## ZKsync Breaks Away from Etherscan to Stand Alone, Native Browser Takes Over from January 2026

ZKsync's ambitions are becoming increasingly clear. This layer 2 solution, which once relied on Etherscan, has now decided to fully part ways. Starting from January 7, 2026, block, transaction, and contract data on ZKsync Era will be completely migrated to its own native block explorer. Developers relying on the Etherscan API must complete the switch before the deadline.

This is not just a simple tool replacement but an inevitable result of the evolution of ZKsync's underlying architecture.

## Why Say Goodbye to Etherscan?

The key point is: **ZKsync is no longer a traditional single-chain solution**.

According to official statements on GitHub, ZKsync now supports new features like Interop transactions (cross-chain interoperability), Gateway settlement, and solx compiler. These functionalities have broken beyond the standard EVM assumptions, and Etherscan's indexing system cannot understand them.

Imagine a transaction that can execute across multiple ZKsync chains, then settle via Gateway or directly on Ethereum—this flexible structure breaks the traditional single-chain model that block explorers depend on. Etherscan cannot interpret this, so ZKsync must develop its own explorer capable of natively understanding protocol layers.

The new ZKsync native explorer will display execution context, settlement processes, and cross-chain status in a single view—something Etherscan cannot do. This change marks ZKsync's move toward reducing reliance on external infrastructure and strengthening protocol-layer autonomy.

## Upgrading Token Utility: From Governance to Economic Participation

Token utility design is also progressing in tandem. According to Alex Gluchowski, co-founder and CEO of Matter Labs, the focus for ZKsync in 2025 is to elevate the ZK token beyond mere governance.

The key change is that interoperability and off-chain authorization are now formal sources of value. When private and public ZKsync chains operate collaboratively, the protocol layer generates fees. These fees can be allocated via governance proposals for burning, staking rewards, or ecosystem funding.

In simple terms, **the value of the ZK token is no longer solely supported by voting rights but is directly linked to the actual fees generated by the network**. The more users and transactions, the higher the fees, and the more solid the token's fundamental value becomes.

## Three Major Upgrades for Enterprise-Grade Applications

On the technical front, ZKsync completed three significant upgrades in 2025:

**Prividium** (Privacy features enter production): Enables institutions to run fully private chains while generating verifiable proofs of validity on Ethereum. In other words, maintaining complete privacy of execution and state on the chain, while allowing anyone to verify its legitimacy.

**Atlas Upgrade**: Strengthened the processes of execution, proof generation, and Ethereum verification. Ambitious target metrics include over 15,000 transactions per second, near one-second finality, and extremely low proof costs. This significantly raises ZKsync's performance ceiling.

**Airbender**: Reduced hardware requirements and configuration complexity. Banks, asset managers, consumer applications, and regional chains have begun deploying production environments throughout 2025.

## Will the Price Bottom Arrive?

The reality is harsh. ZK token has plummeted over 90% from its all-time high of $0.37 more than two years ago. As of the latest report, it is priced at $0.03, with a 1-year change of -81.17%.

However, from the perspective of technological and economic design maturity, ZKsync is paving the way for a new phase in 2026. The simultaneous rollout of Prividium, Interop, and Atlas, along with the ecosystem's increased autonomy after the native explorer takes over, may provide support for ZK's declining price.

The key question is when the market will accept this new value model.