ZKsync's Continuous ZK Innovation Success Secured by 3+ Years of Partnership with OpenZeppelin

The Challenge

ZKsync's rapid innovation journey—from ZKsync 1.0 to advanced interoperability and bridge protocols—demanded a security model that could keep pace with fast releases without compromising trust. As Matter Labs scaled ZKsync from a single-chain rollup into a modular, multi-chain ZK ecosystem, their architecture faced new classes of risk.

The protocol faced critical security challenges:

• Complex ZK Components: Custom cryptographic implementations and EVM interpreter required deep ZK and protocol-level expertise
• Rapid Development Cycles: Frequent releases meant security reviews needed to happen fast without slowing engineering velocity
• Evolving Architecture: Moving from simple rollup to modular ecosystem with interoperability introduced unprecedented attack vectors
• Continuous Innovation: New features like Account Abstraction and crosschain bridges required specialized security assessment

Matter Labs needed a security partner embedded into their development cycle—with the bandwidth, expertise, and context to keep up with constant innovation while ensuring bulletproof security.

The Solution

Long-Term Strategic Security Partnership

Since 2022, OpenZeppelin has provided continuous security coverage for Matter Labs, becoming deeply integrated into ZKsync's development process. This partnership evolved from foundational ZKsync 1.0 audits to supporting ZKsync Era's mainnet launch and ecosystem expansion.

Our comprehensive approach includes:

Continuous Release Security: Differential audits on all major ZKsync releases, securing every version bump with deep understanding of architectural changes and their security implications.

Component-Level Expertise: Focused audits of high-impact features including Account Abstraction Single Sign-On (AA SSO), Guardian Recovery Systems, and ZKsync OS components.

Deep Protocol Analysis: Specialized reviews of zero-knowledge systems and protocol primitives, including cryptographic precompiles, EVM interpreter, and ZKChain interoperability protocols.

Embedded Security Approach

Over time, we developed deep, system-wide understanding by engaging at every milestone. This long-term collaboration enabled us to establish a dedicated security team with strong familiarity with Matter Labs' codebase, development processes, and roadmap priorities.

As a result, OpenZeppelin serves as a strategic partner providing proactive, context-aware guidance that supports both the security and design of the ZKsync protocol as it scales.

“Security isn’t just a box to check—it’s a foundational pillar for innovation at Matter Labs. That’s why our partnership with OpenZeppelin is so critical. Their role extends far beyond traditional audits; they’re embedded in our design process, our reviews, and our monitoring frameworks. Their deep expertise in areas like account abstraction and zero-knowledge proofs gives us the confidence to push boundaries, knowing that security will scale with us.”

Vlad Bochok

Protocol & Security Engineer, Matter Labs

The Results

Comprehensive Security Coverage

819 total issues uncovered across 48 audits since September 2022, covering every critical component of ZKsync's evolution:

• 11 Critical severity vulnerabilities
• 31 High severity vulnerabilities
• 84 Medium severity issues
• 259 Low severity issues
• 424 Notes for optimization
• 10 Recommendations for optimization

Complete Protocol Security

$1B+ total value secured with zero major security incidents despite ZKsync's rapid innovation and frequent releases, demonstrating the effectiveness of continuous security partnership.

Strategic Development Support

Our embedded approach enabled Matter Labs to:

• Maintain rapid development velocity without compromising security
• Scale confidently from ZKsync 1.0 to complex multi-chain architecture
• Launch new features safely including Account Abstraction and crosschain interoperability
• Build developer and user trust through transparent, thorough security practices

Ecosystem Foundation

OpenZeppelin's comprehensive security coverage supported ZKsync's growth into one of Ethereum's leading Layer 2 solutions, enabling the safe deployment of:

• ZKChain modular architecture
• crosschain bridge protocols
• Account Abstraction innovations
• EVM-compatible ZK infrastructure

OpenZeppelin's strategic security partnership has been fundamental to ZKsync's success, enabling Matter Labs to push the boundaries of ZK technology while maintaining the highest security standards. Through 48 comprehensive audits and continuous collaboration, we've secured every critical milestone in ZKsync's evolution from initial rollup to advanced modular ecosystem, proving that innovation and security can advance together.