| Key Resources | Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Staking Pilot Interface | ZKsync | Stake | ZKnomics Staking Pilot interface to delegate & stake ZK. |
| Staking Pilot Forum Subcategory | ZKnomics Token Staking Pilot - ZK Nation Forum | Subcategory on the ZKsync Governance Forum where all program resources will be shared and will act as the homebase for questions & support. |
| [TPP-12] ZKnomics Token Staking | [TPP-12] ZKnomics Token Staking | Onchain governance proposal passed by the Token Assembly in October 2025. |
| Tally Staker GitHub repository | GitHub - withtally/staker | Includes Tally staker contracts sourcecode and audits. |
| ZKsync Governance Performance Dashboard | https://dune.com/zk_nation/zk-nation-governance-overview | Main governance performance metric dashboard that tracks total active voting power and number of active Delegates. |
ZKnomics Staking Pilot Introduction
The ZKnoimcs Token Staking Pilot Program is a time-limited pilot that allows ZK token holders to stake their tokens and receive rewards while strengthening active governance participation. This is a pilot program running for approximately 6 months across 2, 3-month seasons. When you stake, you delegate your voting power to active governance participants (delegates) and receive ZK rewards in return.
In alignment with the ZKnomics vision, this program trials secure staking contracts that are forward-compatible with ZKsync’s decentralized sequencer, while creating a mechanism to align token holder incentives with governance participation. Staking rewards are designed to encourage delegation to active governance participants, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the protocol. This eligibility condition aims to increase active delegated voting power from ~1B currently to ~2B ZK by the end of the pilot program.
The ZKnomics Staking Pilot Program is built on Tally staker contracts, using their audited unistaker contract system. The staker contracts have been audited by Sherlock (both private and public audits) and Offbeat Security. All audit reports are publicly available on GitHub.
Disclaimer: Staking functionality is not an inherent function of the ZK token itself. The rewards distributed during this Pilot are considered incentives for participation in a technical trial. They do not constitute a passive investment, a dividend, or a financial return.
Staking Pilot Details
What are the strategic objectives of the staking pilot?
The pilot has 2 primary strategic objectives:- Trial secure and reliable staking infrastructure in preparation for ZKsync’s decentralized sequencer, contributing to the ZKnomics vision
- Increase active voting power in governance from approximately 1B to 2B ZK, where active voting power is defined as participation in 2 or more of the most recent 5 votes
What is the total reward budget for the pilot?
Rewards for the staking pilot are funded by [TPP-12] through 2 capped minters. Each of the 2 seasons has a specified total reward cap:- Season 1: 10M ZK
- Season 2: 25M ZK
What is the duration of the pilot program?
The pilot runs for approximately 6 months total, divided into 2, 3-month seasons.
- Season 1 will launch on Monday, February 9th and run until early May.
- Season 2 will follow in Q2 2026 pending assessment of Season 1 success.
Who oversees the staking program?
A Program Admin multisig (4/7) is that admin of each season capped minter and helps oversee Tally’s operational execution of the ZKnomics Staking Pilot. Members include representatives from ZKsync Foundation, Matter Labs, ScopeLift (technical partner), Areta (independent delegate), and a ZKsync Security Council member. The Security Council has pause authority on all program capped minters.
Can the program be cancelled early?
Yes. If there isn’t sufficient impact on the strategic objective (increasing active voting power), the program may be cancelled by the Program Administrator. The Token Assembly also retains authority to revoke the minter role from the program parent capped minter at any point via governance proposal.
Are the staker contracts audited?
Yes, extensively. The Staker contracts have been audited by Sherlock (private audit), Sherlock (public audit), and Offbeat Security. ZKsync-specific deployment scripts were also audited by Offbeat Security. All audit reports are publicly available on GitHub.
Where can I find interface support?
Please reference the https://forum.zknation.io/t/zknomics-staking-pilot-interface-support-thread/904 to seak interface support throughout the program. The Tally team will be monitoring this thread and responding to support requests directly on the forum.Staking and Unstaking
How do I stake my ZK tokens?
To stake your ZK tokens:
- Go to ZKsync | Stake
- Connect your wallet
- Choose a delegate (in order to eligible for rewards, you must select an active Delegate)
- Enter the amount of ZK you want to stake to your selected Delegate
- Confirm the transaction
Do I need to delegate before staking?
Yes. Delegation is a required step in the staking process. When you stake, you’ll select a Delegate to receive your voting power. You can choose an existing active Delegate or delegate to yourself (self-delegate) if you plan to vote actively. Active Delegates can be identified by the “Active” tag on their profiles.
What makes a Delegate "active"?
A Delegate is considered “active” if they have voted in at least 2 of the last 5 governance proposals. The staking pilot interface (ZKsync | Stake) displays active Delegate with an “Active” tag in their profile to make them easy to identify. You can also view delegate activity on Tally’s ZKsync governance page (vote.zknation.io).
How are Delegates displayed on the staking pilot interface?
The Delegate page has default filters applied to it to help make it easier to identify active Delegates with ecosystem tags. Stakers can adjust the settings to view additional delegates.The first default filter is for “Active” Delegates, those who have voted in at least 2 out of the last 5 proposals. Earning rewards are conditional to delegating to an active Delegate. Active Delegates are marked with a green “Active” tag. Stakers can adjust this filter by clicking on the down arrow in that field (e.g. all participants).
The second default filter is for “Featured” Delegates. Featured Delegates have an additional (blue) tag highlighting their role in building ZKsync (e.g. ZKsync Chain, Technical Partner, Security Council, etc.). As a result, stakers can identify key participants (e.g. ZKsync Chains) who are Delegates in the ecosystem. Stakers can also change this filter to another view by clicking on the down arrow in that field (e.g. sort by voting power).
Can I self-delegate?
Yes, if you self-delegate. If you self-delegate and vote in at least 2 of the last 5 proposals, you’ll meet the active delegate requirement and receive rewards while voting directly.
Can I stake to multiple Delegates?
Yes. You can split your staked ZK across multiple delegates. Each staking position has its own eligibility for rewards, so you can diversify your delegation across several active participants.
Is it possible to delegate to an inactive Delegate?
Yes. However, a participant is only eligible for rewards if the Delegate you are delegated to is active. While it is possible to delegate to an inactive delegate, you will only earn rewards if the Delegate you delegated to becomes active (starts consistently voting on proposals).
What if my Delegate becomes inactive?
If your Delegate falls below the activity threshold (voting in fewer than 2 of the last 5 proposals) to be considered an active Delegate, you have 7 days to update your position to a different active Delegate. If you do not update the position, your staking position may become ineligible for rewards. You should monitor your Delegate’s activity and re-delegate if necessary to continue receiving rewards.
Is there a minimum amount I need to stake?
There is no minimum staking amount. You can stake any amount of ZK tokens you hold.
Is there a maximum amount I can stake?
There is no individual reward cap for either season.
What are the participation caps for each season?
During season 1, the total amount of staked ZK is capped at 400M. Once these seasonal caps are reached, no additional staking will be accepted unless current users unstake. There is no total participation cap planned for Season 2.
How do I unstake my ZK?
You can unstake at any time through the staking pilot interface at ZKsync | Stake. Connect your wallet, find the staking position you would like to update, select “Update” then “Unstake position” and confirm the transaction.
Is there a lock-up period?
No! There is no lock-up period. You can stake and unstake freely at any time.
Can I change my Delegate without unstaking?
Yes, you can change your delegate at any time without needing to unstake first. Simply update your delegation through the staking pilot interface at ZKsync | Stake. Connect your wallet, find the staking position you would like to update, select “Update” then “Update position” and confirm the transaction.
What happens to my delegation when I unstake?
Your delegation persists even when you withdraw your stake. If you would like to remove the delegation from a selected Delegate, you can visit vote.zknation.io and follow these instructions.
Rewards
What are the eligibility requirements to earn rewards in the pilot program?
Participants have to be delegating to an active Delegate (has voted on the past 2 out of 5 votes).
The staking pilot interface (ZKsync | Stake) displays active Delegate with an “Active” tag in their profile to make them easy to identify. You can also view delegate activity on Tally’s ZKsync governance page (vote.zknation.io).
What is the reward rate for each season?
The annual reward rate for both Seasons of the pilot will start at 3% APR (annualized) and will be increased each week based on participation levels until the max 10% ARR is reached. Since each season is 3 months, the effective maximum reward for a season is 2.5% of your staked amount.
APR will be reset to target 3% at the start of Season 2.
Please note APR is not guaranteed - rates are targeted, not fixed.
How are rewards calculated?
The amount of reward in the staking system is based on the reward target. The reward rate for each season starts at 3% APR, and can be increased up to 10% APR.
Please note APR is not guaranteed - rates are targeted, not fixed.
When do rewards start accruing?
Rewards begin accruing immediately after you stake, as long as you’re delegated to an active Delegate. Rewards are streamed continuously over 30-day epochs.
How often are rewards distributed?
Rewards are distributed continuously (pro-rata) over 30-day windows. This streaming mechanism prevents discontinuities and ensures fair distribution to all stakers.
What if the total staked cap isn't met?
If fewer tokens are staked than the target cap (e.g. 400M ZK in Season 1), existing stakers will receive a higher effective APR since rewards are distributed among fewer participants. The reward rate will increase weekly (by ~1% absolute) until either the cap is met or the maximum 10% annualized rate is reached.
Will my rewards compound automatically?
No, rewards do not automatically compound. You’ll need to manually restake your rewards and if you want to compound your returns. This can be done on the staking pilot interface at ZKsync | Stake. Connect your wallet, find the staking position you would like to update, select “Claim” then ensure “Accumulate rewards” is toggled ON, select “Claim & Restake” and confirm the transaction.
How do I claim my staking rewards?
You can claim your accrued rewards at any time through the staking pilot interface at ZKsync | Stake. Connect your wallet, find the staking position you would like to update, select “Claim” then ensure “Accumulate rewards” is toggled OFF, select “Claim” and confirm the transaction.
Is there a minimum amount to claim?
There’s no minimum claim amount, but keep in mind that claiming requires a transaction and associated gas fees. It may be more economical to let rewards accumulate before claiming.
Do I need to unstake to claim rewards?
No, you can claim rewards without unstaking. Your staked position continues receiving rewards while you claim accumulated rewards.
Are there any fees for claiming rewards?
You’ll only pay standard network gas fees for the claim transaction. There are no protocol fees or penalties for claiming.
What happens to unclaimed rewards?
Unclaimed rewards continue to accumulate in your staking position. There’s no deadline to claim them, and they won’t expire.
Season 2 Preview
When would Season 2 launch?
If approved, Season 2 will likely launch mid-May after Season 1 wraps up early May.
How will Season 2 launch be confirmed?
The Program Administrator will evaluate Season 1 results and provide recommendations. If there’s insufficient impact on active voting power, the program may be paused or modified. Importantly, this is why it’s a pilot—to learn and iterate based on real data.
What's currently planned for Season 2?
If confirmed, Season 2 (Q2 2026) would feature:
- Higher reward budget of 25M ZK (up from 10M)
- Planned integration with ZKsync’s decentralized sequencing infrastructure (pending readiness)
- Target of 500M net increase in active voting power
- Potential refinements to delegate eligibility criteria based on Season 1 learnings
ZKnomics Staking Pilot Interface Walkthrough
Check out this screen recording to get a walkthrough of the staking pilot interface and the delegate-to-stake mechanism.
Please note the screen recording has been recorded before the start of Season 1 reward distribution - scheduled for Monday, February 9th.