ZKsync Era Unveils Community Control
The Layer 2 Activates ZK Nation
In March 2023, Matter Labs launched ZKsync Era as a Layer 2 rollup designed to scale Ethereum without sacrificing security or decentralization. Fast-forward to June 2024, the foundations of its governance system were revealed in a pivotal blog post.
Just a day later, the ZK token—the protocol's cornerstone of governance—was announced alongside details of a substantial airdrop, sparking a flurry of community reactions. A call for governance delegates soon followed, marking a crucial step in ZKsync’s path toward decentralization.
Today, the journey reaches its next milestone as ZKsync governance officially goes live, with smart contracts now deployed to the mainnet. This marks the beginning of a new phase in which the community has the power to shape the future of ZKsync through decentralized governance.
ZK Nation
ZK Nation represents the heart of the ZKsync community — a collective effort to govern, protect, and evolve the protocol. It’s a community-driven initiative built on core values of decentralization, security, and inclusivity. ZK Nation’s governance structure draws inspiration from frameworks like the Optimism Collective while maintaining a uniquely ZKsync approach.
“To bring Ethereum to the masses and shape the future of the internet, ZKsync must maintain strong social and technical decentralization guarantees. To remain resilient in the journey ahead, ZKsync depends on a vibrant community empowered to drive meaningful change through protocol governance.”
ZKsync governance operates through three key bodies:
Token Assembly, where ZK tokenholders delegate voting power and make governance decisions.
Security Council is responsible for approving proposals and managing emergencies.
Guardians, whose role is to protect the ZK Credo by vetoing harmful or inconsistent proposals.
Together, these bodies ensure that ZKsync governance remains robust, decentralized, and aligned with its founding principles.
The Governance System
This governance system — described in detail here — involves three Governor smart contracts:
Protocol Governor: Oversees and manages protocol upgrades.
Token Governor: Controls token minting and burning processes.
GovOps Governor: Responsible for governance advisory proposals.
Additionally, there are three types of proposals within the governance system:
ZKsync Improvement Proposals (ZIPs): Focus on protocol changes and upgrades.
Token Program Proposals (TPPs): Govern token mechanics, including issuance and distribution.
Governance Advisory Proposals (GAPs): Address off-chain decisions requiring approval by the Token Assembly.
Each proposal follows a transparent, structured process that includes submission, voting, and execution, with predefined thresholds and timelines for delays, voting periods, and vetoing. This framework ensures transparency and security throughout the ZKsync governance process.
The Credo
ZKsync’s governance system is designed to align with the ZKsync Credo. This Credo reflects on how technological advancements—from ancient bookkeeping to modern blockchain and Web3—have expanded personal freedom, creativity, and economic opportunity. The ‘ZK Revolution,’ grounded in integrity, privacy, and security, seeks to redefine digital ownership by fostering decentralized, censorship-resistant networks that prioritize user sovereignty. The Credo underscores the community's crucial role in maintaining these principles to ensure decentralization and freedom in the digital age.
How To Govern
Boardroom has teamed up with ZKsync to integrate the governance contracts into our dashboard, allowing full participation for all of ZK Nation. ✨
