ZetaChain token holders have voted overwhelmingly to shut down the project's independent Layer 1 blockchain and migrate its native ZETA token to Solana as an SPL token. The transition marks a dramatic pivot from ZetaChain's original $27 million cross-chain interoperability vision, backed by Jane Street and Blockchain.com, toward its consumer AI application, Anuma. Developers cited the heavy maintenance and security patching overhead of the Cosmos SDK as key drivers for the migration.
ZetaChain Layer 1 shutdown vote
- ▪The ZetaChain Proposal 68 vote, held on September 20, passed with 99.4% in favor, 0.3% opposed, 0.3% abstaining, and 58% participation, which exceeded the 40% quorum requirement
- ▪ZetaChain token holders voted on September 20, 2026 to shut down the project's Layer 1 blockchain and migrate the ZETA token to the Solana network
Migration to Solana SPL token
- ▪The exact shutdown date for ZetaChain's independent Layer 1 network remains unset, pending a second governance proposal expected to follow Proposal 68 that will specify the snapshot block height and claim instructions
- ▪ZetaChain's migration to Solana, approved via Proposal 68, will shift the ZETA token's decimal precision from 18 to 9 to match Solana's standard SPL format, excluding ZETA on Ethereum and BNB Chain
- ▪ZetaChain's ZETA token will convert to a native Solana SPL token at a one-for-one rate, maintaining ZETA's total supply and existing vesting schedules
Anuma AI application pivot
- ▪Anuma, an AI application launched by ZetaChain's team in February 2026, features an encrypted memory system working across 35 AI models, allowing ZETA holders to lock tokens for AI spending credits
- ▪ZetaChain's developers are migrating their AI application, Anuma, which launched in February 2026 and has over 300,000 self-reported users, to the Solana network
Cosmos SDK maintenance burden
- ▪In August 2026, Cosmos Labs disclosed exploits against six Cosmos EVM chains that resulted in attackers selling stolen funds for approximately $5.7 million
- ▪ZetaChain developers cited the high maintenance overhead of coordinating upstream Cosmos SDK security patches across independent validators as a reason for ZetaChain's migration to Solana
Cross-chain interoperability repositioning
- ▪ZetaChain raised $27 million in August 2023 from investors including Blockchain.com and Jane Street Capital to build an omnichain interoperability network
- ▪ZetaChain launched its mainnet in January 2024, positioning itself alongside cross-chain interoperability protocols such as LayerZero, Axelar, and Wormhole
Debatable claims
- ▪Sovereign Layer 1 blockchains are unnecessary for decentralized applications
- ▪The Cosmos SDK security model is too operationally burdensome for independent blockchains
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