How Does On-Chain Data Analysis Reveal ZK Rollup's Growth and Challenges in 2025?

ZK Rollup TVL grows to $6.27 billion in 2025, but still trails OP Rollup

The zero-knowledge rollup ecosystem has witnessed substantial growth in 2025, reaching a remarkable $6.27 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL). This milestone represents significant adoption of ZK technology within the decentralized finance landscape. However, despite this impressive growth, ZK rollups continue to trail behind Optimistic rollups in market dominance.

Leading the ZK rollup space is zkSync Era with its Hyperchain ZK Stack, which has established itself as a future-ready solution. Meanwhile, Mantle Network has emerged as the largest individual ZK rollup platform with over $2 billion TVL. This growth can be attributed to recent technological advancements, particularly Taiko's innovative ZK-EVM which enhances scalability and efficiency.

The competition between ZK and OP rollups intensifies as both technologies race to deliver better fees, faster speeds, and smoother user experiences. For investors and developers, the defining factor in 2025 is no longer raw throughput but rather how seamless the user experience becomes for mainstream adoption. Data from gate shows ZK token experiencing significant price volatility in late 2025, reflecting the market's continued interest in this evolving technology.

Active addresses on zkSync Era increase by 20% weekly

zkSync Era has experienced a remarkable surge in user engagement, with active addresses growing by 20% week-over-week in 2025. This substantial growth coincides with significant protocol improvements introduced through the Elastic Network ecosystem, which has enhanced interoperability and shared liquidity across multiple blockchain environments.

The impressive increase in active users reflects zkSync's evolution from a single Ethereum Layer-2 solution to a comprehensive network of interconnected ZK chains. Data from on-chain metrics demonstrates this acceleration in adoption:

This user activity spike coincides with the July 2025 Gateway Interoperability launch, which enabled native cross-chain transactions and eliminated the need for Layer-1 transactions between ZK chains. The protocol update has positioned zkSync as a backbone for cross-rollup transactions, creating seamless experiences for users.

The dramatic 20% weekly growth in active addresses serves as a compelling indicator of zkSync Era's increasing market traction. This metric, while not perfect due to the possibility of individuals controlling multiple addresses, provides valuable insight into the network's expanding user base and transaction volume, validating the effectiveness of zkSync's technical roadmap and market strategy.

Layer 2 competition intensifies as Base reaches $1.5 billion TVL

The Layer 2 scaling race has reached a new milestone as Base's Total Value Locked (TVL) surpassed $1.5 billion, signaling intensifying competition in the Ethereum scaling landscape. This rapid growth positions Base as a formidable challenger to established Layer 2 solutions like zkSync, which currently holds a significant market position with its zero-knowledge rollup technology.

The competitive dynamics between these scaling solutions are increasingly evident in their performance metrics:

Base's explosive TVL growth represents a strategic shift in the Layer 2 landscape, as newer entrants rapidly gain ground against established players. zkSync maintains its competitive edge through technical innovation, focusing on zero-knowledge proofs that offer enhanced security and scalability advantages. The protocol's recent price volatility, having surged 97.66% over a seven-day period despite significant monthly fluctuations, demonstrates the market's evolving perception of Layer 2 technologies.

This competition ultimately benefits the broader Ethereum ecosystem by driving innovation in scaling solutions, with different approaches competing to address Ethereum's throughput limitations while maintaining security guarantees.

FAQ

What is a zk coin?

A zk coin is a cryptocurrency using zero-knowledge proofs for privacy. It allows transaction verification without revealing details, enhancing blockchain security.

Is ZKSync a good investment?

Yes, ZKSync shows strong potential as an investment. Its advanced Layer-2 technology offers scalability and lower fees, positioning it well for future growth in the Ethereum ecosystem.

What is a ZK in Crypto?

ZK stands for Zero-Knowledge, a cryptographic method that proves the truth of a statement without revealing extra information. It's vital for privacy in blockchain, enabling efficient and private transactions.

Is there a ZKSync token?

Yes, there is a ZKSync token. ZK is the native utility and governance token of the zkSync ecosystem, used for transaction fees and governance.