ZKsync, the Layer-2 scaling network built on Ethereum, is moving its ZK token from governance toward active economic utility. This shift marks a new stage in how blockchain networks align usage with value.

When the ZK token was launched in mid-2024, its sole purpose was governance: token holders could vote on proposals but had no direct claim on network activity. That model, typical among decentralized ecosystems, aimed to maintain neutrality while the architecture matured. 

Now, with interoperability features and “Prividiums” (private, institution-ready ZKsync chains) entering real-world use, ZKsync’s founder Alex Gluchowski says the time has come to connect network economics to its native token.

From governance to real utility

In the proposed model, every transaction or service using the ZKsync network would generate value that flows back into a decentralized treasury governed by token holders.

That treasury would then use the proceeds for three key purposes: buying back ZK from the market, distributing staking rewards to node operators, and funding ecosystem growth. Logic is straightforward: as the network grows in usage, value should circulate within it rather than dissipate externally. 

Two revenue streams are proposed: on-chain interoperability fees for moving assets and messages between ZKsync and Prividiums, and off-chain licensing for enterprise modules tailored to banks and financial institutions.

This design reflects a growing recognition across blockchain ecosystems that sustainability requires more than token issuance and hype. In simple terms, the model aims to make decentralization pay for itself, rewarding validators, developers, and governance participants based on real network demand.

What is governance utility, and why it matter?

Governance tokens originally emerged to decentralize decision-making. They gave holders the right to vote but no direct link to profits or cash flow, distinguishing them legally from securities. 

Over time, this structure created a gap: networks could grow in users and volume without creating direct economic benefits for their token holders.

ZKsync’s proposed shift toward “governance utility” bridges this gap. Instead of serving only as a symbolic voting tool, ZK would become a mechanism for distributing network value — without compromising decentralization. In practice, this means governance would remain community-driven but backed by measurable, on-chain activity.

In other words, ZK would function as both a decision-making instrument and a reflection of the network’s health. A step toward what Gluchowski calls “economically sustainable decentralization.”

How the model works

Under the proposed framework, interoperability will be ZKsync’s main source of on-chain value capture. The network’s new cross-chain system, built on its Elastic Network architecture, will allow seamless asset and message transfers across public chains and private Prividiums.

Each transfer will generate small protocol fees. While minor individually, these could add up significantly if financial institutions adopt ZKsync as a settlement layer. Gluchowski compares the potential scale to SWIFT, which handles over 50 million financial messages daily.

Off-chain, the network will generate revenue through enterprise licensing. Modules like compliance dashboards, audit integrations, and reporting tools will be offered to financial institutions using ZKsync’s technology privately. 

The fees from those licenses will then feed back into the same governance-controlled system that manages on-chain revenues, maintaining a unified economic loop.

A growing foundation: interoperability and Atlas

This proposal follows ZKsync’s Atlas upgrade, which redefined how Ethereum-based Layer-2 networks exchange liquidity. The upgrade allows assets to move between chains within seconds and gives institutions direct access to Ethereum liquidity without maintaining separate reserves.

Together, Atlas and the new ZK utility model form a broader strategy: creating a self-sustaining, interoperable network capable of supporting both retail and institutional finance on-chain.

What’s next for the ZK token

The proposal will move to community review on the ZK Nation forum before a formal governance vote. If approved, it would represent one of the most advanced examples of “tokenized governance” evolving into full-scale “economic governance.”

As Gluchowski summarized in his post, “When the network is used, the ecosystem should benefit.” The shift signals a larger trend across DeFi and Layer-2 ecosystems, where utility, rather than speculation, defines value.

Also read: ZKsync Introduces Atlas Upgrade with Fast 1-Second ZK Finality