0xramp is a decentralized application that allows you to buy, sell, and spend Zcash (ZEC) and other cryptocurrencies using traditional local payment methods. It was born as a direct response to one of the most critical problems in the Zcash ecosystem: the difficulty of acquiring and using ZEC without relying on centralized exchanges.
The project was founded by Vini Barbosa and Michae2xl, two developers who identified that the Zcash user journey has three fundamental parts: acquiring ZEC with familiar local payment methods, storing it in a personal wallet, and using it when needed. 0xramp connects these steps through its BUY, SELL, and PAY functions.
How was 0xramp born?
The project emerged in August 2026 when the founders submitted their first grant application to the Zcash Community Grants (ZCG). Although that first proposal (#408) was rejected, the team did not stop. They continued working without funding for a full month, significantly improving the product before submitting a revised proposal.
The second proposal was much more focused: they requested $45,000 USD for 16 weeks (instead of the original $206,000 for 12 months), with two founders working part-time, no hires, and a clear focus on being a non-profit public good for the Zcash ecosystem.
Main Objectives
0xramp’s objectives are clear and ambitious:
- Facilitate the acquisition of ZEC through local payment methods without the need for custodial exchanges
- Enable ZEC payments to merchants who do not use cryptocurrencies (exclusive PAY function for Zcash)
- Build public infrastructure via an open-source SDK that other wallets can integrate
- Educate users about risks, privacy, and responsible use of Zcash in five languages
- Publish transparent metrics attributed to ZEC that anyone can verify on-chain
What have they achieved so far?
The results speak for themselves. According to public data from the platform (updated as of October 20, 2026):
Transaction Volume
- More than $40,000 USD in total settled volume
- 450 completed orders since August 1, 2026
- 137 unique accounts registered, of which 83 have completed at least one transaction
- 27% of the total volume ($10,844 USD) is directly attributed to ZEC
- 101 out of 450 orders used ZEC as the main asset
Geographical Expansion
0xramp currently operates in 12 payment corridors, including:
- 🇧🇷 Brazil (Pix) - 340 orders, $38,085.68 USD
- 🇻🇪 Venezuela (Pago Móvil) - 33 orders, $859.05 USD
- 🇮🇳 India (UPI) - 55 orders, $783.46 USD
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia (QRIS) - 5 orders, $270.53 USD
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador (Bank Transfer) - 4 orders, $90.48 USD
- 🇵🇪 Peru (Yape/Plin/CCI) - 3 orders, $54.35 USD
Additionally, there are 4 corridors in alpha phase: Colombia (COP), Bolivia (BOB), Cuba (CUP), and Philippines (PHP).
Exclusive PAY Function for Zcash
One of the most distinctive features is the PAY function, which allows any holder of ZEC to pay a static Pix QR code in Brazil. The merchant receives local currency without the need to integrate a Zcash wallet. This function is exclusive to Zcash within the multi-asset application.
Wallet Integration
The team is collaborating with Zingo Labs (a wallet team funded by ZCG) to build an open-source integration that allows operations to be initiated directly from third-party wallets, with signing controlled by the wallet and return handling.
Important Technical Features
Non-Custodial
0xramp never takes possession of users' private keys or funds. Funds never enter a 0xramp wallet, contract, or bank account. Execution relies on swap providers, settlement infrastructure, merchants, and banks.
Decentralized Architecture
- Fiat Settlement: P2P.me connects users with settlement merchants using escrow on Base
- Crypto Conversion: NEAR Intents provides the current conversion path for ZEC
- Zcash Privacy: The current path uses transparent ZEC addresses (t1...)
Radical Transparency
All metrics are public and verifiable on 0xramp.app/data, including daily volume, daily median, best day, users per month, and order distribution per account.
Challenges and Transparency on Risks
The team has been notably transparent about the risks involved:
Bank Freeze Risk: Banks in some countries may freeze accounts for unusual activity. This risk exists in any local currency to ZEC route, including custodial exchanges.
Current Transparent Route: Transactions use transparent Zcash addresses, meaning the address and amount are public on the Zcash chain.
Provider Dependency: Execution depends on P2P.me for settlement and NEAR Intents for conversion. The team is working to assess alternative providers.
The Future of 0xramp
The project has a clear roadmap with four main milestones:
- M1 (Week 4): Risk/recovery copy before confirming; metrics v0 with ZEC attribution
- M2 (Week 8): Documentation to match the live PAY route; external user validation
- M3 (Week 12): SDK v1 tagged and a wallet-originated ZEC route, confirmed by the partner
- M4 (Week 16): Three community deliveries; second provider note; continuation plan
0xramp represents a fascinating case of how crypto infrastructure projects can be born from the community, face rejections, adapt, and grow organically. In less than three months, they have processed over $40,000 USD in real volume, expanded their reach to 12 countries, and are building open-source tools that will benefit the entire Zcash ecosystem.
Their focus on transparency, user education, and building public goods sets them apart from many projects in the crypto space. If they continue on this trajectory, 0xramp could become a cornerstone of the access infrastructure for Zcash in Latin America, Asia, and beyond.
Useful Links:
- Website: 0xramp.app
- Public Metrics: 0xramp.app/data
- Twitter/X: @0xramplabs
- ZCG Grant Application: Zcash Forum