Polygon’s zkEVM Skips Blobs—Now Bleeding $1M+ Yearly: Researcher Exposes Costly Oversight
Polygon''s zero-knowledge EVM play just got messy. The layer-2 solution—which notably avoided Ethereum''s blob upgrades—is reportedly hemorrhaging cash at seven-figure rates.
Behind the bleeding: A researcher''s bombshell analysis reveals the chain''s architectural choices are costing it over $1M annually. Turns out ignoring core scaling tech has consequences.
For context: Blobs (EIP-4844''s data-saving miracle workers) could''ve slashed these costs. But Polygon''s zkEVM team bet against the upgrade—and now the chain''s eating the loss.
The irony? While rivals race to implement blob transactions, Polygon''s playing catch-up. Classic crypto: skip the obvious solution, then pay consultants to explain the losses.
One thing''s clear: In the zero-sum game of L2 economics, every architectural gamble shows up on the balance sheet eventually.
“Development Quietly Abandoned”
Lehmann claims development on the chain has been “quietly discontinued” and that it was never upgraded to incorporate Ethereum’s Blob data structure, which drastically reduces data availability costs for rollups. His comments arrive amid broader changes at the Polygon Foundation, where co-founder Sandeep Nailwal has recently stepped into the role of CEO.
The leadership transition follows the quiet exit of co-founder Mihailo Bjelic, leaving Nailwal as the only founding member still actively involved. Two other co-founders, Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun, exited operational roles in 2022. With this shift, Nailwal is now overseeing structural changes aimed at consolidating Polygon’s focus.
While official communication has set 2026 as the target date to sunset zkEVM, Lehmann’s latest claim suggests that the shutdown process is already well underway behind the scenes. His remarks imply the decision to wind down zkEVM predates any formal announcement, and that Polygon’s current narrative may understate the degree to which the product has been deprioritized.
Polygon zkEVM was once positioned as a major milestone of the project’s commitment to zero-knowledge scaling. But with continued losses, stagnating development, and a shift in focus toward its proof-of-stake chain and new initiatives like AggLayer, the chain’s role has been effectively marginalized.
TVL Down By 80%
Polygon zkEVM’s total value locked (TVL) reached an all-time high of $187 million in March 2024, according to data from L2Beat. Although it briefly rebounded to $111 million later that year, the overall trend has been downward.
In 2025, the decline has accelerated, as the TVL dropped nearly 80%, from $80.2 million to just $16.25 million at the time of writing.
