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How to add zkSync to MetaMask wallet? ZK Token 2026 Roadmap and Price Outlook
As Ethereum layer 2 scaling solution zkSync announced its new roadmap focused on institutional adoption in 2026, more and more users are looking to add this network to their commonly used MetaMask wallets. This article will provide a detailed guide to help you integrate zkSync with MetaMask, and based on the latest data from the Gate platform, explore its ecosystem development and the market prospects of ZK tokens.
Getting Started with Integration: Adding zkSync Era Network to MetaMask
MetaMask, used by over 100 million users worldwide, is the preferred tool for interacting with Ethereum and compatible networks. As a leading Ethereum layer 2 network utilizing zero-knowledge (ZK) Rollups, zkSync Era can significantly improve transaction speed and reduce Gas fees.
Adding zkSync to MetaMask is a simple process that allows you to directly access hundreds of decentralized applications (dApps) within its ecosystem.
Follow these steps: Open the MetaMask browser extension or mobile app, click the network selection dropdown at the top. Select “Add Network” to go to the manual addition page.
Enter the following mainnet parameters for zkSync Era in the respective fields:
Please note that since January 2026, zkSync has enabled its native block explorer, fully taking over data query services, aiming to provide a data view more aligned with its cross-chain interoperability than Etherscan.
After successfully adding, switch to the “zkSync Era Mainnet” network. You will need to transfer a small amount of ETH from an exchange or other wallet to pay for network transaction fees, then you can start exploring the zkSync ecosystem.
New Ecosystem Phase: Interpreting zkSync’s 2026 Institutional Roadmap
In 2026, zkSync’s development focus has strategically shifted. According to its published roadmap, the core goal has moved from “experimental technology exploration” to “building infrastructure ready for production for banks, enterprises, and regulated financial systems.” This marks a critical transition from serving developers and early adopters to catering to mainstream financial institutions.
Privacy and control become essential. The roadmap’s core pillar is Prividium, an execution environment focused on privacy. For institutional users, exposure of counterparties, balances, and internal decision-making logic could pose business and legal risks. Prividium aims to make private execution the default and integrate directly into existing enterprise identity management, approval, and audit processes.
A comprehensive upgrade of the technical architecture. zkSync plans to evolve its ZK Stack from a single blockchain framework into an orchestrated system of public and private networks. This means enterprises can easily deploy dedicated application chains tailored to their needs, while native interoperability allows seamless access to the entire zkSync ecosystem and even Ethereum mainnet liquidity and services.
Potential impact on token economics. This shift indicates a deepening of network use cases and fee models. As more institutional transactions and production workflows are on-chain, the actual fees generated by the network are expected to grow. This provides fundamental support for ZK tokens to go beyond governance, with their value becoming more closely tied to network utility and the fees generated.
Market Perspective: ZK Price Analysis Based on Gate Market Data
Before analyzing the future, understanding the current market situation is crucial. The following data is based on the latest market prices from the Gate trading platform as of January 29, 2026.
Current market overview: As of today, ZK is priced at $0.02674. In the past 24 hours, the price changed by -3.15%, and over the past 7 days, it declined by -11.83%, indicating recent market pressure. Its current market cap is approximately $234.48 million, accounting for 0.017% of the overall crypto market.
Historical price fluctuations: The all-time high (ATH) for ZK was $0.367, and the all-time low (ATL) was $0.00736. The current price is still far from its historical high. Recent data shows that from late December 2025 to mid-January 2026, ZK traded mainly in the $0.027 to $0.037 range.
Technical indicator signals: According to technical analysis provided by the Gate platform, the current market signals are mixed. Moving averages give a neutral outlook, with short-term and long-term signals being split. Oscillators like Williams %R and CCI show buy signals, possibly indicating a short-term technical rebound.
Future Outlook: Key Variables Affecting ZK Token’s Long-term Value
The future price trajectory of ZK tokens will heavily depend on whether its ecosystem development can successfully fulfill the roadmap promises, as well as broader crypto market cycles.
Ecosystem development and application deployment. The fundamental support for the price comes from actual network usage. The 2026 roadmap’s emphasis on institutional adoption is a key point to watch.
If large institutions like banks and trading platforms start using Prividium for private transactions or deploy dedicated chains via ZK Stack, it will bring substantial on-chain transaction volume and fee income, creating a solid fundamental for token value.
Evolution of the token economic model. Currently, ZK tokens mainly serve governance functions. However, the roadmap hints at potential expansion of its economic model. For example, through governance proposals, some network fees could be used for token burns, staking rewards, or ecosystem funding, making the token’s value more directly linked to network growth.
Market cycles and liquidity. The crypto market is highly cyclical. As a representative token in the Layer 2 space, ZK’s price fluctuations are closely related to the overall health of the Ethereum ecosystem, market risk appetite, and liquidity levels.
The current 24-hour trading volume of $340,650 indicates that market activity needs to improve. In the future, the emergence of flagship applications or major partnerships could attract additional capital.
On the real-time chart on the Gate platform, ZK’s curve fluctuates slightly around $0.026. Meanwhile, zkSync developers are integrating Prividium’s privacy module into a test system of a European compliant bank. As traders look for support levels on the chart, another group of engineers is building a default privacy layer for the financial world. Every small movement on the price chart, every milestone on the technical roadmap, is weaving the next chapter of this Layer 2 story.