- ZKX Protocol on StarkNet closes due to economic strain, despite extensive efforts to maintain operations
- Security breaches and low user mining rates contribute to the ZKX Protocol’s closure.
- ZKX Protocol’s closure raises concerns about the stability of Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem.
ZKX Protocol, a derivative protocol built on the Ethereum Layer 2 solution StarkNet, has decided to cease operations, citing economic challenges as the primary reason. Eduard Jubany Tur, the founder of ZKX, announced the closure, noting that despite significant efforts, the protocol could not maintain economic viability.
In a detailed statement on X, Eduard outlined the gradual cessation of operations. ZKX Protocol has delisted all markets and closed user positions, ensuring all funds are returned to users’ trading accounts.
Important Statement 30.07.24
With much regret, we have to announce the discontinuation of the ZKX protocol. Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to find an economically viable path for the protocol.
(1) All markets have been delisted, positions have been closed and all…
— Eduard (@0xEduard) July 30, 2024
Users can transfer funds to their main self-custodial accounts and withdraw via the StarkWay bridge to Ethereum Layer 1. The protocol has set the end of August as the deadline for these actions, with vesting and distribution of ZKX to continue until September 1.
Challenges Leading to Closure
Eduard revealed that the ZKX Protocol struggled to generate enough daily revenue to cover basic expenses like cloud server costs. This financial shortfall made sustaining employee salaries and other operational expenditures untenable.
Despite efforts to boost user engagement and trading activity, only a few users participated in mining STRK and ZKX rewards, further contributing to the protocol’s downfall.
ZKX also encountered security issues, including hacks and scam attempts, which are becoming increasingly common in the Web3 and crypto ecosystem. Such security breaches have affected ZKX and other entities within the Ethereum Layer 2 networks, indicating a need for heightened security measures across the board.
Despite the setbacks, protocols like ZKX have contributed to Ethereum’s development and staking processes. The potential destabilization of such Layer 2 solutions could affect the overall performance and future advancements of the Ethereum main chain.
Final Stages and Community Response
Despite the cessation of operations, Eduard and the ZKX team expressed gratitude towards the community and their collaborators, particularly the Starkware team and the StarkNet Foundation. They commended the engineering of the StarkNet platform and acknowledged the support received throughout their operations.
The ZKX team remains proud of the infrastructure they have built, including innovations in perpetual trading and self-custody mechanisms, which they believe still hold value for the future of DeFi applications.
