# Migrating off Polygon zkEVM (2026) - Verdict

**Status: Dead · Jul 1, 2026.** Polygon zkEVM has shut down.

Polygon zkEVM was an EVM-equivalent zero-knowledge Ethereum Layer 2 rollup built by Polygon Labs, launched as Mainnet Beta in March 2023 and built on the Hermez Network that Polygon acquired in 2021. It let developers deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts with lower fees while inheriting Ethereum security through validity proofs.

SOURCE: Polygon Community Forum (official announcement) - https://forum.polygon.technology/t/polygon-zkevm-mainnet-beta-sunset-claim-your-funds/21856

Category: Crypto-Adjacent Dev & Finance Tools

## What this means

The service is no longer operating. Confirmed death. Sequencer taken offline July 1, 2026; network stopped producing blocks and Agglayer bridge withdrawals closed. Verified against official Polygon Community Forum sunset announcement and Cryptotimes; both agree on the June 2025 announcement and July 1, 2026 execution. Claims interface for auto-migrated wallet balances runs through Dec 31, 2027, after which unclaimed assets are treated as abandoned.

## Where to go (live alternatives)

- **Arbitrum One** - Live Ethereum L2 optimistic rollup with the largest L2 TVL and broad EVM tooling support.
- **OP Mainnet (Optimism)** - Live EVM-equivalent optimistic rollup; its OP Stack also powers many other production L2s.
- **zkSync Era** - Live EVM-compatible zk-rollup, the closest direct zero-knowledge alternative for teams that specifically want ZK validity proofs.
- **Base** - Live Coinbase-backed OP Stack L2 with strong liquidity and active developer adoption.

## FAQ

### Is Polygon zkEVM really shutting down?
Polygon zkEVM has shut down as of Jul 1, 2026. SOURCE: Polygon Community Forum (official announcement) - https://forum.polygon.technology/t/polygon-zkevm-mainnet-beta-sunset-claim-your-funds/21856

### What should I do with my data?
Confirmed death. Sequencer taken offline July 1, 2026; network stopped producing blocks and Agglayer bridge withdrawals closed. Verified against official Polygon Community Forum sunset announcement and Cryptotimes; both agree on the June 2025 announcement and July 1, 2026 execution. Claims interface for auto-migrated wallet balances runs through Dec 31, 2027, after which unclaimed assets are treated as abandoned.

### What is the best alternative to Polygon zkEVM?
Consider Arbitrum One, OP Mainnet (Optimism), zkSync Era - all live.

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Canonical: https://verdict.tools/migrate/polygon-zkevm