Ethereum to Launch L1 zkEVM in 2026 for Scalability and Privacy

July 11, 2025 – Ethereum is set to evolve once again. The Ethereum Foundation has officially revealed its roadmap to launch a Layer 1 zkEVM (zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine) within the next 12 months. Shared by core developers and Foundation leaders, this initiative signals a major shift toward native zero-knowledge integration.

This isn’t another Layer 2 rollout. The plan involves embedding zkEVM technology directly at the base layer, making Ethereum’s own consensus system more efficient, scalable, and private. Developers envision replacing traditional block verification with ZK client-based proof verification, enabling validators to use cryptographic proofs to confirm blocks—faster and more securely.

Ethereum Foundation workshops in Berlin previously outlined a three-phase roadmap to this upgrade:

• Formalize Ethereum zkEVM proof requirements
• Upgrade Layer 1 verifiers
• Complete formal verification for full ZK adoption

Real-time proving systems have already demonstrated viability, giving confidence that Ethereum’s L1 can scale significantly with zkEVM integration.

What This Means for Developers, Users, and L2s

For developers and dApps, the Ethereum zkEVM opens the door to high-throughput applications without relying solely on Layer 2s. It reduces costs for L2s too—native zk-rollups will become cheaper and faster, benefiting from more efficient base-layer interactions.

For users, this means lower gas fees and enhanced privacy. ZK proofs allow data to be validated without revealing its contents, paving the way for privacy-preserving transactions at the protocol level—something Ethereum has lacked until now.

This transition could also reduce network congestion and make Ethereum more inclusive for users priced out by high fees during peak usage.

Ethereum’s Long-Term Edge in a Crowded L1 Market

With competitors like Solana and Aptos pushing high-speed Layer 1s, Ethereum has faced criticism over slow development and high costs. The zkEVM launch directly counters that narrative, reinforcing Ethereum’s leadership in research, security, and decentralization.

By integrating ZK at the base layer, Ethereum becomes the first major blockchain to natively support zk-rollups, setting a new benchmark for others to follow. While execution will take time, the promise of a more scalable and private Ethereum could drive broader adoption, developer migration, and even ETH price appreciation.

As one developer noted on X: “It’s the beginning of Ethereum’s ZK-first future.” With momentum building, 2026 could be the year Ethereum regains its edge—not by adding layers, but by upgrading its core.