Zilliqa to transition into an Ethereum Layer 2, ZIL token to
On November 5, 2026, Zilliqa announced in a post that it is transitioning from an independent Layer 1 it operated for nine years into an Ethereum Layer 2 aimed at regulated institutions, with the new positioning named Zilliqa Institutional Layer (ZIL). The ZIL token will be retained, and holders currently need to take no action. The team said technical details will be announced in advance, and that any swap or migration will be subject only to announcements on the official website.
Event Timeline
- [11-05 14:26] Zilliqa to transition to an Ethereum Layer 2, ZIL token to be retained (PANews)
- [11-05 14:27] Transitioning to an Ethereum Layer 2, Zilliqa retains ZIL token (Odaily)
Background and Impact
On November 5, 2026, Zilliqa officially announced a change of network direction, transitioning from an independently operated Layer 1 to an Ethereum Layer 2, with the new positioning named Zilliqa Institutional Layer (ZIL), aimed at regulated institutions. PANews reported the news at 14:26 that day, and Odaily followed at 14:27; the two sources are consistent on the two core pieces of information: "transition to an Ethereum Layer 2" and "the ZIL token will be retained."
According to Zilliqa, nine years of operating as an independent Layer 1 did not achieve the expected success, with insufficient usage, capital and liquidity; at the same time, recent security incidents highlighted the high maintenance costs of an independent chain. This is the reason the team gave for the transition and the main background information disclosed in this adjustment. The materials do not specify which security incident was involved, nor do they disclose its scope of impact.
On the token arrangement, the ZIL token will be retained, and holders currently need to take no action. Zilliqa said technical details will be announced in advance and stressed that any swap or migration will be subject only to announcements on the official website. Compared with the PANews report, the Odaily version covers only the direction of the transition and the retention of the token, and does not address the security incident, technical details or migration arrangements; there is no factual conflict between the two, the difference lies in the level of detail disclosed. As of now, the materials do not provide the specific timetable for the transition, the technical architecture, or the specific role of ZIL in the new network.
In terms of scope of impact, this adjustment changes the chain's positioning and mode of operation, and does not immediately change the status of token holdings, so the only user action confirmable in the short term is "wait for official announcements." For institutional users, the phrase "aimed at regulated institutions" means compliant access may become a focus going forward, but the materials do not disclose any licenses, partners or launch milestones. For ordinary holders, two pieces of information need to be watched next: first, Zilliqa's official website announcements on migration and swaps; second, the handling statements regarding ZIL from the platforms they use. When checking announcements day to day, the announcement sections of platforms such as Binance registration APP download, OKX registration APP download, HTX registration APP download, Gate.io registration APP download and Bitget registration APP download are often the first place to look, but these pages cannot replace the official word — whether and how a migration happens must still be based on announcements on Zilliqa's official website.
FAQ
### Do ZIL tokens need to be swapped or migrated now?
The official position is that holders currently need to take no action, and the ZIL token will be retained. Zilliqa also stressed that any swap or migration will be subject only to announcements on the official website, and technical details will be announced in advance; statements from other channels should not be treated as a basis.
### When will the transition timetable and technical plan be announced?
The available materials only mention that "technical details will be announced in advance," without giving specific dates, phase breakdowns or architecture descriptions. The specific form of the Ethereum Layer 2 and the role of ZIL in the new network both require waiting for further official disclosure.
### What does this transition mean for ordinary users and institutions respectively?
The new positioning is an Ethereum Layer 2 aimed at regulated institutions; institutions may focus on the path to compliant access, but the materials do not disclose any licenses, partners or launch milestones. At the ordinary user level, there are no mandatory actions for now; the key is to follow the official website's migration announcements and the statements from the platforms being used.