PancakeSwap, the beloved decentralized exchange (DEX) that's a staple for many meme token enthusiasts, has issued a crucial reminder about sunsetting its support for the Polygon zkEVM chain. This move aligns with Polygon Labs' plans to deprecated the zkEVM Mainnet Beta in 2026. If you're trading or farming meme tokens across chains, this is something you can't ignore.

Why the Sunset?

Polygon zkEVM, a zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine compatible scaling solution, has been part of PancakeSwap's multi-chain ecosystem. However, following Polygon Labs' announcement, PancakeSwap is phasing out all features on this chain to streamline operations and focus on more active networks. zkEVM allows for faster, cheaper transactions with Ethereum security, but its deprecation means users need to act fast to avoid complications.

For meme token traders, PancakeSwap on zkEVM might have been a spot for lower-fee swaps or liquidity provision in niche pairs. With meme tokens often thriving on hype and quick trades, chain migrations like this can impact liquidity and trading strategies.

Key Timelines and Affected Features

The phase-out started back on July 29, 2025, at 05:00 UTC, with several features already deprecated:

• Fiat On-Ramp: No more buying crypto like ETH on zkEVM via fiat on PancakeSwap.
• Farms: All farming support ended—no more earning yields on liquidity pools here.
• Bridge: Bridging assets to zkEVM via PancakeSwap's bridge is disabled.
• Liquidity Deposits: Adding new liquidity to v2 and v3 pools via the interface is off-limits.

By September 30, 2025, at 00:00 UTC (which just passed as of this writing), bridging assets out from zkEVM, including USDT, ETH, and CAKE, was also deprecated.

Post-September 30, liquidity withdrawals and swapping on zkEVM are removed from the main interface. But don't panic—PancakeSwap provides legacy access points:

• For positions: legacy-zkevm.pancakeswap.finance/liquidity/positions
• For swaps: legacy-zkevm.pancakeswap.finance/swap

What Should Meme Token Traders Do?

If you have any liquidity positions (LP tokens) or assets bridged to Polygon zkEVM, withdraw them immediately using the legacy interfaces. Delaying could lead to more complex processes, like forced transactions on the zkEVM sequencer, which Polygon Labs will keep active for about 12 months but might be tricky for non-technical users.

For bridging after the deadline, consider third-party options like LayerZero, though PancakeSwap doesn't support or maintain these—proceed at your own risk.

This sunset might push meme token activity back to PancakeSwap's core chains like BNB Chain, where many viral memes launch. It's a reminder to diversify but also consolidate on reliable networks. Keep an eye on PancakeSwap's blog for updates.

Community Reactions

The announcement tweet garnered quick responses from the community, with users sharing gifs and comments like "End of an era for zkEVM cakes" and questions about where liquidity might migrate next. It highlights the dynamic nature of DeFi—chains rise and fall, but the meme spirit endures.

Stay informed with Meme Insider for more on how blockchain shifts affect your favorite tokens. If you're into multi-chain meme hunting, this is your cue to audit your positions across DEXes.