Latest ZKsync (ZK) News Update

By CMC AI
10 November 2025 12:47AM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on ZK?

TLDR

ZKsync rides a mix of tokenomics upgrades and institutional buzz, with privacy narratives adding fuel. Here are the latest updates:

  1. Tokenomics Revamp Proposal (5 November 2025) – Founder proposes buybacks, burns, and staking to align ZK with network revenue.

  2. Chainlink SmartCon Participation (4–5 November 2025) – Highlighted institutional partnerships and Ethereum scalability advancements.

  3. Privacy-Driven Price Surge (7 November 2025) – ZK rallied 113% amid broader privacy coin momentum.


Deep Dive

1. Tokenomics Revamp Proposal (5 November 2025)

Overview:
ZKsync co-founder Alex Gluchowski proposed a major overhaul of the ZK token’s economic model, shifting it from governance-only to utility-driven. The plan includes channeling on-chain fees (e.g., cross-chain interoperability) and off-chain enterprise licensing revenue into a treasury for buybacks, burns (to reduce supply), staking rewards, and ecosystem grants.

What this means:
This is bullish for ZK as it directly ties token value to network usage. Buybacks could create upward price pressure, while staking rewards may incentivize long-term holding. However, execution risks remain, as revenue generation depends on adoption of ZKsync’s Elastic Network and enterprise tools.
(CoinMarketCap)


Overview:
ZKsync showcased its Atlas upgrade at Chainlink’s SmartCon in New York, emphasizing Ethereum compatibility and sub-second transaction finality. The event highlighted partnerships with institutions exploring ZK-powered privacy solutions (“Prividiums”) for compliant asset tokenization.

What this means:
This is neutral-to-bullish, as institutional interest could drive real-world adoption. However, competition from other Layer-2 networks like Arbitrum and Optimism remains fierce. Metrics to watch: growth in Total Value Locked (TVL), currently at $3.3B.
(ZKsync on X)


3. Privacy-Driven Price Surge (7 November 2025)

Overview:
ZK surged 113% to $0.063, fueled by a broader rally in privacy coins like Zcash (+76%) and Monero (+10%). Analysts linked the spike to ZKsync’s integration of zero-knowledge proofs and its recognition as a privacy-focused chain by CoinMarketCap.

What this means:
This is speculative but reflects growing demand for transactional privacy. Risks include potential regulatory scrutiny of privacy tools and whether ZKsync can sustain momentum beyond narrative-driven trading. The token has since retraced to $0.056 (-3.27% weekly).
(CoinMarketCap)


Conclusion

ZKsync is pivoting toward utility-driven tokenomics and institutional adoption, while capitalizing on privacy trends. Key questions: Will the proposed economic model attract sustainable network activity, or will ZK remain vulnerable to speculative swings? Monitor fee revenue and enterprise partnerships for clues.

What are people saying about ZK?

TLDR

ZKsync’s Atlas upgrade and Vitalik’s nod spark optimism, but low activity keeps debates lively. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. Vitalik’s spotlight fuels bullish bets despite muted on-chain metrics.

  2. Atlas upgrade draws institutional buzz but faces adoption skepticism.

  3. Traders eye $0.075 breakout as tokenomics shift to utility-driven model.

Deep Dive

1. @BOBOObtc: Vitalik’s Atlas hype vs. reality mixed

“$ZK shot up 150%+ post-Vitalik’s endorsement… daily activity still low (~10k addresses), TVL $44.5M.”
– @BOBOObtc (23.4K followers · 7.2K impressions · 2025-11-03 15:12 UTC)
View original post
What this means: Mixed sentiment – bullish momentum from Ethereum co-founder praise contrasts with weak network usage metrics.

2. CoinMarketCap: Technicals signal $0.075 breakout bullish

“ZK testing resistance at $0.0685–$0.0690; clean break above $0.07280 could trigger rally to $0.075.”
– CoinMarketCap Community Post (2025-08-17 10:21 UTC)
View analysis
What this means: Bullish technical structure suggests short-term upside if buyers sustain momentum above key levels.

3. @fathers_crypto: Early-stage ecosystem optimism bullish

“ZKsync Validium L2 = low fees, real security… Vitalik backing. Feels like early days.”
– @fathers_crypto (18.2K followers · 1.1K impressions · 2025-11-03 10:09 UTC)
View original post
What this means: Bullish long-term outlook for ecosystem growth, driven by developer adoption and institutional interest.

Conclusion

The consensus on ZKsync is mixed, balancing Vitalik-driven optimism against lagging adoption metrics. While the Atlas upgrade’s 15k TPS and tokenomics overhaul (buybacks/staking) excite traders, daily addresses and TVL remain underwhelming. Watch for December’s Fusaka upgrade – a potential catalyst for L2 activity – alongside sustained price action above $0.065.

What is the latest update in ZK’s codebase?

TLDR

ZKsync’s codebase advances focus on scalability, security, and developer tooling.

  1. Prover API & TEE Proofs (September 2024) – Decentralized proof generation and added security via Trusted Execution Environments.

  2. Atlas Upgrade (October 2025) – Modular ZK design with 15k TPS and Ethereum liquidity integration.

  3. Security Council Protocol Fix (August 2025) – Addressed a critical protocol vulnerability.

  4. Gas Fee Optimization (May 2025) – Reduced zkSNARK verification costs by 94%.

Deep Dive

1. Prover API & TEE Proofs (September 2024)

Overview: ZKsync introduced a decentralized Prover API and Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) proofs to enhance security and decentralize proof generation.
The Prover API allows third-party developers to generate and verify ZK proofs, while TEE proofs add hardware-based security layers. This dual-proof system ensures transaction validity without relying solely on cryptographic assumptions.

What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it strengthens network security and decentralizes critical infrastructure, reducing single points of failure. Users benefit from more resilient transaction validation.
(Source)

2. Atlas Upgrade (October 2025)

Overview: The Atlas upgrade introduced modular ZK architecture, enabling developers to customize chains with shared Ethereum liquidity and sub-second finality.
Key features include Airbender (a new proof system) and a high-performance sequencer processing 25k–30k TPS. The upgrade also unified liquidity across ZKsync chains, reducing fragmentation.

What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it lowers fees, accelerates cross-chain transactions, and attracts institutional use cases like tokenized assets. Developers gain flexible tooling for specialized chains.
(Source)

3. Security Council Protocol Fix (August 2025)

Overview: ZKsync’s Security Council resolved a protocol vulnerability via an emergency upgrade, leveraging its multi-layered defense architecture.
The issue was patched without compromising user funds, and a post-mortem analysis was shared transparently.

What this means: This is neutral for ZKsync—it demonstrates robust crisis response but highlights ongoing security risks inherent in complex systems. Users retain confidence in the protocol’s resilience.
(Source)

4. Gas Fee Optimization (May 2025)

Overview: ZKsync reduced zkSNARK verification gas costs by 94% (from ~6.8M to 370k gas) via optimized elliptic curve precompilation and ModExp integration.
This upgrade automatically applied to existing contracts, requiring no developer action.

What this means: This is bullish for ZKsync because it makes on-chain applications cheaper to operate, attracting more developers and users seeking cost-efficient scaling.
(Source)

Conclusion

ZKsync’s codebase evolution prioritizes security, scalability, and usability—key drivers for institutional adoption and ecosystem growth. With modular architecture and economic incentives aligning token utility, how will these upgrades impact its position against competing L2s like Arbitrum and Optimism?

What is next on ZK’s roadmap?

TLDR

ZKsync's development continues with these milestones:

  1. Staking Pilot Launch (Q4 2025) – 6-month trial offering rewards to decentralize network operators.

  2. Fusaka Upgrade (3 December 2025) – Privacy-focused enhancements for enterprise adoption.

  3. ZKnomics Implementation (2026) – Token utility expansion via buybacks, burns, and staking.

Deep Dive

1. Staking Pilot Launch (Q4 2025)

Overview: The recently approved TPP-12 governance proposal initiates a 6-month staking pilot, distributing 37.5M $ZK (≈$2.17M at current prices) as rewards. This aims to incentivize node operators and test decentralized network security.
What this means: Bullish for ZK – staking could reduce circulating supply while rewarding long-term holders. Risks include low initial participation if yields underdeliver vs. market expectations.

2. Fusaka Upgrade (3 December 2025)

Overview: Fusaka introduces zero-knowledge TLS proofs for private cross-chain data verification (BOBOObtc), targeting institutional use cases like compliant DeFi and enterprise asset tokenization.
What this means: Neutral-to-bullish – while privacy could attract regulated entities, adoption depends on balancing transparency demands. Delays might occur if audit processes uncover vulnerabilities.

3. ZKnomics Implementation (2026)

Overview: Proposed by founder Alex Gluchowski, this overhaul ties $ZK’s value to protocol revenue (CoinMarketCap). Fees from ZKsync Chains and enterprise licenses would fund buybacks (50% burned, 30% staking rewards, 20% ecosystem grants).
What this means: Bullish long-term – directly linking network usage to token demand. Bearish risks include reliance on unproven revenue streams and potential sell pressure from institutional token unlocks.

Conclusion

ZKsync’s roadmap balances technical innovation (Fusaka’s privacy) with economic sustainability (ZKnomics), while near-term staking aims to stabilize governance. With Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently praising its “underrated” work, can ZKsync convert institutional interest into sustained network growth?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.