Matter Labs made a decision to stop pursuing the trademark for 'ZK,' short for zero-knowledge proof, following significant pushback from industry stakeholders. This decision came after vocal criticisms from key figures in the cryptographic field, including renowned innovators like Shafi Goldwasser and Silvio Micali. The community's outcry emphasized the importance of keeping foundational technologies like zero-knowledge proofs accessible to all rather than being restricted by corporate ownership. Matter Labs originally sought to trademark terms related to 'ZK' but faced backlash, prompting a reversal of their trademark applications. The withdrawal of these applications, announced on social media, signifies a shift towards embracing open technology standards. The intention behind the trademark filings was to protect specific contexts like 'ZK Sync' and 'ZK Stack,' aiming to prevent misinterpretation in the market rather than claim exclusive rights to the terms. However, the broader blockchain community viewed this move as potentially hindering the advancement and wider use of ZK technologies. The controversy arose as Matter Labs' ZkSync network, known for its innovative use of ZK-proofs in Ethereum Layer 2 scaling, prepared for an airdrop. Despite the positive transaction volumes and significant role within the blockchain ecosystem, ZkSync opted not to pursue trademark protection, aligning with a more collaborative approach within the Ethereum Layer 2 landscape. By forgoing trademark applications, ZkSync maintains its position in the competitive environment while fostering innovation and adoption. The decision to retract the trademark bid reflects a commitment to openness and inclusivity in technological development, ensuring that essential tools like ZK remain freely available to drive industry progress.
Matter Labs Withdraws ZK Trademark Application Amid Community Opposition

by Giorgi Kostiuk
2 years ago

Other news
M&A Activity Heats Up in Mining Sector Amid Valuation Gaps

Mining companies are increasingly opting for acquisitions over new site developments due to favorable valuations in the current market.

Binance Sees Concentration of Ethereum Derivatives Amid Market Changes

Binance sees a significant concentration of Ethereum derivatives open interest, reaching nearly $75 billion, indicating a shift in trader behavior.

Zcash Faces Ongoing Challenges Amid Reduced Development Activity

Zcash is facing ongoing challenges due to reduced development activity and governance tensions, resulting in a nearly 40% price drop and loss of market capitalization to Monero.

Bittensor Gains Attention Post-Halving

Bittensor's price is gaining traction following the December 2025 halving, which reduced daily emissions and introduced subnet expansion plans.

Growing Support for Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 110

The number of Bitcoin nodes signaling support for Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 110 (BIP110) has surged to 238,583 out of a total of 24,481 nodes.

Backlash Over OP_RETURN Limit Removal in Bitcoin Core

The removal of the OP_RETURN data limit in Bitcoin Core version 30 has sparked significant backlash from the Bitcoin community.

Be the first to know about crypto news every day
Get crypto analysis, news and updates right to your inbox! Sign up here so you don’t miss a single newsletter