zkSync

ZKsync has launched Season 1 of its staking program with flexible terms: **Key Details:** - Starting APR: 3% (target) - Maximum APR: 10% per season - Dynamic rates: APR adjusts daily based on participation levels - Higher staking = lower APR; lower staking = higher APR - No lockup periods - stake and unstake anytime - Rewards stream continuously **Important Notes:** - APR is targeted, not guaranteed - Rates are managed and can fluctuate - Daily updates to targeting The program aims to balance participation with sustainable reward distribution. More information available in the [official FAQ](https://forum.zknation.io/t/zknomics-staking-pilot-faq/901/2).

**ZKsync's Season 1 Staking Pilot is now live**, introducing a delegate-to-stake mechanism built with Tally that ties $ZK rewards directly to active governance participation. **Key mechanics:** - Rewards only flow when $ZK is delegated to an *active* Delegate - No active delegation = no rewards eligibility - Over 55M $ZK already locked in the portal **Program structure:** - Season 1: 10M $ZK reward cap, targeting +200M active voting power - Season 2: Conditional 25M $ZK cap, targeting +500M active voting power - Each season runs three months The pilot aims to strengthen governance reliability by increasing delegated tokens and active voting power, while testing infrastructure for the future decentralized sequencer. Participants can stake at [vote.zknation.io](https://vote.zknation.io/dao/stake/direct).

ZKsync has launched **ZK Stack**, a platform allowing institutions to deploy customizable, enterprise-grade ZK blockchains. The solution addresses institutional needs for: - **Privacy and compliance** through cryptographic enforcement rather than trust-based systems - **Native interoperability** with Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem while maintaining governance independence - **Turnkey deployment** via Prividiums, which include built-in privacy, compliance, and permissioned access from day one The platform has attracted 30+ institutions including Citi and Deutsche Bank through the Prividium Breakthrough Initiative. [ADI Foundation](https://x.com/ADIChain_/status/2016119936070877224?s=20) selected ZK Stack to bring emerging market users onchain using UAE sovereign rails. Analyst reports from [Delphi Digital](https://members.delphidigital.io/reports/zksync-building-a-trustworthy-settlement-layer-for-institutional-and-sovereign-finance) and [Messari](https://messari.io/report/zksync-prividiums-for-enterprise-grade-privacy) detail the institutional adoption thesis. ZK Stack chains inherit Ethereum security while offering sub-second ZK finality and selective disclosure capabilities for regulated use cases.

**Current Status:** - 59M $ZK tokens staked and growing - Target: 400M $ZK for Season 1 - Current participation: ~15% of goal **Key Details:** - Season 1 launches February 9th - Staking portal live at [vote.zknation.io](https://vote.zknation.io/dao/stake/direct) - Users can select active delegates and lock tokens - Early stakers positioned to earn rewards from day one The ZKsync staking program shows steady growth as the community prepares for the official Season 1 kickoff. Participants who stake before the launch date will be eligible for rewards immediately when the season begins.

**ZKsync's ZKnomics Staking Pilot Program Season 1 begins Monday, February 9th at 10:00 AM ET.** Key details: - Rewards streaming starts February 9th, 10:00 AM ET - Season 1 duration: approximately 3 months - Total rewards pool: up to 10M $ZK tokens - Users can set up their staking positions now to be ready when rewards begin The program allows participants to stake $ZK tokens and earn rewards over the three-month period. Early preparation is encouraged to ensure readiness when the reward distribution commences. For more information and setup instructions, visit [ZKsync's official channels](https://zksync.io).

zkSync hints at entering a new phase of **mass adoption at scale**. The announcement comes through a social media post suggesting significant developments ahead for the Ethereum Layer 2 zkRollup. While specific details remain limited, the messaging indicates zkSync believes the infrastructure and conditions are now in place for broader user adoption. This follows previous conversations about blockchain scalability and accessibility. The timing suggests zkSync may be preparing to announce new features, partnerships, or metrics demonstrating readiness for mainstream use.

A new report from the Institutional Privacy Task Force reveals why **permissioned blockchain platforms are failing** to meet enterprise needs. The analysis demonstrates that traditional permissioned systems create bottlenecks and operational limitations that prevent scalability. Instead, the report advocates for **cryptographic privacy solutions** as the only practical path forward for institutions requiring genuine confidentiality. Key findings include: - Permissioned platforms face inherent structural limitations - Zero-knowledge proofs enable privacy without sacrificing transparency - Enterprise-grade public chains can deliver sub-second finality - Selective disclosure mechanisms meet regulatory requirements The report positions privacy-focused infrastructure as essential for institutional adoption, highlighting platforms that combine high throughput with Ethereum interoperability. This approach allows financial institutions to maintain confidentiality while operating on public networks. [Read the full report](https://x.com/iptf_updates/status/2017203663627051465)

ZKsync has launched its Delegate-to-Stake portal, with over 55 million $ZK tokens already locked in ahead of Season 1's February 9th start. **Key Details:** - Participants must delegate $ZK to an active Delegate to earn rewards - Season 1 offers 10M $ZK reward cap with a governance target of +200M active voting power - Season 2 (conditional) will offer 25M $ZK rewards targeting +500M voting power - Portal built by [Tally](https://www.tally.xyz/gov/zksync/stake/direct) The ZKnomics Staking Pilot Program aims to test infrastructure for the future decentralized sequencer while strengthening governance participation. Rewards only flow when staked tokens are delegated to active Delegates, aligning incentives with real governance engagement. Stake your $ZK at [vote.zknation.io](https://vote.zknation.io/dao/stake/direct) before Season 1 begins.

**ZK token is transitioning from a pure governance token to a value-accrual model.** The shift enables protocol usage to generate recurring revenue flows back to the ecosystem. This change comes as: - Interoperability solutions approach production readiness - Private institutional chains near deployment - Both onchain and offchain revenue streams are being structured to flow value to $ZK holders through governance mechanisms The evolution represents a fundamental reframing of the token's economic model, moving toward real utility beyond voting rights.

ZKsync continues advancing its **Airbender zkVM**, maintaining breakthrough performance in zero-knowledge proof generation for Ethereum. **Key Performance Metrics:** - Proves Ethereum blocks in under 50 seconds on a single GPU - Achieves ~1 second proving time for ZKsync chain blocks - Holds #1 position on the EthProofs leaderboard **Technical Significance:** The team built Airbender as a RISC-V based zkVM from scratch, moving away from older zkEVM architectures. This architectural choice aligns with Vitalik Buterin's suggestion that Ethereum may transition to RISC-V. Real-time ZK proving represents a major advancement - what previously required hours now completes in seconds. This breakthrough enables extended verifiability for blockchain infrastructure. View the latest benchmarks: [ethproofs.org/blocks](https://ethproofs.org/blocks)