The Influence of ZKsync’s Vitalik-Endorsed Scaling Technology on Ethereum’s Prospective Supremacy

Ethereum’s Next Chapter: ZKsync and the Evolution of Blockchain Scalability

The future of Ethereum depends on its capacity to expand efficiently while maintaining its decentralized and secure nature. In 2025, Vitalik Buterin’s public support for ZKsync marked a significant turning point, establishing zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs as a foundational technology for Ethereum’s continued development. By harnessing ZKsync’s innovative features and forging strong institutional alliances, Ethereum is overcoming previous scalability challenges and drawing increased interest and investment from the traditional finance sector—an essential move to reinforce its leadership in the blockchain space.

Vitalik Buterin’s Support and ZKsync’s Innovations

Vitalik Buterin’s endorsement of ZKsync in November 2025 brought attention to the platform’s crucial role in Ethereum’s scaling plans. He praised ZKsync’s notable contributions, especially the Atlas upgrade, which elevated transaction throughput to 15,000 transactions per second (TPS) while keeping fees minimal and achieving near-instant finality using ZK technology. This aligns with Buterin’s broader vision of ZK proofs as the future of Ethereum, enhancing transaction security, privacy, and decentralization.

The upcoming Fusaka upgrade is expected to further boost throughput to 30,000 TPS, solidifying ZKsync’s status as a strong rival to Arbitrum, which previously held a significant share of Ethereum’s Layer 2 total value locked (TVL). ZKsync’s roadmap, featuring innovations like gasless transactions and a Single Sign-On toolkit, lowers barriers for both individual and institutional users, making it an appealing choice for developers and businesses alike.

Institutional Integration: Deutsche Bank and Sony Lead the Way

ZKsync’s credibility among major institutions has grown rapidly, highlighted by collaborations such as Deutsche Bank’s Project Dama 2 and Sony’s adoption of ZK-based solutions. Deutsche Bank’s DAMA 2 platform, built on ZKsync’s ZK Chain, demonstrates how established financial institutions are embracing blockchain. Its three-tiered structure—combining Ethereum’s base layer, a privacy-focused ZK rollup, and an accessible user interface—enables the creation of tokenized funds, hybrid asset management, and compliance with regulatory standards. This initiative, part of Singapore’s Project Guardian, aims to tokenize real-world assets while equipping regulators with tools to oversee and mitigate risks, such as interactions with sanctioned entities.

Sony’s use of ZKsync for enhancing supply chain transparency and verifying NFTs showcases the platform’s versatility beyond decentralized finance. Leveraging ZKsync’s post-Atlas 43,000 TPS capacity, Sony has optimized its internal processes and, in partnership with Bastion, introduced a USD-backed stablecoin for broader retail applications. These cases highlight ZKsync’s ability to meet enterprise demands for compliance, scalability, and data privacy.

Comparing ZKsync and Arbitrum: Performance and Ecosystem Growth

Although Arbitrum currently leads in developer adoption and ecosystem size, ZKsync is rapidly closing the gap with its technical achievements and institutional support. Arbitrum’s fast block times and support for multiple programming languages make it attractive for infrastructure developers. However, ZKsync’s Atlas and Airbender Prover upgrades have delivered sub-500ms transaction speeds and a throughput of 43,000 TPS, surpassing Arbitrum’s scalability milestones.

Institutional engagement further distinguishes the two platforms. While Arbitrum’s Layer 2 ecosystem experienced significant growth in 2025, ZKsync attracted $15 billion in institutional capital, driven by its deflationary token model and integration of real-world assets. With 12 billion transactions processed and $1.9 billion in RWA TVL, ZKsync is expanding its influence in tokenized assets and cross-chain liquidity solutions.

Expanding Use Cases: Beyond Decentralized Finance

ZKsync’s reach extends into areas such as gaming, identity management, and micropayments. Payment companies are utilizing ZKsync’s Layer 2 infrastructure to process millions of small transactions in emerging markets, while gaming platforms benefit from its rapid finality for smoother user experiences. Deutsche Bank’s DAMA 2 also illustrates ZKsync’s role in asset tokenization, with plans to introduce tokenized funds and stablecoins in 2026.

Obstacles and Future Prospects

Despite its rapid progress, ZKsync faces challenges, including competition from Arbitrum and the unpredictability of the broader crypto market. Nevertheless, ongoing upgrades like Fusaka, strong institutional partnerships, and alignment with Ethereum’s long-term goals position ZKsync to capture a larger share of Ethereum’s TVL. The ZKsync DAO’s staking initiative, allocating 37.5 million $ZK tokens, is designed to further decentralize the network and manage market pressures, enhancing its attractiveness to investors.

Conclusion: ZKsync’s Strategic Role in Ethereum’s Growth

With Vitalik Buterin’s endorsement, ZKsync is more than just a technical enhancement—it represents a strategic evolution for Ethereum. By tackling scalability, privacy, and institutional adoption, ZKsync is reshaping Ethereum’s value proposition, enabling seamless movement of assets between Layer 1 and Layer 2, and supporting the integration of real-world assets. For investors, ZKsync’s deflationary tokenomics, practical applications, and alignment with Ethereum’s vision make it a compelling choice for long-term growth.