Deep Dive
1. Native Explorer Transition (7 January 2026)
Overview: ZKsync discontinued Etherscan support for the ZKsync Era chain on January 7, 2026, migrating all on-chain data to its native explorer (Coinspeaker). This move is necessary because Etherscan cannot index the network's native interoperability features, such as cross-chain bundles and Gateway settlement. The native explorer provides a unified view of execution context and cross-chain state.
What this means: This is neutral for ZKsync as it reduces external dependencies and increases protocol-level coordination, which could improve developer experience long-term. However, it requires developers to adapt to new tools in the short term.
2. Prividium Evolution to Bank-Grade Infrastructure (2026)
Overview: A key pillar of the 2026 roadmap is evolving Prividium from a privacy engine into "bank-grade" infrastructure (Foresight News). The goal is to make privacy the default, integrating it directly into enterprise workflows like access management, approvals, and auditing while maintaining compatibility with existing financial software.
What this means: This is bullish for ZK because it directly targets institutional adoption—a large, underserved market. Success here could drive significant network usage and fee revenue, but it depends on execution and regulatory acceptance.
3. ZK Stack Shift to Collaborative System (2026)
Overview: The ZK Stack, a toolkit for building application-specific blockchains, will shift from enabling independent chains to fostering a collaborative "Elastic Network" (CoinMarketCap). This aims to seamlessly connect public and private ZK chains, integrating liquidity and shared infrastructure natively to eliminate the need for complex cross-chain bridges.
What this means: This is bullish for ZK as it enhances network effects and composability, potentially locking in more value and activity within the ZKsync ecosystem. The risk is slower adoption if developer onboarding remains challenging.
4. Airbender as Universal Standard (2026)
Overview: The open-source RISC-V proof system, Airbender, is set to advance from a high-speed zkVM to a universal standard for zero-knowledge virtual machines (Foresight News). The focus will expand from speed to prioritize trust, usability, security, and a top-tier developer experience, serving applications beyond crypto.
What this means: This is bullish for ZK as it positions ZKsync's core technology as a foundational layer for the broader ZK ecosystem, potentially creating new demand streams and reinforcing its technical moat.
5. ZKsync Lite Deprecation (2026)
Overview: ZKsync plans an orderly deprecation of ZKsync Lite (formerly 1.0) in 2026 (TradingView). The legacy rollup, which launched in 2020, now processes fewer than 200 daily transactions. About $50 million in user funds remain bridged; withdrawals to Ethereum L1 will remain functional, and a full migration guide will be released.
What this means: This is neutral to slightly bullish for ZK as it streamlines development focus and resources onto the more advanced ZKsync Era and ZK Stack. It removes maintenance overhead but requires a smooth user migration to avoid negative sentiment.
Conclusion
ZKsync's 2026 strategy is a clear pivot from foundational scaling to enterprise adoption, emphasizing privacy, interoperability, and real-world asset tokenization. The success of this institutional focus will hinge on execution, partnership delivery, and broader market conditions. How quickly can regulated partners launch production systems serving millions of users?