Startup profile · funding coverage
Matter Labs funding, valuation and investors
Team behind zkSync — Ethereum Layer 2 scaling using zero-knowledge rollups.
Keep track of Matter Labs
Save this profile to your VCT watchlist for a quick return.
Funding, valuation & investors
Answer-first snapshotLatest funding
Series C
$200M · November 2022
Latest known valuation
Not publicly disclosed
Total disclosed equity funding
$250M
Excludes debt, grants, acquisitions, secondaries, and IPO proceeds.
Current status
private
growth · Berlin, Germany
Investors in latest funding
Lead: Blockchain Capital , Dragonfly
Overview
Matter Labs is the company developing zkSync, a zero-knowledge rollup Layer 2 protocol for Ethereum. zkSync aims to scale Ethereum transactions with lower fees and faster finality while inheriting Ethereum security via ZK proofs. Founded in 2018, Matter Labs raised a $50M Series B in November 2021 led by Andreessen Horowitz, followed by a $200M Series C in November 2022 co-led by Blockchain Capital and Dragonfly with Lightspeed, Union Square Ventures, and a16z participating.
Why Matter Labs is interesting
Matter Labs built zkSync into a top Ethereum L2 contender — a16z led $50M Series B and joined $200M Series C as ZK rollups competed for post-Merge transaction volume against Optimism and Arbitrum.
Product & use cases
Matter Labs develops zkSync Era (general-purpose ZK rollup) and zkSync Hyperchains (modular L3 framework). Developers deploy Solidity-compatible smart contracts with lower gas costs; users bridge assets from Ethereum L1.
- DeFi protocols deploying on zkSync for cheaper Ethereum-aligned transactions
- NFT and gaming apps needing L2 throughput with Ethereum security guarantees
- Enterprises exploring ZK-proof privacy and scaling for blockchain applications
Key facts
- Series C (Nov 2022): $200M co-led by Blockchain Capital and Dragonfly (TechCrunch)
- Series B (Nov 2021): $50M led by a16z
- zkSync Era mainnet live; Hyperchains modular L3 framework in development
- Founded 2018 in Berlin by Alex Gluchowski (CEO)
Funding history (newest first)
Series C
2022-11 $200M- Blockchain Capital (lead)
- Dragonfly (lead)
- Andreessen Horowitz (participant)
- Lightspeed Venture Partners (participant)
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/16/matter-labs-raises-200m-to-scale-zksync/
Series B
2021-11 $50MInvestors in our directory
Funds linked from Matter Labs's profile — open a fund page for stage focus and related deal articles.
Competitive landscape
Edge: zkSync's ZK-rollup approach offers different security/UX tradeoffs vs optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism). a16z led Series B signaling conviction in ZK as the long-term Ethereum scaling winner.
Ethereum L2 is winner-take-most on liquidity and developer defaults. Matter Labs must sustain TVL and app migration as multi-chain fatigue sets in. ZK tech complexity is both moat and execution risk.
-
Arbitrum (Offchain Labs) direct
Largest optimistic rollup by TVL; different proof mechanism but competes for same Ethereum L2 developers.
-
Optimism direct
Optimistic rollup with OP Stack superchain vision; strong ecosystem grants vs zkSync's ZK-native path.
-
Polygon zkEVM direct
ZK rollup from Polygon ecosystem; competes for L2 developer mindshare.
Notable stories
- CEO Alex Gluchowski has been a vocal advocate for ZK rollups as Ethereum's endgame scaling path — positioning Matter Labs against optimistic rollup camps in technical and tribal debates.
- zkSync's 2022 $200M Series C came during crypto winter — one of the largest infrastructure rounds as L2 competition intensified post-Ethereum Merge.
Industries
FAQs about Matter Labs
Practical answers founders, operators, and investors typically search for.
Last updated:
Editorial note: AI tools assisted with research, structure, or drafting. Venture Capital Tracker retains human editorial responsibility for factual accuracy, relevance, and source quality before publication.