ZKsync Ends Etherscan Support, Focuses on Native Explorer by 2026

ZKsync will discontinue Etherscan support for the ZKsync Era on January 7, 2026. Data concerning blocks, transactions, and contracts will move to ZKsync's native explorer.

• Developers using Etherscan APIs must transition by the deadline.
• ZKsync's architecture has evolved beyond standard EVM assumptions, requiring a protocol-specific explorer.
• Transactions now span multiple ZKsync chains with flexible settlement paths, including the ZKsync Gateway or directly through Ethereum.
• The native explorer provides comprehensive views of execution context, settlement flow, and cross-chain states.

Token Utility Developments

• In 2025, groundwork was laid for the ZK token utility beyond governance.
• Focus areas include interoperability and off-chain licensing as value sources tied to network usage.
• Governance proposals aim to create revenue paths for burns, staking rewards, and ecosystem funding.
• Token value is linked to the level of network coordination rather than just voting rights.

Enterprise Upgrades

• ZKsync introduced Prividium, allowing institutions to run private chains while maintaining public verifiability through Ethereum.
• The Atlas upgrade improves execution speed and verification, targeting over 15,000 transactions per second.
• Airbender reduces hardware requirements and provisioning time, facilitating deployments by banks and asset managers.
• The ZK token price has dropped over 90% from its peak, now trading at $0.027. The recent changes could stabilize prices.