Standalone network (L1)
A native network coin
ZEC pays for transfers and network fees on Zcash. Miners confirm blocks through Proof of Work: computational work protects the shared payment history.
Your ecosystem guide / Zcash
Zcash: ZEC and shielded payments
Zcash is a payments blockchain with its own coin, ZEC. Transfers within the same shielded pool keep the sender, recipient and amount private, while zero-knowledge proofs let the network verify that a transaction is valid. Wallets connect this system to ordinary transfers, swaps and purchases.
- Network
- Zcash · Proof of Work
- Verified on 21.10.2026
- Payments
- Transparent and shielded transfers
- Verified on 21.10.2026
- Coin and fees
- ZEC · fees in ZEC
- Verified on 21.10.2026
Zcash
All sections
One coin, two ways to make a payment
Zcash supports transparent and shielded transfers. The data visible on the blockchain depends on the addresses and funds involved in each transaction.
A public record
A transparent transfer publishes its addresses and amount on the blockchain. Exchanges often use this type of address for withdrawals.
A private record
A shielded pool is the part of the protocol that accounts for private funds. For a transfer within the same pool, the network checks a proof of validity while keeping addresses and the amount private.
From receiving ZEC to making a payment
Three paths for funds in Zcash
A transparent withdrawal, a shielded payment and migration of an old balance leave different records on the blockchain.
Receive from an exchange
- 01Withdraw ZEC on Zcash
- 02Receive on a transparent address
- 03Move the funds into a shielded pool
If an exchange only supports transparent withdrawals, the wallet first receives a public transfer and then moves the funds into a shielded pool. Wallets with autoshielding perform the second step automatically. The amount entering the pool remains public; a later shielded payment keeps its own addresses and amount private.
How it works ↗Send a private payment
- 01Shielded ZEC balance
- 02Shielded recipient
- 03Payment with private addresses and amount
The wallet selects a compatible shielded receiver and creates a proof for the network. The fee is paid in ZEC. The owner can separately grant access to transaction information while retaining the authority to spend the funds.
How it works ↗Orchard → Ironwood
- 01Old Orchard balance
- 02Migration with a public amount
- 03Shielded Ironwood balance
After Ironwood activation, an old Orchard balance moves through separate migration transactions. Zodl offers an immediate transfer or smaller transfers sent at varying times. These transfers between pools reveal amounts while shielded addresses remain private. An existing unified address continues to work.
How it works ↗A unified address and separate viewing access
An address tells a wallet where to send ZEC. A viewing key separately grants access to transaction information.
One address for receiving
A Unified Address (UA) can combine different receiver types for the same wallet. The sending wallet selects a compatible receiver present in the address; shielded payments require support for a shielded receiver.
View without spending
An incoming viewing key shows payments received by the wallet; a full viewing key also shows outgoing payments. Sending ZEC requires a separate spending key.
The new shielded pool
Ironwood has been live since NU6.3 activated on July 28, 2026. Orchard no longer accepts new payments. Its remaining funds can move forward into Ironwood.
A wallet, purchases and network infrastructure
Zodl brings everyday operations together. Integrations add swaps, retail payments and hardware key storage.
Mobile wallet
Zodl
Zodl, formerly Zashi, keeps keys with the owner. It supports shielded transfers, Ironwood migration, swaps and viewing-key export.
ZEC to the recipient’s chosen asset
CrossPay
CrossPay uses NEAR Intents: your ZEC covers the swap and fees, and the recipient receives the selected amount of another asset on the selected network. Visibility of the final transfer follows the recipient network’s rules.
Pay a merchant
Flexa
The Flexa integration lets users pay in ZEC at participating merchants.
Hardware wallet with Zodl
Keystone
Keystone holds keys on a separate device while Zodl provides the interface. The migration guide for Zodl 3.9.0 requires Keystone firmware 3.0.2 or later for Ironwood compatibility.
Full node
Zebra
Zebra from the Zcash Foundation verifies blocks and transactions. This Rust node implementation supports network infrastructure and services.
Community education
Zechub
ZecHub provides guides to wallets, nodes and private payments, alongside educational material about community projects.
Start by receiving ZEC on its native network
An ordinary Zcash transfer requires ZEC and a wallet supporting the address type you need. The same coin pays the network fee.
Create a wallet
Back up access following your wallet’s instructions. Zodl gives the owner control of the keys; pairing it with Keystone provides a hardware option.
Select Zcash for the withdrawal
Match the exchange’s withdrawal network to your wallet address. Yieldo’s fee page lists ZEC / Zcash separately from tokens on other networks.
Choose a payment method
Use a compatible shielded address for a shielded transfer. To pay in another asset, open CrossPay and select the recipient’s network and address.
Exchange withdrawal fees on Zcash
| Coin | Exchange | Network on the exchange | Fee | Minimum | Withdrawals | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZEC | MEXC | ZEC | 0.00035 | 0.015 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | Gate.io | ZEC | 0.000443 | 0.01 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | Binance | ZEC | 0.0005 | 0.003 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | Bitget | ZEC | 0.0005 | 0.0079365 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | OKX | ZCASH | 0.0005 | 0.01 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | HTX | ZEC | 0.001 | 0.024 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | Kraken | ZCASH | 0.001 | 0.005 | Open | Withdraw |
| ZEC | KuCoin | ZEC | 0.005 | 0.01 | Open | Withdraw |
Exchange data as of 22.10.2026 15:37
What users pay for and where new ZEC comes from
Fees pay for including transactions in blocks. New coins follow a separate issuance schedule with a limit of 21 million ZEC.
Network upgrades and wallet support
ZIPs, or Zcash Improvement Proposals, describe protocol rules. Upgrade activation and application support determine which operations are available.
Ironwood is live
The upgrade activated at block 3,428,143. Wallets gained a new shielded payment path and tools for moving an existing balance.
Migration and accounting
Version 3.9.0 introduced guided Ironwood migration. September releases added unified viewing-key export for working with wallet history.
Network and wallet documentation
Transparent and shielded transfers ↗Unified addresses — ZIP 316 ↗NU6.3 / Ironwood activation ↗Moving funds from Orchard ↗Zodl releases and viewing keys ↗Fee calculation — ZIP 317 ↗Subsidy and funding — ZIP 214 ↗Zcash economics and issuance ↗
3 Discord communities on Zcash
Checked on 19.10.2026
Zcash
Zcash community for privacy, support questions, protocol development and ecosystem updates.
Community
About the ecosystem
Zcash Foundation
Foundation Discord with documented Zebra support for Zcash node users.
Community
About the ecosystem
Zcash R&D
Zcash R&D Discord; the Foundation directs wallet developers here for FROST questions.
Community
About the ecosystem
Full list on discordcatalog.com →
2 sources about Zcash
Official Zcash updates and co-founder Zooko Wilcox on protocol development and network governance.Checked on 22.10.2026
Zcash
Zcash
Official Zcash announcements about the network, wallets and protocol upgrades.
Official
Affiliation confirmed
Zooko Wilcox
zooko
Zcash co-founder and Shielded Labs Chief Product Officer writing about protocol development and coinholder governance.
Official
Affiliation confirmed
Full list on xfollowlist.com →
Information checked: 21 October 2026
Practical questions
1Are all Zcash transfers private?+
A payment within the same shielded pool keeps the addresses and amount private. A transparent transfer publishes this information. Moving from the transparent part into a shielded pool, or between shielded pools such as Orchard and Ironwood, reveals the amount crossing between them.
2What does a Zcash unified address do?+
A unified address can contain several receiver types for the same wallet. The sending wallet selects a compatible receiver present in the address. A shielded payment requires support for the corresponding type.
3Does an old Orchard balance need migration?+
Ironwood activated on July 28, 2026. Existing Orchard funds move to the new pool through separate transactions; activation did not automatically move the entire balance. Zodl offers immediate or gradual migration, while an existing unified address continues to work.
4Which coin pays Zcash network fees?+
Network fees are paid in ZEC. The wallet calculates the fee from the transaction’s actions. An exchange sets its own withdrawal fee, shown separately on Yieldo’s fee page.
5Can I share transaction information without spending access?+
Yes. A viewing key shares wallet transaction information. Spending ZEC requires a separate spending key. Zodl supports exporting incoming and full viewing keys.
6How does Zcash confirm blocks?+
Zcash uses Proof of Work. Miners perform computational work, assemble transactions into blocks and receive fees plus their share of the block subsidy.