Zinc, MetaDAO Face Off Over $60M ZKFG Buyout on Solana

- Zinc and MetaDAO clash over a $0.15-per-token buyout proposal to privatize ZKFG, with major implications for Solana DeFi governance - Dispute centers on nearly $60 million in projected annual revenue, potentially setting new standards for protocol operations and community governance On 2026-06-15, CoinDesk reported that Zinc and MetaDAO had entered private negotiations after clashing over a ZKFG token buyout proposal set at $0.15 per token. The dispute escalated after MetaDAO introduced the “ZKFG-007” plan, which opposed Zinc’s earlier “006” proposal, and it is now prompting broader questions about protocol governance and revenue allocations within Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. The core disagreement revolves around three key issues: the buyback price, treatment of intellectual property, and procedural concerns tied to Zinc’s original buyout plan. MetaDAO’s leadership claims that Zinc’s earlier proposal suffered from flawed execution and lacked clarity, particularly regarding IP rights and proper valuation, while Zinc counters that MetaDAO’s framing misrepresents both the intent and the mechanics of their plan. On June 15, 2026, both sides confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that they were holding private talks to resolve the standoff. Community reactions remain sharply divided, as some stakeholders accuse Zinc of sidelining investor interests while others challenge MetaDAO’s narrative and support Zinc’s position. This debate has therefore sharpened scrutiny of protocol transparency and stakeholder engagement across Solana DeFi. The outcome is significant for the broader Solana ecosystem because Zinc has generated over $3 million in the past 30 days, with projected annual protocol revenue nearing $60 million. In addition, Zinc currently accounts for about 20% of Solana DeFi’s daily protocol revenue, making the dispute relevant not only to direct participants but also to the evolving standards of DeFi governance across the network. As of 15:09 UTC on June 15, 2026, Solana (SOL) was trading at $73.84, with a 9.64% increase in 24-hour trading volume, according to market survey data.