One of the creators of the Ethereum solution ZKsync has proposed a radical reconsideration of the governance token concept. In his opinion, the token lacks a real economic function.
On Tuesday, Alex Gluchowski published a post on the project’s forum, noting that the current model of the ZK token worked well in the early stage, when the network architecture and development strategy were just being formed. But since then, the ecosystem has changed significantly.
Gluchowski noted that ZKsync is no longer limited to a single network; it is now a whole bundle of zero-knowledge blockchains that interact with each other. At this stage, he believes, the project’s token should play a much more significant role: not just be a governance tool, but actually participate in the distribution of value created within the network.
“It is important for the token to be part of the real economy. Not just a symbol, but a tool through which the ecosystem gets back a share of what is created within it,” he noted.
As the head of Matter Labs, Gluchowski added: if the network is to develop independently, without external donors, it must be able to sustain itself. According to him, the money that passes through the network, whether in the form of fees, licenses, or other mechanisms, should not leave the system.
“If the ecosystem creates something, for example, tools that are later used by large companies, it is logical that part of this value should remain inside and go towards development. Without this, it is too early to talk about independence,” he explained.
Revenues Will Be Returned to the Ecosystem
Gluchowski proposed that the updated ZK token should start to derive value both from on-chain sources, such as native network fees for cross-chain communications, settlements, and other basic functions, as well as from off-chain directions, including licensing agreements for the use of enterprise solutions.
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He clarified that the ZKsync tech stack remains open and free for everyone. However, when large companies start using infrastructure created by the community, for example, integrating it into their own asset management systems, there should be a mechanism for value to be returned to the ecosystem.
“If functionality is created at the expense of the ecosystem, it is fair that its corporate use benefits all participants,” he explained.
According to Gluchowski’s idea, all the value that the network extracts through fees and licensing will go into a system managed by the community. From there, it will be distributed to key areas: token buybacks on the market, staking rewards, token burning, and support for projects within the ecosystem.
“For decentralization to exist not just in words but in reality, it must be economically viable. The network needs a sustainable financial model that will allow it to develop, be protected, and operate thanks to many independent participants, not with the support of a single centralized sponsor,” he emphasized.
Discussions about possible changes to the token model have been ongoing in the ZKsync community for several months. Back in June, the head of business development at Matter Labs, Omar Azhar published a document on the project’s forum called ZKnomics Roadmap Vision, outlining the first ideas on this topic.
What ZKnomics Proposes and When to Expect Changes
According to Omar Azhar, the ZKnomics initiative aims to synchronize the development of the ZK token with the sustainability and long-term health of the entire network. The more actively the protocol is used, the more revenue it generates, and these funds are automatically directed to two key areas: rewarding network participants and managing the token supply volume.
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There is no specific timeline for implementing the new model yet. Alex Gluchowski also published his proposal on X to get more feedback from the community. He emphasized that additional details will be revealed once the project receives broad support in this direction.
