Zcash (ZEC) is a privacy focused cryptocurrency that is built with zk-SNARK zero-knowledge proofs to enable fully encrypted transactions while keeping the network transparent and secure. It was the first cryptocurrency to implement zero knowledge encryption for private peer to peer payments, allowing users to prove a transaction’s validity without exposing wallet balances, transaction amounts, or participant identities.
Zcash runs as a decentralized protocol on its own blockchain, maintaining a fixed supply of 21 million ZEC with a halving schedule similar to Bitcoin. Users retain full control over their funds and keys while benefiting from enhanced financial confidentiality.
The project originated from a group of scientists who began working on Bitcoin privacy in 2013. Their early Zerocoin proposal evolved into a standalone protocol. Electric Coin Co. (ECC) was founded in 2015 to develop Zcash, which launched in October 2016. The Zcash Foundation followed in 2017, and Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) began in 2020 to fund independent teams, creating a decentralized ecosystem supported directly by the protocol.
Zcash was created to address the privacy gap in traditional cryptocurrencies, where transaction details are publicly visible on chain.
Its mission is to.
By combining end to end encryption with decentralized blockchain infrastructure, Zcash aims to make digital cash both private and permissionless.
Trustless Privacy
Zcash privacy is “trustless”. it relies on open cryptography rather than any central authority. Its zero knowledge proof system ensures that shielded transactions are valid without requiring trust in a founding team or setup group.
Optional Privacy
Users can choose between transparent public and shielded private transactions depending on their needs. Shielded transactions fully hide sender, receiver, and amount data while remaining verifiable on chain.
Self Funded Development
A portion of ZEC block rewards funds ecosystem growth through the Zcash Community Grants Committee and a coinholder controlled fund, supporting wallets, infrastructure, and developer projects.
Faster and Cheaper Than Bitcoin
Blocks are mined roughly every 75 seconds, with transaction fees typically only a fraction of a cent. This makes Zcash more practical for everyday payments than slower, higher fee networks.
Bitcoin Like Monetary Policy
With a fixed 21 million supply and halvings every four years, Zcash maintains predictable issuance and scarcity while layering in modern privacy tools.
Real World Utility
ZEC is used for private payments, cross border transfers, confidential savings, and as a hedge against financial surveillance. In 2025, adoption of shielded transactions hit record highs, with over 30 percent of total ZEC supply, about 4.9 million coins, now held in encrypted pools.
Zcash operates on its own blockchain secured by a Proof of Work PoW mechanism and is evolving toward a hybrid Proof of Stake PoS model under the “Crosslink” upgrade to enhance scalability, energy efficiency, and network security.
It uses Halo zero knowledge proofs to verify shielded transactions without revealing sender, receiver, or amount. The Orchard shielded pool and Unified Addresses UAs further simplify user experience by allowing one address to support both transparent and private transactions.
Zcash ZEC will be available for trading on Bitazza via the ZEC/USDT pair.
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