Zcash Shielded News is a community article format based on the weekly Zcash Ecosystem Digest Newsletter._
Providing insight on current events and informing the community about important news in the Zcash ecosystem._
Check out the best Highlights below!
Fact of the Week: Viewing Keys 🔍
Zcash lets users share viewing keys, which allow others to see transaction details without giving them spending access. This feature is perfect for audits, donations, or compliance, keeping your funds secure while providing transparency when needed. 🛡️
IN TODAY’S EDITION 💸 Zashi Swaps: Decentralized On-Ramp is Live• The latest Zashi release introduces decentralized swaps powered by NEAR Intents, letting users easily convert crypto to ZEC — no centralized exchanges required. 🏗️ Zcash Foundation Update (September 26, 2025)• Highlights key progress on Zebra, CI improvements, and zcashd deprecation — paving the way for a more efficient, contributor-friendly ecosystem. 🗳️ ZCG Meeting Minutes – September 29, 2025• The committee reviewed several community proposals, with approvals for ShapeShift integration and Zaino, and rejections for others pending stronger execution. 🔥 The Tipping Point - 🚀 ECC Update• Josh Swihart shares ECC’s recent milestones, including advancements in Zashi, protocol scaling, and Zcash’s expanding vision for privacy-preserving finance. 🏆 ZecHub Hackathon Results• Developers from across the ecosystem built privacy-first apps in ZecHub’s hackathon — with top honors going to ZEC-Bounties, Zyberquest, and Banana Betting. 
The newest version of Zashi marks a significant step forward for private digital finance. With decentralized swaps powered by NEAR Intents, users can now convert assets like USDC, Bitcoin, or Solana directly into Zcash (ZEC), no centralized exchange required. Everything happens securely within the Zashi wallet, and once received, ZEC can be shielded instantly for complete privacy.
This release matters because gaining access to ZEC has long relied on centralized platforms, which many users either cannot or prefer not to use. Zashi 2.4 removes that dependency, advancing the broader vision outlined by Josh Swihart earlier this year: a privacy-preserving financial ecosystem that stands alongside, yet independent from, the traditional system.
Each update makes that vision more tangible, empowering users with greater autonomy and control.
The update also introduces mempool detection, allowing users to see incoming ZEC transactions as soon as they are broadcast, no more waiting for confirmations before knowing funds are on the way. In addition, the Coinbase on-ramp has been temporarily disabled due to new authentication requirements that compromise Zashi’s privacy-first architecture.
Together, these changes reinforce Zashi’s mission: to build independent financial rails where private money is truly yours. Zashi 2.4 brings us one step closer to that reality.
Stay shielded. 🛡️
The Zcash Foundation has shared steady progress on the zcashd deprecation effort, marking an important milestone with the completion of the NU6.1 audit, which covered the one-time lockbox disbursement. Several RPC improvements were introduced, including updates to getaddressutxos, z_gettreestate, enhancements to TransactionObject, and refinements to getaddresstxids, improving reliability and usability for developers.
The CI pipeline also received a major upgrade. By adopting nextest, improving Docker caching, and simplifying configuration, the team reduced complexity and made testing faster and more dependable. Nineteen separate workflows were consolidated into a single, streamlined system, making the development process more contributor-friendly and secure.
On the Zebra side, development continues to accelerate. Updates include Orchard fields in getrawtransaction, implementation of draft ZIP 2003 for NU7, and notable performance improvements through batch validators. The addition of z_validateaddress expands functionality for developers, while enhancements like faster regtest connections, configurable checkpoints, and improved dependencies refine the overall experience.
A new ZFuture variant, managed by a Rust configuration flag, has also been introduced to prepare for NU7. Together, these updates demonstrate the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to modernizing Zcash’s core infrastructure and building a more robust, efficient ecosystem for privacy-preserving finance.
Attendance: 👥
Alex (FPF Resource, Notetaker)
🔹 Zcash Arabia | $10,000
Goal: Expand Zcash adoption in the MENA region by building an Arabic-speaking community through education, engagement, and developer support.
ZCG Feedback: Members recognized the region’s importance but felt the team hasn’t yet shown consistent results. Encouraged them to grow impact and reapply later.
Status: ❌ Unanimous rejection (may be reconsidered with proven progress).
🔹 Zcash YouTube Promotion | $49,999
Goal: Boost Zcash awareness through frequent, high-quality videos, giveaways, and community events across Mexico and the U.S.
ZCG Feedback: Liked the enthusiasm but found the request too large for the current audience size. Suggested collaborating with ZecHub and applying for a smaller grant.
Status: ❌ Unanimous rejection.
🔹 Targeted Reddit Marketing | $60,000
Goal: Run a six-month Reddit campaign to increase Zcash visibility and correct misconceptions about privacy coins.
ZCG Feedback: Members noted Reddit’s moderation issues and lack of organic traction, making the campaign unlikely to succeed.
Status: ❌ Unanimous rejection.
🔹 Fanmuse | $46,656
Goal: Promote Zcash through entertainment-driven digital IP and interactive media to make privacy more accessible.
ZCG Feedback: Considered too vague and overextended with unclear deliverables.
Status: ❌ Unanimous rejection.'
Brainstorm Session Follow-Ups
-
- Approved async. ZCG was waiting for more detail on the marketing and node costs. ZCG was satisfied with the response and approved this grant.
-
- Approved async. ZCG was waiting for technical feedback, feedback received, grant approved.
Zcash has hit a tipping point driven by strong fundamentals, global demand for privacy, influential advocates, and viral memes.
Recent tech improvements like Zashi, Keystone, and progress on Tachyon have made it more usable, while growing surveillance and political unrest have boosted its relevance.
With support from key figures and an energized community, Zcash is entering a new era as “unstoppable private money.
🔎 Diving into ECC updates
Zashi 📱
Zashi saw over $9.5M in ZEC swaps/payments since late August, averaging 1,509 ZEC/day, with nearly 1M swapped this week.
Recent Updates:
Swap to ZEC finished and released to production!
Follow-up bug fixes released to production, as well, on both platforms.
Coming Soon:
Implement ephemeral transparent addresses for NEAR-intent features
Add “trusted transaction” option to lower confirmation requirements
Focus on debugging and bug fixes
Advance designs for:
Transparent Address Rotation
Ledger Hardware Wallet support
Duress/Decoy Wallet feature
Multi-Account Support
Zashi reset revamp & home button personalization
Zashi | Adoption Numbers
IOS
Unique Installs: 12,1k (prev. 10.7k)
Total Downloads: 14,7k (prev. 12.7k)
AppStore Rating: 4.9*
🤖 Android
Total Install Base: 4,83k (prev. 4.18k)
Total Installs (incl. Open Beta): 24,2k (prev.23k)
Playstore Rating: 4.347*
Zcash Core 🦓
Recent Updates:
Completed ZIP 48 transparent multisig support in Rust crates and zcash-devtool
Conducted Key Holder Organization ceremony for NU6.1, set consensus rules, and released zcashd 6.10.0
Finished backend and mobile SDK updates aligned with new Zashi features and fixes
Coming soon:
Add rotating ephemeral transparent addresses for swaps and onramps
Implement trusted transaction marking to reduce confirmations
Draft key rotation ZIP for NU7 (ZSA & lockbox keys)
Review QEDit ZSA PRs for the Orchard crate
Other 🌐
Str4d and Josh attended Token 2049 and Network State events in Singapore, meeting with partners to support Zcash, Zashi, Tachyon, and Cross Link.
Zooko and Josh also spoke at the Network State Conference, and several joined a Zcash event and roundtable with Balaji hosted by genzcash.
Over the past month, developers from across the Zcash ecosystem built creative, privacy-preserving apps — from streaming platforms to games and wallets — all competing for a 100 ZEC prize pool. 🏆
🥇 1st – ZEC-Bounties by Tron: A Zcash-powered bounty platform streamlining task completion to payout.
🥈 2nd – Zyberquest by Team Blockbears: A 2D cypherpunk arcade with off-chain and on-chain modes.
🥉 3rd – Banana Betting by @zReadyMouse: A fun, charity-driven Zcash betting platform.
🏅 Runners-up: ZEC Donate | ZEC Rotor | Zechostream | ZECA Project | Anino Wallet
Massive thanks to all builders, DAO voters, and community supporters — and to @aiyadt for gifting every participant a ZEC Cabochon.
For more details → https://x.com/ZecHub/status/1975565960661635283