BridgeRadar
Ethereum to zkSync Bridge
ZKsync Era is a zk rollup on Ethereum built by Matter Labs. Its official bridge shows about 15 minutes for deposits. Withdrawals back usually take a few hours. ZKsync Lite, an older and separate network, was shut down in May 2026.
Reviewed October 14, 2026 ยท 2 solutions checked
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Short answer
When people say "zkSync" today, they usually mean ZKsync Era, the smart contract network that launched in March 2023. It is a zk rollup: it posts proofs to Ethereum that its transactions were run correctly. Your Ethereum address works there too, and fees are paid in ETH.
The official way in is the ZKsync bridge at bridge.zksync.io, which shows about 15 minutes for a deposit and labels itself as beta. Fast bridges like Across deliver in seconds or minutes for a small fee.
Do not confuse ZKsync Era with ZKsync Lite. Lite was the original ZKsync network for simple payments. ZKsync announced it would be fully shut down on May 4, 2026, and said this does not affect its other systems. Funds left on Lite stay recoverable through its contract on Ethereum.
| Network name | ZKsync Era |
|---|---|
| Official route | ZKsync bridge (bridge.zksync.io) |
| Deposit time | About 15 min |
| Withdrawal time | Usually a few hours |
| Fees on ZKsync Era paid in | ETH |
| Not to confuse with | ZKsync Lite (shut down May 2026) |
Why this route is difficult
ZKsync Era is a zk rollup. Transactions are grouped into batches, a proof for each batch is posted to Ethereum, and a contract checks it. There is no 7-day challenge window as on optimistic rollups like Arbitrum or OP Mainnet.
Withdrawals still are not instant. ZKsync adds a time lock before batches are carried out on Ethereum. According to the ZKsync docs, it was cut from 21 hours to a 3-hour minimum through a governance proposal (ZIP-4). Batches can take another 1 to 2 hours to be grouped and executed, so withdrawals usually take about 3 to 5 hours.
ZKsync has changed a lot around Era. Matter Labs built the ZK Stack, a framework for other chains based on the same technology. ZKsync Lite, the first network, was shut down on May 4, 2026. ZK is the token of the ZKsync ecosystem. You do not need it for normal fees.
Activity has slowed in some areas. In late 2025, ZKsync ended its Ignite rewards program, and the Aave DAO discussed removing its deployment on ZKsync Era because of low revenue. Before you bridge, check that the apps you want to use still operate on ZKsync Era.
Possible approaches
1Native rollup bridge
Deposit through the official ZKsync bridge contracts at bridge.zksync.io.
Trade-offThe most direct option, but deposits take about 15 minutes and withdrawals a few hours.
2Intent-based bridge
A relayer or solver pays you on ZKsync Era right away and is paid back later.
Trade-offSeconds instead of minutes or hours, for a fee and some risk in the bridge's own contracts.
3Aggregator
A service compares bridges and picks a route for you.
Trade-offConvenient, but the safety depends on the route it picks.
Options compared
| Option | You get | Typical time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official bridge (deposit) | ETH or bridged tokens | About 15 min | Ethereum fee only | Large deposits, official route |
| Official bridge (withdrawal) | ETH or tokens on Ethereum | Usually 3-5 hours | ZKsync fee + Ethereum fee if a claim is needed | No rush, official route |
| Intent-based bridge | ETH and other common tokens | Seconds to a few min | Network fee + small bridge fee | Speed, and most withdrawals |
| Aggregator | Depends on the route | Depends on the route | Network fee + fee of the bridge used | Comparing prices |
Working solutions
| Solution | You receive | Custody / verification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZKsync bridge (official) | ETH or bridged tokens | Ethereum (bridge contracts) | Deposits in about 15 minutes. Withdrawals usually take a few hours. |
| Across | ETH and common tokens | Oracle-checked payback | Usually done in seconds. |
How to move Ethereum to zkSync
These steps show an ETH deposit through the official ZKsync bridge at bridge.zksync.io. The same wallet and network checks apply if you use a fast bridge instead.
- 1
Get your wallet ready
Use MetaMask, Rabby or another EVM wallet with ETH on Ethereum. Your address is the same on ZKsync Era, so you do not need a new wallet. Keep extra ETH for the Ethereum network fee.
- 2
Open the bridge from a trusted link
Go to bridge.zksync.io from the official ZKsync site, not from an ad. Connect your wallet and choose Ethereum as the source and ZKsync Era as the destination. Do not pick ZKsync Lite or another ZK Stack chain by mistake.
- 3
Choose the token and amount
ETH needs no extra step. Other tokens need a token approval first. The bridge warns you if a token is not on its token list, because such tokens can imitate other tokens. Check the contract address in that case.
- 4
Confirm the deposit
Check the fee estimate and sign. The ETH you deposit also pays for fees on ZKsync Era, so you do not need any other coin there.
- 5
Track it on both explorers
Your transaction shows on Etherscan right away. After about 15 minutes, the funds appear on the ZKsync Era explorer under the same address.
Fees and timing
The main cost of a deposit is the transaction on Ethereum. The official bridge adds no fee of its own. Tokens cost more to deposit than ETH, and they need an approval first. On ZKsync Era, transactions are paid in ETH.
Fast bridges charge a fee on top of network fees and show it as the amount you will receive. Bridge aggregators can compare several bridges at once, if they offer a route for your token.
Plan the way back before you go. Official withdrawals take a few hours because of a built-in delay and batch processing. Depending on the bridge interface, you may also need to send a final transaction on Ethereum, which costs a normal Ethereum fee.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up ZKsync Era with ZKsync Lite, which was shut down in May 2026.
- Buying ZK tokens to pay fees. Fees on ZKsync Era are paid in ETH.
- Bridging a token that is not on the bridge's token list without checking its contract address.
- Expecting a native withdrawal to arrive in minutes. It usually takes a few hours.
- Assuming every app you know from Ethereum is active on ZKsync Era. Check first.
- Using a fake bridge site found through an ad.
Before you transfer
- In wallets and bridges, look for ZKsync Era, not ZKsync Lite.
- Fees are paid in ETH, not in the ZK token.
- Native withdrawals take hours, not a week. A fast bridge is quicker.
- Check token contract addresses, especially for tokens the bridge marks as unverified.
- Check that the apps you plan to use are still active on ZKsync Era.
- Open bridge sites from official links only, and check the address bar before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
The official ZKsync bridge shows about 15 minutes for a deposit to ZKsync Era. Fast bridges like Across usually take seconds.
Usually about 3 to 5 hours through the official bridge. ZKsync has a minimum delay of 3 hours, and batches can take another 1 to 2 hours to be executed on Ethereum. Fast bridges pay you in seconds or minutes.
ZKsync Lite, the original payments network, was shut down on May 4, 2026. ZKsync said this does not affect its other systems. ZKsync Era is a separate network, and its official bridge remains available.
ZKsync said funds remain safe and recoverable through the Lite contract on Ethereum after the shutdown. Follow the official ZKsync channels for the recovery steps.
No. Normal fees on ZKsync Era are paid in ETH. ZK is the token of the ZKsync ecosystem.
Yes. It posts proofs to Ethereum. That is why withdrawals take hours instead of the 7 days common on optimistic rollups.
