Why Polygon zkEVM Users Must Withdraw Funds Before
Published 6/15/2026, 4:46:21 PM
Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Beta is shutting down on July 1, 2026, when its sequencer stops running. After that date, normal transaction processing ceases entirely, and Polygon itself has warned that forced transactions will be difficult — meaning unsophisticated users should exit before the deadline.
The Three Reasons for the Shutdown
According to Marc Boiron, CEO of Polygon Labs:
- Technical challenges and development delays — EIP-4844 support took longer than expected; ZK counters made certain DeFi transactions impractical; building zkEVM with a custom client complicated debugging.
- Lack of differentiation — Despite technical achievements, zkEVM didn't deliver the user experience the community wanted.
- Lack of Nimbleness — With the rise of modular stacks, the ability to adapt quickly is paramount, and zkEVM wasn't positioned to do so.
The project had consumed approximately $250 million (acquired Hermez Network in 2021) and was quietly abandoned over a year before the official announcement, with the EIP-4844 upgrade never implemented.
Critical Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Official sunset announcement | June 11, 2025 |
| Bridge deposits disabled | September 30, 2025 |
| Sequencer shutdown (deadline) | July 1, 2026 |
| Final claim deadline for migrated funds | December 31, 2027 |
Why Funds Become Inaccessible After Shutdown
After the sequencer stops, normal transaction processing ceases. Only "forced transactions" remain available — and Polygon has explicitly warned: "we expect the use of forced transactions to be difficult, meaning that unsophisticated users should exit below the sequencer stops running."
QuickSwap issued a stark warning: "If assets are not removed by this date, funds will be lost."
Two Recovery Paths — With One Critical Limitation
| User Type | Recovery Path | Status |
|---|---|---|
| EOA wallet holders (funds held directly in wallets) | Funds automatically migrated to Ethereum L1; claim at https://ui.agglayer.dev/ | Recoverable until Dec 31, 2027 |
| DeFi protocol users (funds in smart contracts, LP positions, bridges, multisigs) | NOT eligible for migration | Permanently lost |
The key limitation: Any assets locked in DeFi protocols on Polygon zkEVM at the time of sunset cannot be claimed through the migration process. Users with funds in protocols like QuickSwap, PancakeSwap, or any other DeFi application must have withdrawn manually before July 1 — there is no recovery path after the shutdown.
What Users Must Do
- For DeFi funds: Withdraw immediately — these cannot be claimed after July 1.
- For wallet (EOA) funds: Claim through the official portal at https://ui.agglayer.dev/ before December 31, 2027.
- Avoid waiting until the final days — network congestion and high gas fees are expected near the deadline.
- Use only official Polygon resources — scam websites proliferate during migrations.
Security Warnings
- Never share wallet seed phrases
- Ignore fake "support agents" on Telegram or social media
- Verify URLs carefully before connecting wallets
- Keep ETH reserved for gas fees
Open Questions
The technical mechanism for why forced transactions become difficult after sequencer shutdown is not fully detailed in available documentation. The claim that all users risk permanent loss is also partially inaccurate — EOA wallet holders have a recovery path through December 31, 2027, while only DeFi protocol users face permanent loss.
Next Steps
- Check your Polygon zkEVM positions — use the Onchain skill to scan for any remaining balances or DeFi exposures on the network before the deadline.
- Claim EOA funds — if you hold funds directly in wallets on Polygon zkEVM, initiate the migration claim at https://ui.agglayer.dev/ before the sequencer stops.