What is Zcash?

Zcash is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency whose coin, ZEC, has a fixed maximum supply of 21 million, the same cap as Bitcoin. A new block is added about every 75 seconds, and the block reward halves about every four years. What makes Zcash different is its shielded payments: they use zero-knowledge proofs, a kind of cryptography that lets the network check a transaction is valid without seeing who sent it, who received it or how much moved. Zcash also keeps transparent addresses that behave like Bitcoin, so each user decides how private a payment is.

Transparent vs shielded addresses

A transparent Zcash address starts with t1 (or t3 for multisignature addresses). Payments between transparent addresses work just like Bitcoin: sender, receiver and amount are public on the blockchain and can be followed by anyone. A shielded address keeps that information encrypted. Older shielded addresses from the Sapling generation start with zs; newer wallets show shielded receivers inside a unified address. A payment from one shielded address to another reveals neither party nor the amount. Payments that cross between the two kinds reveal the transparent side.

  • Transparent to transparent (t → t): fully public, like Bitcoin.
  • Shielded to shielded (z → z): sender, receiver and amount encrypted.
  • Shielded to transparent or the reverse: the transparent side and the amount crossing it are visible.
  • Shielded payments can carry an encrypted memo of up to 512 bytes, which only the receiver can read.

Unified addresses (u1)

A unified address, starting with u, bundles several receivers into one string: a shielded receiver and, optionally, a Sapling receiver and a transparent one. Every unified address must contain at least one shielded receiver. The point is convenience: you share one address, and the sender’s wallet uses a receiver type it supports. Modern Zcash wallets show a unified address by default, and most also let you display a transparent address for platforms that need one.

Viewing keys and selective disclosure

A viewing key lets someone see the incoming and outgoing transactions of a shielded address, including amounts and memos, without being able to spend anything. It is how a Zcash user can show an accountant, an auditor or a tax office exactly what they need and nothing more. Keep viewing keys as private as your balance: anyone who has one can read that history.

The 2026 Ironwood upgrade: what it means for your wallet

On 28 July 2026, at block 3,428,143, the Ironwood network upgrade (NU6.3) activated on Zcash mainnet. It added a new shielded pool after a soundness problem was found in the Orchard pool in May 2026. The original Orchard pool is now restricted, and funds leaving it pass through a one-way migration step into Ironwood. Ironwood uses the same receiver structure as Orchard, so existing addresses keep working and you do not need a new wallet or a new address. What you do need is an up-to-date wallet app, so that any Orchard balance is migrated correctly.

  • Update your Zcash wallet to its current version.
  • Let the wallet migrate any Orchard funds when it asks.
  • Your unified address stays the same.

Who builds Zcash

Zcash development is spread across independent groups. The Zcash Foundation is a non-profit that maintains a node implementation and supports the community. In early 2026 the team that had worked at the Electric Coin Company, which created Zcash, moved to a new company, Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), which says core protocol development continues there. ZODL also renamed the Zashi mobile wallet to Zodl; existing users kept the same app, recovery phrase and funds.

Zcash wallets

The Zcash website lists wallets that are shielded by default, meaning they keep funds in a shielded pool unless you choose otherwise. Choose one that is actively maintained and supports the current network upgrade. Any of them can receive a ZEC payout from a swap at its unified or transparent address.

  • Zodl (formerly Zashi): mobile wallet from the former ECC team.
  • Edge, Unstoppable and Vizor: multi-coin mobile wallets with shielded Zcash.
  • Zingo!: a Zcash-focused wallet for desktop and mobile.
  • Keystone: a hardware wallet that supports shielded Zcash.
  • Check the wallet page on z.cash before installing; the list changes as wallets are added or retired.

Zcash vs Monero

Both are privacy coins, but they make different choices. Monero makes every transaction private by default: there are no transparent Monero addresses, and amounts, senders and receivers are always hidden. Zcash makes privacy available rather than mandatory: transparent addresses remain, and many exchange deposits use them, so a share of activity on the Zcash chain is public. Zcash, in turn, offers viewing keys for selective disclosure and a fixed 21 million supply, while Monero has a small permanent block reward after its main emission ended. Our privacy coins guide compares them with Dash in more detail.

How to swap ZEC on VeriSwap

VeriSwap swaps ZEC with Bitcoin, Monero, Ethereum, USDT, USDC and the other supported coins, without an account and with no identity check from us. Pick ZEC as the coin you send or receive, enter the amount and paste a receiving address on the destination network. The order shows one receive amount with the 0.5% service fee included, valid for 15 minutes, with a 50 USD minimum. For ZEC payouts we support transparent t-addresses and unified u1 addresses. A ZEC deposit can come from a shielded or a transparent balance; the deposit and any payout on another chain, such as USDT, are not shielded.

  • ZEC → USDT: receive Tether on Ethereum, TRON or Solana.
  • BTC, XMR, ETH or USDT → ZEC: receive Zcash at a t1 or u1 address in your own wallet.
  • Keep the order reference; it is the only way to find your order.

Mistakes to avoid

Most Zcash problems come from mixing up address types or using an old wallet.

  • Assuming every ZEC payment is private: transparent addresses are public.
  • Sending from a shielded wallet that has not finished syncing, so the transaction never leaves.
  • Using a wallet that has not been updated since the Ironwood upgrade.
  • Pasting a Sapling zs address where a platform only accepts transparent or unified addresses.
  • Sharing a viewing key casually: it reveals your shielded history.

Source notes

Network and regulatory facts are based on the documents below. VeriSwap flow details describe the current exchange process.