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ZODL operates as a non-profit unit focused on advancing the Zcash protocol and ecosystem. Its core offering is the Zodl wallet, a self-custodial mobile wallet that enables shielded Zcash transactions, keeping sender, receiver, and amount private. It differentiates itself by its nonprofit, open-source approach to privacy-first protocol and wallet development, supported by major crypto-focused investors to scale engineering and R&D. Its goal is to make private digital payments more accessible and to grow adoption of shielded transactions through open development and community collaboration.
Industries
Data & Analytics
Fintech
Cybersecurity
Crypto & Web3
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Early VC
Total Funding
$5M
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas
Founded
2026
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Total Funding
$5M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
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Remote Work Options
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Zcash powered wallet gets Ironwood ready before upgrade. Zodl 3.8.0 is now live on iOS with full support for Zcash's Ironwood network upgrade, introducing the new shielded pool ahead of the July 28 activation. Zodl ships iOS update ahead of Ironwood activation. Zodl has released version 3.8.0 on iOS, adding full support for Zcash's Ironwood network upgrade ahead of its activation on July 28. The update is a required install: users who do not upgrade before Ironwood activates risk wallet disruptions as the network transitions away from the existing Orchard shielded pool. The release also introduces support for the new Ironwood shielded pool. Users can migrate funds manually now, with a guided in-app migration tool set to follow in a future update. Users can already tap their balance on the home screen to see how their $ZEC is split across Zcash pools, including the new Ironwood pool. Why Ironwood matters for Zcash. The Ironwood upgrade is designed to address the so-called "infinity" vulnerability discovered in the Orchard private transaction pool. In May 2026, Shielded Labs security engineer Taylor Hornby discovered a critical vulnerability in the Orchard pool that had existed since Orchard's activation in May 2022 and could have allowed unlimited counterfeit $ZEC to be minted undetectably within the pool. Although the vulnerability was quickly fixed through an emergency network upgrade in early June 2026, the privacy features of Orchard meant there was no cryptographic way to prove whether anyone had exploited it before the patch was released. The current Orchard pool will be closed to new deposits and internal transactions so that funds in that pool can only move forward through the turnstile before entering Ironwood. Because the turnstile rejects any attempt to move out more $ZEC than entered, users gain a trustless guarantee that no more than the correct amount of ZEC can be circulating. The upgrade was originally planned for July 21 but was pushed back one week to give ecosystem participants, including crypto exchanges, mining pools, and crypto wallets, time to prepare their systems. The Ironwood upgrade is scheduled to activate at block height 3,428,143, expected around 13:00 UTC on July 28, 2026. Previously used Orchard addresses will continue to work in the new pool. Users holding transparent $ZEC balances or funds outside the legacy Orchard pool do not need to take any action, as only Orchard balances require migration. (Advertisement)
Zcash surges 60% in a week as institutional mining and ETF optimism mount. Zcash (ZEC) has rallied 60% over the last week, fueled by the launch of Foundry's institutional mining pool and anticipation surrounding a Grayscale spot ETF filing. By CryptoPress April 10, 2026 * Zcash (ZEC) has gained 60% over the past seven days, outperforming the broader market to reach a three-month high of approximately $383. The rally follows the launch of a compliant mining pool by Foundry Digital and a surge in the network's shielded pool supply, which now holds over 31% of ZEC. Market participants are closely watching the April 28 deadline for the SEC's decision on Grayscale's application to convert its Zcash Trust into a spot ETF. Zcash (ZEC) has emerged as the week's top performer in the privacy sector, posting a 60% gain as a combination of institutional infrastructure and regulatory optimism drives renewed demand. The privacy-focused token spiked over 21% in the last 24 hours alone, reaching $383 and reclaiming key technical levels that have remained untouched since late 2024. This momentum comes as Bitcoin continues its steady climb, yet ZEC's outperformance suggests a specific rotation into privacy-centric assets. A primary driver for the surge is the entry of Foundry Digital, the world's largest Bitcoin mining pool operator, which launched its institutional-grade Zcash mining pool this month. The initiative aims to provide a compliant mining environment for public companies and financial firms, addressing a long-standing gap in the privacy coin ecosystem. "Zcash has matured into an institutional-grade asset, but the mining infrastructure supporting it hasn't kept pace," said Mike Colyer, CEO of Foundry, noting that the pool will operate under rigorous SOC 1 and SOC 2 transparency standards. Beyond mining, on-chain metrics signal deepening fundamental adoption. The percentage of ZEC held in shielded pools - which utilize zk-SNARKs to keep transaction details private - has surpassed 31%, representing nearly $2 billion in value. This growth in shielded supply is viewed by analysts as a sign of genuine utility rather than mere speculative trading. Furthermore, the Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL) recently secured $25 million in funding from firms like Paradigm and Andreessen Horowitz to scale private financial tools, bolstering the long-term roadmap. Traders are also positioning themselves ahead of a critical regulatory milestone. The SEC is expected to deliver a decision on Grayscale's spot Zcash ETF filing by April 28. Following the closure of a previous SEC investigation into the Zcash Foundation earlier this year, sentiment has shifted toward the possibility of a "compliant privacy" narrative that could ease institutional onboarding. However, some analysts warn that the Relative Strength Index (RSI), currently sitting near 78, indicates overbought conditions that could lead to a short-term correction despite the bullish fundamental backdrop. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions. (C) Cryptopress. For informational purposes only, not offered as advice of any kind. Discover more Currencies & Foreign Exchange Distributed & Cloud Computing Financial Markets News Lo último. * Zcash What is Zcash and how it works... * Zcash Developers Resign En Masse Over Governance Clash, ZEC Plunges 15% The entire Electric Coin Company team behind Zcash quit after a dispute with its nonprofit board, sending ZEC down over 15% to below $400. Developers plan new company to continue work, but uncertainty looms for the privacy coin... * Quantum-Resistant Cryptocurrencies: The Projects Leading the Charge in 2026 The top quantum-resistant cryptocurrencies in 2026, including privacy leader Zcash and dedicated pioneers like QRL. A guide to future-proof blockchain security... * Zcash Community Split Over Shielded Assets in Latest Sentiment Poll A recent Zcash sentiment poll reveals deep community divisions over the 2021 proposal to enable fully private token issuance on the network...
Cypherpunk Technologies has invested $5 million in Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), marking its first technology investment outside of ZEC. The investment joins backers including a16z, Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase, Paradigm and others. ZODL was founded by former Electric Coin Company CEO Josh Swihart, who launched the Zashi wallet (now rebranded to Zodl). The wallet helped grow Zcash's Orchard shielded pool from approximately 1 million ZEC to 4 million ZEC during 2025. The investment aligns with Cypherpunk's mission of advancing privacy technologies. Swihart joined Cypherpunk as a strategic adviser in December. Cypherpunk currently holds 294,743.10 ZEC at an average price of $335.89, representing approximately 1.78% of the total network. ZODL aims to improve Zcash accessibility through continued wallet development and protocol-level support.
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Industries
Data & Analytics
Fintech
Cybersecurity
Crypto & Web3
Company Size
11-50
Company Stage
Early VC
Total Funding
$5M
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas
Founded
2026
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today