Latest ZKsync (ZK) News Update

By CMC AI
09 January 2026 12:02PM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on ZK?

TLDR

ZKsync sees bullish developments as Upbit listing boosts Asian access, Grvt enhances DeFi utility, and banking adoption gains momentum.

  1. Upbit Listing (06 January 2026) – ZK listed on Korea’s top exchange, opening access to 10M+ users and boosting liquidity.

  2. Grvt Launches Earn on Equity (08 January 2026) – New feature turns idle margin into yield, attracting traders to ZKsync.

  3. Banks Urged to Adopt ZK Tech (08 January 2026) – Industry leader argues ZKsync-like L2s are essential for modern finance.

Deep Dive

1. Upbit Listing (06 January 2026)

Overview: Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, added ZK for spot trading against KRW, BTC, and USDT. This marks ZKsync’s entry into a high-volume Asian market with over 10 million users, typically improving liquidity and tightening spreads.
What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it provides a major fiat on-ramp for Korean investors, potentially increasing retail demand and stabilizing prices through deeper order books. (TradingView)

2. Grvt Launches Earn on Equity (08 January 2026)

Overview: Grvt, a ZKsync-based exchange, introduced "Earn on Equity," allowing traders to earn 10% APY on idle margin collateral. Yield comes from platform fee revenue, with future integration of ZKsync’s Atlas upgrade for decentralized yield sources.
What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it enhances capital efficiency on the network, incentivizing more trading activity and potentially increasing transaction volume and protocol revenue. (grvt.io)

3. Banks Urged to Adopt ZK Tech (08 January 2026)

Overview: Igor Mandrigin (CTO of Gateway.fm) argued in a Cointelegraph op-ed that banks must replace private blockchains with public permissioned L2s like ZKsync. He highlighted ZK-proofs for compliance and liquidity access, citing Visa and SWIFT experiments.
What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it signals growing institutional recognition, positioning ZK tech as critical for tokenized assets and cross-border settlements, potentially driving enterprise adoption. (Cointelegraph)

Conclusion

ZKsync is bridging retail accessibility, DeFi innovation, and institutional credibility, setting the stage for broader adoption. Will these developments catalyze sustained network growth in Q1 2026?

What are people saying about ZK?

TLDR

ZKsync's vibe swings from tech optimism to price jitters. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Recent 10% price drop sparks bearish alerts

  2. Long-term holders remain bullish on upgrades and team execution

  3. Retirement of ZKsync Lite signals focus shift, with $50M in assets to migrate

Deep Dive

1. @Adanigj: Recent price dip bearish

"ZKsync (ZK) went down 10.4 percent in the last 24 hours on Binance Futures. Note: This coin is one of the Top Looser today"
– @Adanigj (1.2K followers · 2026-01-07 07:33 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is bearish for ZK because short-term traders are reacting to recent underperformance, creating selling pressure amid thin liquidity.

2. @DinoMaxZK: Innovation fuels bullish conviction

"My $ZK bag is ready... the team keeps shipping, the tech keeps improving... the pump feels inevitable"
– @DinoMaxZK (1.6K followers · 2026-01-02 07:10 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is bullish for ZK because ecosystem upgrades like Atlas (15k TPS, near-zero fees) signal long-term utility growth and institutional adoption potential.

3. @HooLiFuk: Lite retirement neutral

"ZKsync has announced plans to retire ZKsync Lite... roughly $50 million in assets remain bridged"
– @HooLiFuk (555 followers · 2025-12-08 19:20 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is neutral for ZK because sunsetting legacy infrastructure (Lite) focuses resources on advanced networks like ZK Stack, though migration could temporarily dampen sentiment.

Conclusion

The consensus on ZKsync is mixed, balancing bearish short-term price action against bullish tech upgrades. Watch the $50M asset migration from Lite to ZK Stack – its smooth execution could validate network resilience and reignite momentum.

What is next on ZK’s roadmap?

TLDR

ZKsync's roadmap focuses on retiring its legacy network while advancing interoperability and token utility in 2026.

  1. ZKsync Lite Migration (2026) – Detailed plan for retiring the original rollup

  2. ZK Stack Expansion (2026) – Broader development of modular ZK chains

  3. Enhanced Token Utility (2026) – Economic upgrades tying ZK to network value

Deep Dive

1. ZKsync Lite Migration (2026)

Overview: ZKsync will fully deprecate its original ZK-rollup (Lite) in 2026, releasing a detailed migration timeline and instructions. This legacy system, launched in 2020 as a proof-of-concept for ZK technology, holds ~$50M in assets that will be securely transitioned. The shutdown doesn't affect ZKsync Era or other chains (Binance News).
What this means: Neutral for ZK as it streamlines resources but requires careful execution to avoid user disruption. Success could demonstrate operational maturity, while delays might temporarily impact sentiment.

2. ZK Stack Expansion (2026)

Overview: Development focus shifts to the ZK Stack infrastructure and Prividium systems, enabling developers to build custom ZK rollups with native interoperability. This framework aims to accelerate zero-knowledge technology adoption and support institutional chains like Deutsche Bank's L2 for tokenized assets (Yahoo Finance).
What this means: Bullish for ZK as it positions ZKsync as Ethereum's execution layer, potentially driving ecosystem growth. Bearish if competing stacks (e.g., Polygon CDK) gain faster adoption.

3. Enhanced Token Utility (2026)

Overview: The ZKnomics proposal (passed Nov 2025) transitions $ZK from governance to utility, linking token value to protocol revenue via buybacks, burns, and staking rewards. This includes fees from cross-chain interoperability and enterprise licensing (Cryptotimes).
What this means: Bullish if implemented successfully, creating token scarcity via burns (37.5M $ZK rewards pool). Bearish if revenue generation lags or regulatory challenges emerge.

Conclusion

ZKsync's roadmap prioritizes operational consolidation and value capture through its token model, retiring legacy tech while expanding its role in Ethereum's scaling narrative. How will ZK Stack adoption rates compare to rival modular frameworks in H1 2026?

What is the latest update in ZK’s codebase?

TLDR

ZKsync's recent codebase updates focus on infrastructure independence and security enhancements.

  1. Etherscan Support End (7 Jan 2026) – Discontinued third-party block explorer integration to promote native infrastructure.

  2. Security Council Upgrade (2 Aug 2025) – Patched protocol vulnerability via governance intervention.

  3. ZKsync Lite Deprecation (8 Dec 2025) – Announced retirement of legacy network for resource consolidation.

Deep Dive

1. Etherscan Support End (7 Jan 2026)

Overview: ZKsync discontinued Etherscan integration for its Era network, shifting all block/transaction data to its native explorer. This change responds to ZKsync's evolution into a multi-chain network with custom features like cross-chain bundles and solx compilers.
What this means: This is bullish for ZK because it reduces external dependencies and enhances protocol-level coordination. Developers must migrate APIs by the deadline to maintain access to advanced features like interop transaction tracking. Short-term adaptation friction may occur, but long-term ecosystem self-sufficiency increases.
(Coinspeaker)

2. Security Council Upgrade (2 Aug 2025)

Overview: The Security Council executed an emergency upgrade to resolve an undisclosed protocol vulnerability, leveraging ZKsync's "defense-in-depth" architecture to maintain system integrity.
What this means: This is bullish for ZK because it demonstrates responsive governance and robust security infrastructure. Users benefit from continuous protection without service interruptions, though full transparency awaits the post-mortem report.
(ZKsync on X)

3. ZKsync Lite Deprecation (8 Dec 2025)

Overview: ZKsync announced the 2026 retirement of its legacy Lite network (launched 2020), citing fulfilled purpose as a ZK proof-of-concept. The $50M in remaining assets retain L1 withdrawal access.
What this means: This is neutral for ZK because it redirects resources to ZK Stack development but requires user migration. The orderly sunset reflects maturation, though asset transitions could temporarily impact network activity.
(CoinMarketCap Community)

Conclusion

ZKsync prioritizes native infrastructure and protocol security while phasing out legacy systems. How will developer adoption of its explorer API influence cross-chain interoperability by mid-2026?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.