SyncSwap v2 Review: zkSync Era DEX Features, Fees & Performance

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) have been racing to make Ethereum trades cheap and fast. SyncSwap v2 review takes a close look at the platform that claims to be the biggest DEX on zkSync Era, offering near‑zero gas fees and sub‑second settlements.

Key Takeaways

• SyncSwap is the dominant DEX on zkSync Era with ~38% market share and $64‑$82M TVL.
• Zero‑fee trading on the Scroll deployment makes it attractive for high‑frequency traders.
• Activity on the Sophon version has dropped to almost nothing, highlighting uneven adoption across networks.
• Tokenomics revolve around 100M SYNC tokens, but no official airdrop or staking rewards have been announced yet.
• Regulatory status is unregulated, which limits institutional use but aligns with typical DEX models.

What Is SyncSwap?

SyncSwap is a decentralized exchange built natively on the zkSync Era Layer2 solution, using zero‑knowledge rollups to cut gas costs and speed up settlement. It launched as the first DEX designed specifically for zkSync and quickly grew to become the ecosystem’s largest liquidity hub.

The platform’s UI mimics familiar centralized exchanges, offering simple token swaps, liquidity provision, and advanced order types for developers. Because it runs on zkSync Era, every trade benefits from the rollup’s scalability while still settling on Ethereum’s security guarantees.

Technical Architecture: zkRollups and Multi‑Network Support

The backbone of SyncSwap is the zkSync Era protocol. zkSync uses zero‑knowledge rollups (zkRollups) to bundle thousands of transactions off‑chain, generate a cryptographic proof, and post a single proof to Ethereum. This architecture slashes gas fees to a few cents and delivers finality in under two seconds.

Beyond zkSync Era, SyncSwap v2 has been ported to several emerging Layer2 networks: Scroll, Linea, Taiko, and Sophon. Each deployment retains the same core smart‑contract logic but may differ in token listings, fee structures, and TVL. The protocol’s composability lets other dApps call its swap contracts directly, fostering a broader DeFi hub.

Network Deployments and Current Activity

Not all SyncSwap versions see the same traffic. The zkSync Era deployment remains the flagship, consistently holding a TVL between $63M and $82M and processing over $8B in cumulative volume. DefiLlama data shows it captures roughly 37.8% of the zkSync DEX market.

In contrast, the Sophon version (v2.1) offers only three tokens as of August2025, with USDT/USDC as the sole active pair. CoinGecko assigns it a medium trust score of 5, and the past 30days recorded zero trades, suggesting the deployment is effectively dormant.

The Scroll deployment stands out for its fee model: both maker and taker fees are 0.00%, making it one of the cheapest places to trade on any Layer2. Traffic analysis shows 24,024 monthly visits, 99% organic, a bounce rate of 57%, and an average session lasting 2minutes35seconds.

Fee Structure Across Deployments

These numbers make SyncSwap competitive against other Layer2 DEXs like Uniswap v3 on Optimism, where taker fees hover around 0.30% and gas can exceed $0.05 during peak demand.

Tokenomics: The SYNC Token

The ecosystem’s native governance token is SYNC. The team has confirmed a fixed supply of 100million SYNC. While the token has not been officially distributed, its presence drives speculation about future airdrops and governance participation.

SYNC holders could eventually vote on fee rebates, new pair listings, and protocol upgrades. Until the token launch plan is clarified, users should treat SYNC as a speculative asset rather than a utility that currently impacts trading.

User Experience and Traffic Metrics

SyncSwap’s UI is deliberately simple: a search‑bar swap interface, a “Liquidity” tab for pool providers, and a “Charts” view powered by on‑chain data. New users appreciate the one‑click connect button for wallets like MetaMask, Argent, and the native zkSync wallet.

Web‑analytics from August2025 show an average of 2.22 pages per visit, indicating users often explore both swapping and liquidity sections. The bounce rate of 57% reflects a healthy level of engagement for a niche DEX, especially when compared to many DeFi sites that sit above 70%.

Pros and Cons

• Pros
  • Lowest fees on Scroll, strong fee competitiveness overall.
  • Fast finality thanks to zkRollups - trades settle in seconds.
  • Dominant market share within zkSync, ensuring deep liquidity on popular pairs.
  • Open‑source contracts promote transparency and easy integration.
• Cons
  • Uneven adoption across networks - Sophon version is nearly idle.
  • No regulatory clearance, limiting institutional interest.
  • SYNC token details remain vague, creating uncertainty for governance‑focused users.
  • Limited advanced order types compared to centralized exchanges.

Future Outlook

The success of SyncSwap hinges on the broader uptake of zkSync Era and other supported Layer2s. If zkSync continues to attract developers and users, SyncSwap’s first‑mover advantage will likely translate into greater TVL and more sophisticated DeFi products, such as limit orders, lending integrations, and cross‑chain bridges.

However, the platform must address the disparity between its flagship deployment and smaller networks. Reviving activity on Sophon or expanding token listings on Scroll could boost overall ecosystem health. Community communication around SYNC token distribution will also be a key driver of long‑term loyalty.

Bottom Line

SyncSwap v2 offers a compelling DEX experience for anyone looking to trade on Ethereum’s fastest Layer2s. Its zero‑fee model on Scroll, rapid settlement, and deep liquidity on zkSync make it a practical choice for both retail traders and liquidity providers. The main caution is the uneven activity across networks and the still‑unreleased SYNC token roadmap. If you’re comfortable with the inherent risks of an unregulated DEX, SyncSwap is worth a try-especially on the Scroll deployment if you’re hunting low‑cost, high‑speed swaps.