ZetaChain Layer 1 shutdown and ZETA migration to Solana

ZetaChain has proposed permanently halting its Layer 1 blockchain at snapshot block 20,755,000, expected around December 9, 2026, and converting native ZETA 1:1 into SPL tokens on Solana. The timing is tentative and depends on the outcome of a governance vote that has already closed. The coins involved are ZETA and SOL.

What is happening

The plan is set out in Governance Proposal 2, announced on November 4. The 72-hour vote closed on November 7, 2026, and the source article does not state the result. It follows a September decision in which 99.4% of participating votes backed moving ZETA to Solana, with implementation left to a separate proposal. If the new proposal fails, the September decision stays in place, but implementation would need a revised proposal.

The snapshot at block 20,755,000 would capture liquid balances, staked and unbonding holdings, and unclaimed staking rewards, after which the chain would stop producing blocks. The ZetaChain Foundation would then issue matching SPL tokens on Solana under the same ZETA ticker, with no increase in supply. Minting authority would be relinquished afterwards. The token would use nine decimals and have no freeze authority. ERC-20 ZETA on Ethereum would not be affected.

Eligible holders would claim tokens through ZetaHub starting December 9, without fees, once the portal's audit by Hacken is complete and its findings are published. Addresses with fewer than 10 ZETA at the snapshot would not qualify for individual claims. Exchange-held balances would follow each platform's own conversion arrangements. ZetaChain also advises users to exit liquidity pools and wrapped-token contracts before the snapshot, since tokens held in contracts cannot be retrieved through individual claims.

Alongside the migration, ZetaChain plans to launch ZetaLabs, a private AI platform on Solana, and has committed to running an archive node through at least October 31, 2027.

Why it matters

For ZETA holders, the move changes where the token lives and how it is held. Anyone with self-custodied balances would need to complete the claim process, while those on exchanges would depend on the exchange's handling of the conversion. Positions in liquidity pools or wrapped-token contracts carry extra risk if they are not closed before the snapshot.

The proposal also affects supply mechanics: about 55 million ZETA in undistributed validator rewards are scheduled to be burned in 12 monthly transactions during 2027, and inflation tied to the validator network would end. For traders, the key points to follow are the confirmed vote result, the final snapshot date, the audit outcome and exchange announcements on conversion timing.

Key details

• Date: December 9, 2026 (tentative, snapshot at block 20,755,000)
• Project: ZetaChain
• Coins: ZETA, SOL
• Category: Event
• Status: Tentative; depends on the Governance Proposal 2 vote, whose result is not stated in the source
• Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/11/05/zetachain-token-migration/