Polygon co-founder Jordi Baylina and the team behind Polygon’s zkEVM have transitioned into an independent venture dubbed Zisk, just as the foundation prepares to wind down the underused zero-knowledge EVM network.
ZisK will focus on a low-latency, open-source zkVM proving technology, Baylina said in a post on X. Blockchain provers are used to verify transactions or onchain data validity without revealing the underlying information. According to Zisk’s website, the project was incubated inside Polygon Labs from May 2024 until becoming standalone on June 13.
The move follows last week’s leadership shake-up, which saw Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal take over as CEO of the Polygon Foundation. Nailwal outlined plans to deprecate the zkEVM chain while pivoting resources to Polygon PoS and the Agglayer cross-chain aggregator.
Critics say the decision is overdue. In a separate X thread, researcher and founder of the student-run RWTH blockchain, Lorenz Lehmann, noted Polygon bought Hermez for $250 million in 2021, rebranded it as zkEVM, and then “quietly abandoned” development, leaving the network to rack up more than $1 million in annual losses.
As part of Zisk’s spin-off, all Polygon zkEVm intellectual property and its core team were transferred to SilentSig Switzerland GmbH, a company wholly owned by Baylina. He remains a co-founder of the Ethereum scaling solution and an advisor.
© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Trade Crypto On Coinhub Exchange
Stay ahead of the market by turning news insights into trading opportunities. With Coinhub Exchange, you can seamlessly buy, sell, and manage your digital assets, all in one secure platform. Take advantage of real-time market insights, deep liquidity, and fast execution for your favorite cryptocurrencies. Don’t just read about it — trade crypto now!
Disclaimer
The content of this article shown by Coinhub News, powered by The Block, is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Coinhub News and its affiliates are not a licensed financial advisor, legal advisor, broker, or tax advisor, and ... should not be considered as professional advice or a recommendation to engage in any specific investment, legal decision, or financial transaction. Cryptocurrency markets are highly speculative and volatile. Readers should perform their own independent research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial or legal decisions. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Company of its affiliates. Additionally, the Company does not make any representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, timeliness, reliability, or completeness of any information in this article. By accessing this content, you acknowledge that any reliance on the information contained in this article is solely at your own risk. The Company is not responsible for any financial losses, legal disputes, or other damages that may arise from reliance on this content or from any investment or legal decisions based on the information provided. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves substantial risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and you should carefully consider whether it is appropriate for your circumstances.
Read more
