Matter Labs Drops Trademark Application for "ZK" Term

Matter Labs, the team responsible for developing Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling solution zkSync, has chosen to abandon its quest to trademark the abbreviation “ZK” originating from “zero knowledge” proofs.

The pivotal shift in strategy occurred after a backlash from various senior ZK researchers who strongly criticized the firm's actions, advocating for ZK innovations to be treated as a public good accessible to everyone.

On June 2, Matter Labs publicly announced the withdrawal of all trademark applications. The decision-making process highlighted the challenges of achieving consensus among individuals perceived as impartial and recognized the necessity of a more universally applicable approach beyond the Ethereum ecosystem.

In a public statement, ZK proponents underscored the significance of preserving ZK technology as a communal asset rather than subjecting it to corporate trademarks. They cautioned against the exploitation of legal mechanisms to privatize a fundamental aspect of the cryptocurrency domain, warning of potential detachment from the community.

The letter, co-signed by notable figures such as Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, Eli Ben-Sasson, and Sandeep Nailwal, highlighted concerns regarding the commercialization of ZK technologies.

Initially, Matter Labs pursued ZK-related trademarks to safeguard the association of terms like “ZK Sync” and “ZK Stack” with their brand identity, clarifying the misconception surrounding trademark ownership and its limits.

The dispute surrounding ZkSync's trademark application coincided with the platform's preparations for an upcoming airdrop scheduled in the middle of June. ZkSync, a prominent Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain, distinguishes itself through its utilization of ZK-proof technology over the optimistic rollup approach employed by other networks.

Additionally, Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, disclosed plans to integrate USDC into the ZkSync ecosystem, aiming to enhance liquidity and usability within zkSync for increased operational efficiency and reduced costs.