ZKsync’s 2026 Plan Targets Bank-Grade Privacy on Ethereum

Ben Graham · January 14

Matter Labs CEO Alex Gluchowski shared the project’s roadmap for the year: What is the plan for ZKsync in 2026?

ZKsync is an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution developed by Matter Labs. It makes transactions on Ethereum faster and cheaper while keeping the same level of security. It uses zero-knowledge proofs, a technology that verifies transactions are correct without showing all the details publicly.

The plan moves away from early testing and focuses on building real infrastructure that banks, asset managers, and regulated institutions can use. It builds on tools launched in 2025, such as Prividium (a privacy-focused system), ZK Stack (a toolkit for custom chains), and Airbender (a fast proof generator).

The goal is to create systems that meet the needs of traditional finance, including strong privacy, full control, clear risk rules, and easy connections to global markets.

Gluchowski described Zksync 2026 as the year of moving from initial setups to large-scale use, with partnerships aimed at serving tens of millions of users.

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So What Is ZKsync Changing in 2026?

ZKsync runs on top of Ethereum as a Layer-2 network. This means it handles most transactions off the main Ethereum chain to reduce costs and speed things up, then settles the final results back on Ethereum for security. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to keep everything verifiable without making all data public.

Zero-knowledge proofs let the system prove a transaction is valid without revealing private information, such as exact balances or who is involved. This is like showing proof you paid for something without showing your full bank statement. ZKsync applies this to make Ethereum more practical for everyday and business use.

At the heart of the plan sits Prividium, a private execution system that hides sensitive data like balances and counterparties. Instead of showing every detail on a public ledger, transactions run more like internal bank systems, but still settle on Ethereum for security.

Matter Labs CEO Alex Gluchowski argued that public-by-default blockchains clash with how finance works. Banks cannot expose trade strategies or client data and stay competitive. That gap, not regulation, now blocks adoption.

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Privacy Is Back on the Ethereum Agenda

Privacy talk never vanished, but institutions forced it back into the spotlight. Ethereum today works like a glasshouse. Anyone can see activity, which helps transparency but scares companies.

ZKsync leans on zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptography method that proves something happened without revealing details. This same idea already protects passwords and now aims to protect financial flows.

This push lines up with a wider debate around Ethereum privacy solutions. Even Ethereum’s founders now say privacy must improve for mainstream use.

Vitalik just dropped a piece on why privacy is matters:

The TL;DR?
– AI is getting smarter
– Surveillance is just getting sneakier
– And you? You’re the product—unless you take back control.

his central points:

"Whoever has the information has the power" pic.twitter.com/deB23tMdFO

— meowy (@me256ow) April 14, 2025

From Solo Chains to Connected Financial Systems

ZKsync also wants its network of chains to work together by default. Instead of isolated blockchains stitched together by risky bridges, apps could move value across ZKsync chains and Ethereum directly.

The company says pilots launched in 2025 now move toward real deployments serving millions of users.

Banks and asset managers gain a way to use Ethereum without putting sensitive data on display. Developers gain access to deeper liquidity as institutions enter. Long term, that supports Ethereum’s role as a settlement layer for real-world assets.

This also feeds the narrative of institutional crypto adoption. Retail users often arrive after big players build the rails. If ZKsync delivers, Ethereum could make a huge step forward in mainstream adoption.

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