Short answer: On Sunday, September 20, 2026, ZetaChain token holders approved Proposal 68 to wind down the project's own Layer 1 blockchain and move the ZETA token to Solana. The vote passed with 99.4% support and 58% turnout. ZETA will convert one-for-one into a Solana SPL token with the same ticker and supply, but no shutdown date is set: a second vote must first fix the snapshot, the claims process and the timetable.
What happened
Voting on Proposal 68 closed at 10:58 a.m. ET on September 20. Participation reached 58%, well above the 40% quorum, and opposition and abstentions were marginal. The proposal does three things:
- Ends the standalone chain. ZetaChain, a Cosmos SDK network that launched its mainnet in January 2024, will stop operating as an independent Layer 1 once the migration is complete.
- Moves ZETA to Solana. Native ZETA becomes an SPL token, the standard token format on Solana, at a 1:1 rate. The ticker, total supply and vesting schedules stay the same and no new tokens are minted.
- Moves the product too. Anuma, ZetaChain's encrypted AI app launched in February 2026, migrates to Solana alongside the token.
The Block reported that ZETA slipped about 2.5% over 24 hours after the result.
Why ZetaChain is giving up its own blockchain
ZetaChain was founded in 2021 as an interoperability project, a chain designed to connect assets across other blockchains, and raised $27 million in 2023 from investors including Blockchain.com and Jane Street Capital. The team now says its focus is Anuma, which it reports has more than 300,000 users and a million requests across 35 AI models. The proposal gives three reasons:
- Maintenance burden. Every upstream Cosmos SDK patch has to be coordinated across many independent validators.
- Security. The team expects AI tools to make vulnerabilities easier to find. Cosmos Labs had disclosed attacks on six other Cosmos EVM chains with about $5.7 million stolen, and ZetaChain itself lost $334,000 to a gateway contract exploit in April.
- Resources. Running on Solana frees the team to work on Anuma and its Private Memory Layer, which lets users carry encrypted context between AI models.
How the ZETA migration works
| Item | Before | After migration |
|---|---|---|
| Network | ZetaChain Layer 1 (Cosmos SDK) | Solana |
| Token standard | Native coin | SPL token |
| Conversion rate | - | 1 ZETA = 1 ZETA |
| Decimal places | 18 | 9 |
| Total supply and vesting | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| ZETA on Ethereum or BNB Chain | Not part of this migration | Not part of this migration |
Until the second proposal passes, the network stays live, validators keep running nodes and staking rewards continue. That second vote will set the balance snapshot block, the shutdown block, the withdrawal window for assets bridged from other chains, and how to claim tokens. It will not go ahead until exchanges confirm how they will handle the swap, and no date has been given.
A growing list of chains shutting down
ZetaChain is not alone. In August BounceBit retired its standalone chain after an exploit and moved its token to BNB Smart Chain at 1:1. On September 6 Harmony proposed closing its Layer 1 and turning ONE into an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, after the Harmony ONE exploit. The pattern: smaller networks find the cost of running validators and security hard to justify and move their tokens onto a larger chain.
What it means for you
- No action needed today. The vote does not start the migration. Wait for the second proposal before moving or converting anything.
- Know where your ZETA lives. Native ZETA on ZetaChain is covered; ZETA held as a token on Ethereum or BNB Chain is not part of this process.
- Watch bridged assets. If you hold assets bridged into ZetaChain, the second proposal will set a withdrawal window. Missing it could leave funds stuck on a chain that is shutting down.
- Beware of fake claim sites. Migrations attract phishing pages promising early swaps. Use only links from official ZetaChain channels and your exchange.
Key takeaways
- ZetaChain holders passed Proposal 68 on September 20, 2026, with 99.4% support and 58% turnout.
- ZETA will become a Solana SPL token at 1:1, with decimals cut from 18 to 9.
- The chain keeps running until a second vote sets the snapshot and shutdown dates.
- ZetaChain follows BounceBit and Harmony in abandoning its own Layer 1.
To understand the network ZETA is moving to, read our Solana guide on speed, fees and trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
Is ZetaChain shutting down?
Yes. On September 20, 2026, token holders approved Proposal 68 to wind down ZetaChain's own Layer 1 blockchain and move ZETA to Solana. The shutdown date has not been set and depends on a second governance vote.
What happens to my ZETA tokens after the move to Solana?
Native ZETA will convert one-for-one into a ZETA SPL token on Solana, with the same ticker and total supply and decimals reduced from 18 to 9. ZETA held on Ethereum or BNB Chain is not included in this migration.
Do I need to do anything with ZETA right now?
No. The network stays live and staking continues until a second proposal sets the snapshot block, the claims process and the shutdown timetable. Follow official ZetaChain channels and your exchange for instructions.
