teleo-codex/entities/internet-finance/zklsol.md

---
type: entity
entity_type: company
name: "ZKLSOL"
domain: internet-finance
handles: ["@ZKLSOL"]
website: https://zklsol.org
status: active
tracked_by: rio
created: 2026-03-11
last_updated: 2026-04-02
parent: "[[metadao]]"
launch_platform: metadao-curated
launch_order: 6
category: "Zero-knowledge privacy mixer with yield (Solana)"
stage: restructuring
token_symbol: "$ZKFG"
token_mint: "ZKFHiLAfAFMTcDAuCtjNW54VzpERvoe7PBF9mYgmeta"
built_on: ["Solana"]
tags: [metadao-curated-launch, ownership-coin, privacy, zk, lst, defi]
competitors: ["Tornado Cash (defunct)", "Railgun", "other privacy mixers"]
source_archive: "inbox/archive/2025-10-20-futardio-launch-zklsol.md"
---

# ZKLSOL

## Overview

Zero-Knowledge Liquid Staking on Solana. Privacy mixer that converts deposited SOL to LST during the mixing period, so users earn staking yield while waiting for privacy — solving the opportunity cost paradox of traditional mixers. Upon deposit, SOL converts to LST and is staked. Users withdraw the LST after a sufficient waiting period without loss of yield.

## Investment Rationale (from raise)

"Cryptocurrency mixers embody a core paradox: robust anonymity requires funds to dwell in the mixer for extended periods... This delays access to capital, clashing with users' need for swift liquidity."

ZKLSOL's insight: if deposited funds are converted to LSTs, the waiting period that privacy requires becomes yield-generating instead of capital-destroying. This aligns anonymity with economic incentives — users are paid to wait for privacy rather than paying an opportunity cost. The design bridges security and efficiency, potentially unlocking wider DeFi privacy adoption.

## ICO Details

- **Platform:** MetaDAO curated launchpad (6th launch)
- **Date:** October 20-24, 2025
- **Target:** $300K
- **Committed:** $14.9M (50x oversubscribed)
- **Final raise:** $969,420
- **Launch mechanism:** Futardio v0.6 (pro-rata)

## Current State (as of April 2026)

- **Stage:** Restructuring / rebranding
- **Market cap:** ~$280K (rank #4288). Near all-time low ($0.048 vs $0.047 ATL on Mar 30, 2026).
- **Volume:** $142/day — effectively illiquid
- **Supply:** 5.77M circulating / 12.9M total / 25.8M max
- **Treasury:** $575K USDC remaining (after two buyback rounds)
- **Monthly allowance:** $50K
- **Product:** Devnet only — anonymous deposits and withdrawals working. Planned features include one-click batch withdrawals and OFAC compliance tools. No mainnet mixer 6 months post-ICO.
- **Rebrand to Turbine:** zklsol.org now redirects (302) to **turbine.cash**. docs.zklsol.org redirects to docs.turbine.cash. Site reads "turbine - Earn in Private." No formal rebrand announcement found. Token ticker remains $ZKFG on exchanges.
- **Team:** Anonymous/pseudonymous. No Discord — Telegram only. ~1,978 X followers.
- **Exchanges:** MetaDAO Futarchy AMM, Meteora (ZKFG/SOL pair)

## Governance Activity — Most Active Treasury Defense

ZKLSOL has the most governance activity of any MetaDAO launch relative to its size. The team voluntarily burned their entire performance package — an extraordinary alignment signal:

| Decision | Date | Outcome | Record |
|----------|------|---------|--------|
| ICO launch | 2025-10-20 | Completed, $969K raised (50x oversubscribed) | [[zklsol-futardio-launch]] |
| Team token burn | 2025-11 | Team burned entire performance package | [[zklsol-burn-team-performance-package]] |
| $200K buyback | 2026-01 | Passed — 4,000 orders over ~14 days at max $0.082/token | [[zklsol-200k-buyback]] |
| $500K restructuring buyback | 2026-02 | Passed — 4,000 orders at max $0.076/token + 50% FutarchyAMM liquidity to treasury | [[zklsol-restructuring-proposal]] |

**Team token burn:** The team voluntarily destroyed their entire performance package to signal alignment with holders. This is the most aggressive team-alignment move in the MetaDAO ecosystem — zero upside for the team beyond whatever tokens they purchased in the ICO like everyone else.

**Restructuring (Feb 2026):** Proph3t proposed the $500K buyback, acknowledging ZKFG had traded below NAV since inception. The proposal also moved 50% of FutarchyAMM liquidity to treasury for operations. Key quote: "When an ownership coin trades at significant discount to NAV, the right thing to do is buybacks until it gets there. We communicate to projects beforehand: you can raise more, but the money you raise will be at risk."

## Open Questions

- **Quiet rebrand.** zklsol.org → turbine.cash with no formal announcement is a transparency concern. The token ticker remains ZKFG while the product rebrands to Turbine — this creates confusion.
- **Devnet only after 6 months.** No mainnet mixer launch despite raising $969K. The buybacks consumed most of the raise. What has the team been building?
- **Regulatory risk.** Privacy mixers are the most scrutinized category in crypto after Tornado Cash sanctions. ZKLSOL's LST innovation is clever but doesn't change the regulatory exposure. The planned OFAC compliance tools suggest awareness.
- **Post-restructuring viability.** Two buyback rounds consumed ~$700K of a $969K raise. Treasury has $575K remaining at $50K/month = ~11 months. Can the product ship before runway expires?
- **Near-ATL price signals.** Trading at $0.048 vs $0.047 ATL with $142/day volume. The market has largely abandoned this token. Anonymous team + no mainnet product + quiet rebrand is not a confidence-building combination.

## Timeline

- **2025-10-20** — MetaDAO curated ICO opens ($300K target)
- **2025-10-24** — ICO closes. $969K raised (50x oversubscribed).
- **2025-11** — Team burns entire performance package tokens
- **2026-01** — $200K treasury buyback (4,000 orders over 14 days, max $0.082/token)
- **2026-02** — $500K restructuring buyback + 50% FutarchyAMM liquidity moved to treasury

---

Relevant Notes:
- [[metadao]] — launch platform (curated ICO #6)

Topics:
- [[internet finance and decision markets]]