ZKsync Lite, Ethereum’s first zero-knowledge rollup, will officially be retired in 2026 as Matter Labs shifts its full attention toward next-generation ZK systems.
The announcement marks a significant moment for the Layer-2 ecosystem, closing the chapter on a network that helped introduce ZK technology to millions of users.
Launched in 2020, ZKsync Lite reduced fees, eased congestion, and supported token transfers and NFT minting, but it did not offer smart contract functionality.
As the Ethereum ecosystem evolves toward fully programmable rollups, Lite’s role transitions from an active network to a completed proof-of-concept that shaped the foundations of modern ZK rollups.
ZKsync Lite Shut Down
Matter Labs confirmed through an official statement on X that ZKsync Lite will be deprecated in early 2026. The team framed this decision as a planned and orderly sunset rather than a sudden shutdown.
According to the announcement, ZKsync Lite has fulfilled its role as the earliest implementation of their zero-knowledge rollup architecture.
It demonstrated that ZK-powered scaling was possible in production, validated key design assumptions, and provided a platform that developers could test, stress, and learn from.
Launched in June 2020, ZKsync Lite introduced a payment-focused environment that allowed cheaper and faster transactions compared with Ethereum Layer-1 at that time.
It supported token transfers, atomic swaps, and NFT minting, giving users early access to functionality that was rare on rollups in 2020. However, Lite’s most notable limitation was its lack of smart contract support.
As the broader Ethereum ecosystem shifted toward rollups designed to host fully programmable decentralised applications, Lite could no longer keep pace with platforms offering more advanced features.
The team paused active development on Lite in March 2023 following the launch of ZKsync Era, a zkEVM capable of running arbitrary smart contracts. Since then, Lite has remained operational but no longer central to the project’s roadmap.
Despite the upcoming deprecation, Matter Labs stressed that nothing changes for users today. ZKsync Lite will continue functioning normally, user funds remain safe, and withdrawals to Ethereum Layer-1 will operate without interruption throughout the transition period.
The announcement emphasised appreciation for the community that supported ZKsync Lite. The team highlighted that Lite acted as the critical first step in a much longer journey, offering a real-world demonstration of what ZK systems could achieve before the technology matured into its current form.
By 2026, the network will be phased out completely, with a detailed migration plan released in 2025 to prepare users ahead of time.
A New Plan in 2026
The retirement of ZKsync Lite frees Matter Labs to focus on ZKsync Era and the broader ZK Stack, one of which is the Prividium tech stack, the centre of the project’s long-term strategy.
ZKsync Era launched in March 2023 as a full-featured zkEVM, allowing developers to deploy any smart contract compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine.
This shift expanded ZKsync from a payment-oriented network into a fully programmable Layer-2 capable of supporting decentralised exchanges, lending markets, gaming applications, and complex on-chain systems.
ZKsync Era also anchors the ZK Stack, a modular framework that allows teams to build their own ZK-powered chains using shared technology.
This includes features such as native interoperability between chains built with the stack, unified prover infrastructure, and an architecture designed to scale with demand.
Matter Labs described the transition away from Lite as necessary because the newer systems represent the direction in which ZK rollups must evolve: more flexible, more secure, and capable of running sophisticated applications at scale.
The team reassured users that funds held on ZKsync Lite will remain safe throughout the transition. Withdrawals to Layer-1 will continue functioning normally, and the network will not restrict user activity before the official sunset.
A formal migration plan outlining timelines, processes, and recommended steps will be published next year. The goal is to give users and developers ample time to prepare without facing disruption.
Matter Labs also highlighted that the success of ZKsync Era and the ZK Stack would not have been possible without the early lessons learned from Lite. ZKsync Lite served as the testing ground for critical research into rollup security, proof generation, user experience design, and operational reliability.
These insights influenced the architecture of the zkEVM, contributed to advancements in ZK technology, and helped set standards now used across the rollup ecosystem.
With the coming shift, the development team’s focus moves entirely to systems built with the ZK Stack, along with experimental technologies such as Prividiums.
These components make up the vision of a network of interconnected ZK chains capable of scaling Ethereum in a decentralised and secure manner.
By announcing Lite’s sunset early, Matter Labs aims to guide users toward the platforms that will continue receiving upgrades, security improvements, and ecosystem growth.
Conclusion
The planned shutdown of ZKsync Lite in 2026 represents the natural conclusion of a network that played a historic role in demonstrating the viability of ZK rollups on Ethereum.
Lite provided the foundation for today’s advanced systems, proving that zero-knowledge proofs could support real users and real assets.
As Matter Labs shifts its full attention to ZKsync Era and the expanding ZK Stack, users can expect a more capable and future-focused ecosystem built on the lessons that Lite helped uncover.
Funds on ZKsync Lite remain safe, the network stays operational during the transition, and a clear migration plan will be released ahead of the 2026 deprecation.