Zcash

Zcash is a decentralized cryptocurrency focused on privacy and anonymity. It uses the zk-SNARK zero-knowledge proof technology that allows nodes on the network to verify transactions without revealing any sensitive information about those transactions. ZEC transactions by default do not reveal the sending and receiving addresses or the amount being sent. There is an option, however, to reveal this data for the purposes of auditing or regulatory compliance. Zcash was first released on October 28, 2016, and it was originally based on Bitcoin’s codebase.

Zcash, formerly "Zerocoin," was created in 2013 by a group of scientists from Johns Hopkins University. The team recruited additional scientists from leading academic institutions including MIT and Tel Aviv University to build the standalone Zcash protocol. Zcash was first mined in October 2016.


Zcash is a decentralized cryptocurrency focused on privacy and anonymity. It uses the zk-SNARK zero-knowledge proof technology that allows nodes on the network to verify transactions without revealing any sensitive information about those transactions.

ZEC transactions by default do not reveal the sending and receiving addresses or the amount being sent. There is an option, however, to reveal this data for the purposes of auditing or regulatory compliance.

Zcash has a fixed supply of 21 million ZEC and undergoes block halvings every four years.

Zcash distributes a portion of its block rewards to development funding. 20% of Zcash issuance is allocated to the Electric Coin Company, the Zcash Foundation, and independent third-party developers, while 80% is rewarded to miners. 

Foundry's move could help diversify Zcash's mining ecosystem, which has historically been concentrated among a small number of pools.

Foundry plans institutional-focused Zcash mining pool launch in April

The pool is designed for institutional and public company miners, focusing on compliance and regulated infrastructure.

Mining giant Foundry to introduce institutional zcash mining pool

Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) surged 5% on Tuesday, following Zcash Open Development Lab's announcement of over $25 million in seed funding from Paradigm, a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, and Coinbase Ventures. The $25M ZODL Funding Round ZODL was founded by Josh Swihart, former CEO of Electric Coin Company.

Zcash Rallies 5% After $25 Million Funding Round: What's Going On?

Prominent privacy coin Zcash (ZEC) has jumped 7% over the last day as the Zcash Open Development Lab announced a $25 million fundraise.

Zcash Outpaces Bitcoin Gains as Key Development Team Raises $25 Million

Zcash Open Development Lab is developing the Zodl wallet, using the popular Zashi wallet codebase, and other Zcash-related tech.

Zcash Open Development Lab raises $25 million from leading crypto investors Paradigm, a16z and others

The capital will be used to expand development of the Zcash (ZEC) protocol and its privacy-focused self-custodial mobile wallet, Zodl.

Josh Swihart's Zcash Open Development Lab raises $25 million in seed funding

Dash

NEAR Protocol

Private execution layer aims to curb MEV and front-running as the token extends 40% weekly rally despite modest onchain earnings.

NEAR token jumps 17% after ‘Confidential Intents' launch, outpaces privacy tokens sector

Bitcoin

Barry Silbert, CEO of cryptocurrency conglomerate Digital Currency Group, said Wednesday that privacy-focused cryptocurrencies are poised to become the next big investment opportunity in the industry. Bitcoin Not Really ‘Anonymous' During a conversation with Anthony Pompliano at the Bitcoin Investor Week conference, Silbert said his thesis is that 5-10% of Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) market cap would rotate into privacy coins, including Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC).

Barry Silbert Forecasts Up To 10% Of Bitcoin's Market Cap Will Move To Privacy Coins—Crypto Mogul Says Zcash Can Rocket 500x, BTC Won't

Leading altcoins dropped, as analysts cite capital flight to gold, ETF outflows, and cascading liquidations for draining market liquidity.

Zcash, BNB, Sui Lead Altcoin Losses As Crypto Market Slides

Zcash has broken the current support level of $300 and fallen below the 21-day SMA.

Coinidol.com: Zcash Faces Further Decline to $245

The top two privacy coins are underperforming both their category and the broader crypto market amid the ongoing slump.

Privacy Coins Slide as Monero, Zcash Lead Losses

Publicly traded crypto exchange Gemini launched a new Zcash-themed credit card that pays ZEC rewards to holders.

Gemini Launches Zcash Credit Card That Pays ZEC Rewards

The Zcash price is in a sideways trend and has fallen below the moving averages.

Coinidol.com: Zcash Continues Its Range above $300

Sentiment among traders on prediction market Myriad is thawing towards the privacy coin, after flipping bearish last week.

Zcash Sentiment Ticks Up as Privacy Coin's Price Jumps 9%

Analysts told Decrypt that though network activity for the privacy coin is far below its peak, offshoot projects show promise.

What's Next for Zcash After Electric Coin Company Exodus and New CEO?

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss have quietly written another check for privacy tech, sending 3,221 ZEC—worth about $1.2 million—to bolster independent development of the Zcash protocol.

Shielded Labs Receives Major ZEC Grant From Winklevoss Twins

The 3,221 ZEC donation, worth about $1.2 million, from Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss will fund core protocol initiatives, Shielded Labs said.

Winklevoss twins donate $1.2M in ZEC to back independent Zcash development

Winklevoss twins, the co-founders of Gemini Space Station, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEMI ), donated over $1 million to support the privacy-focused Zcash (CRYPTO: ZEC) cryptocurrency on Tuesday. ‘Unstoppable Private Money' Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss donated 3,221 ZEC tokens, worth $1.4 million, to Shielded Labs, an independent organization that supports the development of the Zcash network.

Winklevoss Twins Donate $1.4 Million To Support Zcash Network: 'Privacy Is The Next Frontier In Crypto'

The new tool helps Zcash nodes discover peers faster and more safely as they join the network.

Zcash Foundation adds new Rust DNS seeder to improve network reliability

The privacy-coin crypto market has taken a noticeable knock, moving in lockstep with bitcoin and ethereum as both slid lower. While the broader crypto economy is off more than 4% over the past day, the privacy-coin segment has fared worse, slipping 9.9% against the greenback.

Privacy Coins Take a Beating as Bitcoin's Slide Hits the Sector Hard

The Zcash price fell below the moving average lines after being rejected at the $600 level.

Coinidol.com: Zcash Oscillates Above Its $300 Low

The privacy coin category posted gains amid a broad market sell-off, as experts cite growing demand for "defensive" assets.

Privacy Coins Monero, Dash and Dusk Defy Crypto Market Slump

The surge in privacy coins in late 2025, which continued in 2026 with Monero hitting new highs, is seen as signalling renewed investor demand for on-chain anonymity. Analysts and industry leaders argue that privacy is evolving from untraceable transfers to selective disclosure and becoming core infrastructure for Web3.

From Anonymity to Selective Disclosure: The Next Era of Privacy Coins

The exit of Electric Coin Co.'s development team to launch the for‑profit startup CashZ has shaken the Zcash ecosystem. Analysts remain divided: some warn the departure exposes single‑point‑of‑failure risks and undermines cypherpunk ideals, while others argue fragmentation strengthens resilience by distributing development across multiple teams.

Fragmentation or Evolution? Experts Say the Zcash Multi-Entity Split Strengthens the Network

Cake offers a suite of privacy tools, including Bitcoin PayJoin transactions, though it is often associated most with Monero.

News for Zcash Crypto (ZEC)