How to Trade Zcash (ZEC)

Researchers from Johns Hopkins, MIT, Tel Aviv University, and others began developing the Zerocash protocol to add privacy to Bitcoin before deciding to build an entirely new blockchain.

On October 28, 2016, Zcash launched with a 'trusted setup ceremony' involving 6 participants who created and destroyed the master private key together. In 2022 it was revealed that Edward Snowden participated under the name 'John Dobbertin'.

JPMorgan Chase adopted Zcash’s zero-knowledge proof technology in its Quorum blockchain for confidential business transactions — a strong signal that Zcash’s privacy tech was accepted by institutions.

Zcash performed its first halving, reducing the mining reward from 6.25 ZEC to 3.125 ZEC per block. A new development fund was also established, allocating 20% of rewards to ECC, the Zcash Foundation, and community grants.

Zcash performed its second halving in November 2024. In early 2026, the SEC closed its investigation into the Zcash Foundation without recommending legal action — a major regulatory clarity win.