Our Blog
February 26, 2025

Announcing the ZKsync Community Program: A Gitcoin-Led Initiative to Drive Community Growth and Engagement

Introducing the ZKsync Community Program: a six-month initiative funded by ZKsync Foundation and managed by Gitcoin, rewarding contributors across moderation, security, and ecosystem development. With 5 million ZK tokens allocated, this program invites participants to shape the future of ZKsync's scalable Ethereum layer-2 solution.

ZKsync: The Future of Scalable, Low-Cost Ethereum Transactions

ZKsync is the pioneering ZKtechnology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables the Elastic Network, an ever-expanding network of customizable chains. This allows developers to create highly scalable and sovereign rollups while maintaining Ethereum’s security and decentralization. ZKsync's modular interoperability allows different rollups to communicate natively and enhances composability across the ecosystem. ZKsync provides developers and users with an EVM-compatible, seamless, cost-effective experience that unlocks new possibilities for DeFi, gaming, and broader Web3 adoption.

Introducing the ZKsync Community Program

The ZKsync Community Program is a six-month pilot initiative funded by ZKsync Foundation and managed and executed by Gitcoin, aimed at rewarding contributors, engaging the community, and refining a long-term incentive structure. This program is designed to reward a broad range of contributions, from community engagement to security and ecosystem development. By actively participating, ZKsync community members can shape the future of this initiative through feedback and governance.

This program is the first of its kind for zkSync and serves as a foundation to refine how contributions are recognized and rewarded over time. The insights gathered during this pilot will inform a governance proposal aimed at establishing a sustainable, community-driven incentive model that aligns with zkSync’s long-term growth and decentralization goals. Gitcoin will ensure transparency through monthly retrospectives, forum discussions, and ongoing refinement based on community input.

Program Overview

With over 5 million ZK tokens allocated to Gitcoin for distribution over the next six months, the ZKsync Grants Program ensures that active community contributors are recognized and rewarded monthly based on their engagement, impact, and participation.

Eligibility criteria, including the roles and responsibilities of participants, are available in the Notion hub.

Here’s a high-level overview of the program’s key components, consisting of three pillars:

1. Proactive Incentives

This component is focused on encouraging ongoing contributions to the ZKsync ecosystem by rewarding impactful community roles. Eligible participants include:

  • Community Moderators – Maintain active discussions and enforce community standards.
  • Language Moderators – Support for non-English speaking members will start being rewarded from the second month if eligible.
  • zkMentor Captains & Mateys – Drive education, onboarding, and engagement across Discord and social media.

Rewards are tied to performance-based evaluations, ensuring that only the most committed and impactful contributors receive incentives. Contributions will be tracked via Discord analytics, engagement metrics, and sentiment analysis tools to assess participation and effectiveness.

2. Retroactive Rewards

In recognition of past contributions, the ZKsync Grants Program will compensate top-performing community members who have supported the ecosystem from Jan 1 2024 to Dec 31 2024. This includes contributions in:

  • Security – Identifying and preventing scams or vulnerabilities.
  • Engagement – Hosting events, creating content, and driving discussions.
  • Support – Assisting new members, resolving conflicts, and fostering community growth.

These rewards will align with the proactive incentives structure, ensuring a seamless transition toward a fully engaged and rewarded community.

3. Community Expansion

To grow the ZKsync ecosystem, the program will launch localized initiatives in key regions, starting with ZK Amigos in Argentina. Local teams will be responsible for:

  • Organizing developer and community events.
  • Managing regional social media channels.
  • Expanding ZKsync’s visibility and adoption at the grassroots level.

This initiative will set the foundation for future global community expansion efforts, ensuring a scalable and decentralized approach to growth.

How to Get Involved

Find Your Role

From Community Moderators guiding discussions to Captains leading initiatives, from Mateys supporting users to Language Moderators bridging communication gaps—each role plays a part in ecosystem growth.

Create Impact

Participate in weekly campaigns, join working groups, help organize events, or create educational content. Your contributions strengthen the network while developing your expertise and connections within the community.

Next Steps

This is the first iteration of a broader ZKsync community incentive strategy. By participating, you’re not only earning rewards—you’re helping to build a sustainable, community-driven framework for the future.

We invite all ZKsync contributors, supporters, and enthusiasts to engage, contribute, and help shape this initiative. Your feedback and participation will determine the program’s evolution and long-term impact.

Apply through the Community Hub starting March 7, engage in activities aligned with your interests, and document your contributions for monthly review. Your feedback will help shape the program's evolution and the ecosystem's governance.

Join the Discord AMA on March 7 (4PM UTC) to learn more and watch for program details.

Read more

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