Polygon zkEVM Shutdown: What Happens to Users
Published 6/15/2026, 9:11:45 PM
Current Status (as of June 15, 2026): Approximately 16 days remain before the Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta sequencer sunsets on July 1, 2026. Polygon Labs announced this deprecation in June 2025, providing a 12-month transition window.
Asset Safety: No Permanent Loss Guaranteed
Polygon Labs has explicitly stated that no funds will be lost — users will always have the ability to withdraw bridged assets. Forced transactions are permanently enabled during the transition period. However, post-sunset forced transactions are expected to be difficult for unsophisticated users.
User Options by Asset Type
| Asset Type | Action Required | Post-July 1 Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet-held assets (NOT in DeFi) | Bridge to Ethereum at ui.agglayer.dev before July 1 | Auto-migrated to Ethereum L1; claimable via dedicated UI |
| DeFi-locked assets | Manually withdraw from DeFi protocols, then bridge | CANNOT be auto-migrated — Polygon Labs does not control DeFi protocols |
| Protocol teams with TVL | Unwind user positions or provide withdrawal path; contact Polygon via form | Must act before July 1 |
Critical Implications of the July 1 Deadline
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After July 1, 2026: Exit snapshot is taken; the sequencer stops processing transactions. DeFi protocols and dApps will cease functioning.
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DeFi Users: Funds locked in DeFi contracts cannot be auto-migrated. Users must manually withdraw positions before July 1 — once the sequencer stops, those funds become inaccessible through normal means.
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Wallet Users: Assets not bridged before the deadline will be auto-migrated to Ethereum L1 and claimable through a dedicated post-sunset interface.
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Abandonment Deadline: Unclaimed assets are considered abandoned after December 31, 2027.
Migration Support Available
- Transitional Grants: Available for teams migrating infrastructure, assets, or products to new chains (e.g., Polygon PoS). Covers capital costs.
- Bridge Interface: https://ui.agglayer.dev/
For Protocol Teams
Polygon Labs has provided a contact form for teams with locked TVL who need to unwind user positions: https://c8xid.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2AAnI75jeTW2n6hPSlO5XLA
Your Position
Since you have no holdings on record, no immediate action is required. However, if you plan to interact with Polygon zkEVM, you should complete any transactions well before July 1, 2026 to avoid the complexity of forced transactions post-shutdown.
Evidence Summary
| Claim | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shutdown date: July 1, 2026 | "sequencer scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2026" | Polygon Forum Announcement |
| ~16 days remain | "Today's Date: June 15, 2026 — Approximately 16 days remain" | Polygon Portal Documentation |
| No permanent fund loss | "No funds will be lost — users will always have ability to withdraw bridged assets" | Polygon Forum: Claim Your Funds |
| DeFi assets cannot be auto-migrated | "Funds locked in DeFi protocols CANNOT be auto-migrated. Polygon Labs does not own, operate, or control any DeFi protocols" | Polygon zkEVM Sunset Documentation |
| Wallet assets auto-migrated | "Wallet-held assets (not in DeFi) will be claimable via dedicated UI after sunset" | Polygon zkEVM Sunset Documentation |
| Abandonment deadline | "Unclaimed assets considered abandoned" after December 31, 2027 | Polygon Portal Documentation |
| Bridge URL | "Bridge to Ethereum at ui.agglayer.dev" | Polygon Official Resources |
Bottom line: Wallet-held assets are safe — they will be auto-migrated to Ethereum L1 and claimable through a dedicated UI even after July 1. However, DeFi-locked assets require immediate manual action before the sequencer stops, as they cannot be auto-migrated.