ZetaChain Proposes Layer 1 Shutdown and ZETA Migration to Solana on December 9
ZetaChain has put a governance proposal to a vote that would halt its Layer 1 blockchain on December 9 and move native ZETA to Solana as an SPL token. Voting closes November 7, and the changes cannot proceed unless token holders approve them.
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Proposal Terms and Vote Timing
ZetaChain has proposed permanently shutting down its Layer 1 blockchain on December 9 and moving its native ZETA token to Solana, according to a November 4 announcement of Governance Proposal 2. Voting closes November 7 at 16:12 UTC, and the changes cannot proceed unless token holders approve them.
The proposal is the second stage of a migration. A September governance vote, in which 99.4% of participating votes supported moving ZETA to Solana, approved the direction but left implementation details to a follow-up proposal. Proposal 2 sets the mechanism, the dates and the holder protections.
Snapshot, Minting and Token Design
Under the proposal, ZetaChain would record balances at block 20,755,000, expected around December 9. The snapshot would cover liquid holdings, staked tokens, unbonding balances and unclaimed staking rewards. The existing chain would stop producing blocks at that height.
The ZetaChain Foundation would then mint an equal amount of ZETA on Solana using the SPL token standard, keeping the ticker and a 1:1 ratio without adding to total supply. After minting, the foundation would revoke its minting authority. The new token would have nine decimal places and no freeze authority. ZETA already issued on Ethereum as an ERC-20 token would not be affected.
Claims and Exchange Conversion
Eligible holders would claim Solana-based ZETA through the ZetaHub portal starting December 9. Users connect the wallet holding their ZETA, sign a message naming a receiving Solana wallet and receive the balance without paying a transaction fee. Individual claims have a 10 ZETA minimum, so addresses below that threshold at the snapshot would not qualify through this route.
Exchange-held balances would follow conversion schedules set by each platform, which have not yet been published. Staked and unbonding tokens would not need to be withdrawn beforehand, since those balances and accumulated rewards are recorded automatically at the snapshot. Tokens held in liquidity pools or wrapped-token contracts are a different case. ZetaChain has told holders to exit those positions before the snapshot, because individual wallet claims cannot recover tokens locked in contracts.
Assets held on ZetaChain as ZRC-20 tokens would become claimable on their original networks, subject to a $5 minimum value per token.
Security Review and Open Questions
Security firm Hacken is reviewing the migration portal and its supporting program. ZetaChain said the portal will open only after that review is complete and its findings are published. The team has also warned holders to use official websites and never share recovery phrases.
ZetaChain has not yet responded to a request for comment on the shutdown or on protections for holders during migration. The stated rationale from September is that running a separate chain requires continued validator coordination, software maintenance and security work, and that the team now plans to focus on private AI applications on Solana under the ZetaLabs name. The proposal's outcome will determine whether that plan proceeds on the stated timeline.
Why It Matters
For Traders
Holders with ZETA in liquidity pools or wrapped contracts need to exit before the block 20,755,000 snapshot, and exchange conversion schedules remain unpublished.
For Investors
A permanent move from a standalone chain to Solana marks a strategic pivot toward private AI applications and a shift in how ZETA's value is tied to the network.
For Builders
Teams with integrations on ZetaChain's Layer 1 or ZRC-20 assets should plan for chain halt, SPL token migration and the 10 ZETA claim threshold.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.
