Polygon to Shut zkEVM Network After Strategic Pivot
Polygon Labs will shut down the sequencer for its zkEVM Mainnet Beta on July 1, ending operations for what was once the company's flagship Ethereum scaling network.
Summary:
- Polygon zkEVM’s sequencer will shut down on July 1.
- Users must withdraw DeFi and bridged assets before the deadline.
- Polygon is shifting resources toward Agglayer and broader ZK infrastructure.
The move reflects a broader strategic shift toward Agglayer and modular zero-knowledge infrastructure after the project reportedly generated more than $1 million in annual operating losses.
The transition from the zkEVM Mainnet to the Agglayer represents a fundamental shift in Polygon’s architectural philosophy. While the zkEVM was designed as a singular, monolithic-style scaling solution – focusing on executing Ethereum-equivalent transactions in a self-contained environment – the Agglayer operates as a ‘unified interoperability layer.
Instead of forcing all activity into one chain, the Agglayer is designed to connect a mesh of independent, modular chains, enabling them to share a common bridge and unified liquidity pool. This shift moves Polygon away from competing for ‘on-chain’ liquidity within a single network and toward acting as the connective tissue for the entire Ethereum ecosystem, effectively solving the fragmentation that often plagues high-performance Layer 2 chains.
| Feature | Polygon zkEVM | Agglayer (New Strategy) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Standalone Execution | Interoperability |
| Architecture | Monolithic ZK-Rollup | Modular / Aggregated |
| Liquidity | Isolated | Shared / Unified |
| User Experience | Requires Bridging | Seamless Cross-Chain |
| Development Goal | Ethereum Scaling | Unified Ecosystem |
Polygon Ends Support for zkEVM Mainnet
The shutdown marks the final stage of a transition first announced by Polygon Labs in 2025. Once the sequencer goes offline, the network will no longer process transactions, effectively ending activity on the chain.
Polygon CEO Marc Boiron recently said the team had largely stopped active development on zkEVM roughly a year and a half ago, highlighting the company’s gradual shift away from the project.
The decision affects only the Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta and does not impact the broader Polygon ecosystem, including Polygon PoS, Agglayer, Polygon CDK chains or the company’s zero-knowledge proving infrastructure.
Research and technology developed through zkEVM will continue to be utilized across Polygon’s remaining products, particularly within its aggregation and interoperability initiatives.
Users Face July 1 Deadline
Polygon is urging users and protocol teams to take action before the shutdown date.
Assets held inside DeFi protocols, bridges, multisignature wallets or smart contracts on zkEVM will not be migrated automatically. Users must manually withdraw funds and bridge assets back to Ethereum or another supported network before July 1.
Funds held directly in externally owned wallets will be automatically migrated to Ethereum Layer 1 after the shutdown. Polygon plans to provide a dedicated claims interface that will remain available until December 31, 2027.
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Any assets left unclaimed after that deadline could be considered abandoned under the transition framework.
The company has also encouraged DeFi projects with remaining value locked on zkEVM to coordinate directly with Polygon’s ecosystem team to ensure a smooth migration process.
Strategic Shift Reshapes Polygon’s Roadmap
The closure underscores how rapidly the Ethereum scaling landscape has evolved.
When Polygon zkEVM launched, the project was positioned as a key part of the company’s long-term strategy to compete with other Layer-2 networks. Since then, competition has intensified, with numerous rollups and zero-knowledge chains competing for developers, users and liquidity.
Polygon has increasingly concentrated resources on Agglayer, an interoperability framework designed to connect fragmented blockchain ecosystems through shared infrastructure and liquidity.
The move reflects a broader industry trend in which blockchain developers are prioritizing scalability, interoperability and capital efficiency over maintaining multiple standalone networks.
POL Holds Up Despite Shutdown News
Despite the planned network closure, Polygon’s native token has remained resilient.
POL traded near $0.079 on June 16 and continued to hold above key moving averages. Technical indicators show the asset trading above its 20-period moving average near $0.0786, its 50-period average around $0.0781, and its 200-period average near $0.0772, suggesting the broader short-term trend remains constructive.
Momentum indicators also point to improving sentiment. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) climbed to approximately 66, approaching overbought territory while remaining below extreme levels. The indicator suggests buying pressure has strengthened following a breakout from the mid-$0.07 range.
For investors, the market reaction suggests the shutdown has largely been viewed as a strategic reallocation of resources rather than a threat to Polygon’s broader ecosystem. Attention is now shifting toward whether Agglayer and Polygon’s next generation of zero-knowledge infrastructure can deliver the growth that zkEVM ultimately failed to achieve.
The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or trading advice. Coinspress.com does not promote or advocate for any particular investment strategy, asset, or cryptocurrency project. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable – always perform your own research and seek guidance from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Alexander Zdravkov
Reporter at CoinsPress
Alexander Zdravkov is a market analyst and crypto journalist with interests in economics, broader financial markets and digital assets. His journey into crypto began more than four years ago, driven by a fascination with the rapid evolution of blockchain technology and the transformative potential of decentralized finance. He began analyzing market cycles and identifying emerging trends before they reach the mainstream. He holds a degree in International Relations - a background that helped shape his broader perspective on global economics, geopolitics, and the interconnected nature of modern financial markets. Whether covering the latest developments in the crypto sector or exploring broader macroeconomic themes, Alexander focuses on giving readers context rather than simply repeating headlines. During his career, he has authored more than 10,000 articles covering cryptocurrencies, traditional finance, and global market developments. His work spans everything from Bitcoin and altcoins to macroeconomic trends influencing risk assets worldwide.
