Polygon zkEVM Faces 2026 Deprecation Amid $1 Million Annual Loss

In 2021, Polygon made a significant move in the blockchain industry by acquiring Hermez for $250 million. This acquisition was aimed at advancing zero-knowledge scaling solutions, with Hermez being rebranded as Polygon zkEVM. The goal was to integrate Ethereum compatibility with zk-rollup security, enabling high-throughput and low-cost transactions.

However, by 2025, the project faced substantial challenges. Development on Polygon zkEVM has been silently discontinued, leaving the chain technologically outdated. Notably, it has not been upgraded to support EIP-4844 blobs, a critical Ethereum improvement designed to reduce transaction costs and enhance scalability.

The financial strain on Polygon zkEVM is significant, with the chain running at an annual loss of over $1 million. Despite the initial investment and ongoing maintenance, user engagement and revenue have not matched operational costs. As a result, Polygon's team has shifted its focus to other priorities, such as the Agglayer and enhancements on the PoS mainnet.

This strategic shift is expected to lead to the deprecation of Polygon zkEVM by 2026. The quiet abandonment of the project reflects a broader change in strategy, emphasizing cross-chain infrastructure and more efficient scaling solutions. For early supporters of zkEVM, this shift underscores the need for adaptability in the rapidly changing crypto landscape.

Looking ahead, while Polygon zkEVM may become obsolete, Polygon's overall vision remains robust. The network is concentrating on interoperable solutions and new infrastructure to support the next phase of Web3 adoption. The lessons learned from zkEVM's journey are likely to inform future blockchain innovations, fostering smarter and more sustainable developments in the industry.