Two blockchain networks are simultaneously remaking their native token utility around artificial intelligence, with Boundless ending zero-knowledge proving and ZetaChain seeking to shut down its Layer 1 in favor of Solana.
Boundless Foundation will stop accepting new zero-knowledge proof requests on November 5, 2026, and will reposition ZKC as an AI access token. Existing stakers keep their ZKC locked in the same staking contract, but from January 2, 2027, they will receive pro-rata credits for open-weight models on Boundless AI instead of newly minted token rewards. The initial credit pool is roughly $1,000 per allocation window, distributed every two days; a wallet with 1% of total staked ZKC would receive about 1% of that pool. Credits expire when the next window opens, are nontransferable, and have no cash value. Proving rewards stop first, staking rewards run through a final epoch ending January 1, 2027, and after settlement no new ZKC will be minted, fixing the circulating supply.
The Boundless shutdown calendar includes the November 5 proof-request cutoff, the November 30 retirement of the Explorer interface, and the final January 1 staking epoch. The Foundation says protocol source code remains public even while proving operations sit idle. The shift is described as a bet on tokenized inference: holders receive compute claims rather than additional token yield, although the credit pool is small and depends on Boundless AI continuing to serve models.
ZetaChain has opened a 72-hour governance vote on Governance Proposal 2, closing November 7, 2026 at 16:12 UTC. If approved, the ZetaChain Layer 1 will halt around December 9, with existing ZETA balances recorded at block 20,755,000 and converted to native Solana SPL tokens at a 1:1 ratio. The Foundation would mint an equivalent amount on Solana, revoke mint authority, and use a nine-decimal token with no freeze authority. ZETA already issued on Ethereum as ERC-20 would remain unaffected. The migration follows a September vote in which 99.4% of participating votes supported moving ZETA to Solana.
Eligible holders can claim Solana-based ZETA through the ZetaHub portal beginning December 9; however, individual claims require a minimum balance of 10 ZETA, while exchange-held balances follow exchange conversion arrangements. Users with staked or unbonding tokens are recorded automatically, but liquidity-pool and wrapped-token positions must be exited before the snapshot. Security firm Hacken is reviewing the migration portal, and ZetaChain warns users to avoid unofficial sites and never share recovery phrases.
The ZetaChain proposal also includes burning approximately 55 million ZETA in undistributed validator rewards through 12 monthly transactions during 2027, reducing maximum supply and ending validator inflation tied to the old Layer 1. Purchaser and core contributor vesting is scheduled to finish on January 1, 2027, and the Foundation has committed not to sell newly released tokens from specified allocations during 2027.
ZetaChain plans to launch ZetaLabs, a private AI application, on December 9. Built on Anuma Chat, ZetaLabs will combine multiple AI models with live financial market data and encrypted user memory, with initial features including Chat, Radar, Bloom, and a token supply dashboard. Users may pay in ZETA, USDC, or payment cards, and locking ZETA will provide access to premium features expected in the first quarter of 2027. An archive node will be maintained until at least October 31, 2027 for historical records.
Both transitions illustrate a broader AI-linked token utility trend: locked capital is being converted into compute or model access rather than inflationary staking rewards. However, they also carry execution risk, especially for holders who must meet claim thresholds, exit legacy positions before snapshots, and accept that credit pools or private AI features are service-dependent rather than protocol guarantees.
