.
Transaction fees have also become significantly lower. With the improvements in proof generation efficiency, the cost of a simple ERC20 transfer is estimated at around $0.0001.
This makes microtransactions feasible, opening up opportunities for new applications such as on-chain micropayments, subscription models, and peer-to-peer transfers without the friction of high fees.
Atlas’s architecture also improves interoperability across blockchains. With one-second proofs, different systems no longer need to rely on intermediaries to trust each other.
Instead, they can verify proofs directly. For example, a private enterprise chain could settle a payment with a public DeFi protocol by verifying the proof of correctness without revealing any sensitive data. This maintains privacy while ensuring that all transactions remain valid and transparent.
Users benefit not only from faster performance but also from stronger guarantees. Since proofs replace intermediaries, the need for trust shifts entirely to mathematics rather than third parties.
This principle allows for a more decentralised and incorruptible network, suitable for applications that handle significant financial or institutional data.
Atlas also plays a crucial role in supporting the growing movement of enterprises and institutions adopting blockchain infrastructure.
With companies like BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, Robinhood, and Stripe exploring on-chain operations, there is a growing demand for systems that combine privacy, compliance, and performance.
Atlas addresses these needs directly, giving organisations a foundation to deploy their own chains with full control while still being connected to Ethereum’s global liquidity.
For individual users, the benefits extend to practical applications such as decentralised exchanges, oracles, and payment systems. Faster transaction confirmation means users can trade assets, send payments, or interact with smart contracts with near-instant feedback.
For developers, Atlas provides a better experience when testing or deploying applications, as it reduces computational overhead and simplifies proof verification.
In short, Atlas not only increase speed but redefines what is possible for blockchain infrastructure. It brings together high performance, interoperability, and flexibility in one system.
Whether for small developers or large financial institutions, Atlas provides the technical foundation for scaling blockchain use into everyday global systems.
Conclusion
The launch of Atlas represents a defining moment for ZKsync and the broader blockchain community.
It is not just an upgrade in performance but a demonstration of how zero-knowledge technology can be applied to build secure, fast, and interconnected systems.
Recognised by Ethereum developers for its technical sophistication, Atlas introduces one-second proof finality, multi-environment flexibility, and dramatically reduced costs for transactions.
By combining speed, scalability, and privacy, Atlas makes blockchain infrastructure suitable for both individual users and large-scale institutions.
It creates the conditions for global payment systems, tokenised assets, and decentralised networks to operate efficiently while remaining secure.
As adoption continues to grow, Atlas positions ZKsync at the centre of the next phase of blockchain development, connecting public and private systems through cryptographic trust and Ethereum-backed security.