Pioneering zk-rollup Loopring closes DEX, citing lack of adoption
Loopring, Ethereum’s first zero-knowledge rollup, is shutting down its decentralized exchange and automated market maker, ending all trading services immediately. The team said Loopring never achieved meaningful adoption because it launched without a virtual machine, limiting composability and real-world use cases. It also acknowledged weak business development and said newer zkEVM systems like zkSync, Scroll, and StarkNet have surpassed its specialized architecture. External pressure, including major LRC exchange delistings, helped drive the decision. Loopring had already closed its wallet services in July 2025. It will now calculate final balances, send user funds directly to Ethereum wallets in batches, and cover gas fees. Loopring’s TVL has fallen to about $8 million from a 2021 peak of $760 million, while LRC has dropped to around $0.01 from $3.75.
