Zcash

ZEC CMC #10 in the snapshot

A payment network with transparent transfers and shielded transfers that use zero-knowledge proofs.

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026Asset ranks captured 14 Nov 2026Snapshot & methodology ↗

01 / THE PURPOSE

What is Zcash for?

Zcash seeks to let users prove a payment is valid without publishing all payment details. Privacy depends on the address, pool and transaction path actually used.

02 / THE ARCHITECTURE

Three questions about the machinery.

How does it agree?

Consensus & security

The network uses proof-of-work. Nodes enforce validity and supply rules even when shielded transfer details are not public; zero-knowledge proofs establish the relevant statements.

Where do instructions run?

Execution model

Transparent activity is publicly visible. Shielded activity hides selected details while proving authorization and balance conservation. Moving between transparent and shielded contexts changes the information exposed.

What is the token for?

ZEC in the system

ZEC is the native payment and fee asset. Shielding does not create a second currency or a separate promise to redeem ZEC at a fixed price.

03 / THE DESIGN CHOICES

What comes with the design?

Each architecture makes choices about security, performance, coordination, and who can participate.

A transparent transfer is not made private merely by using the Zcash network.
Wallet behavior, endpoints and information revealed outside the chain can weaken practical privacy.

04 / IN PRACTICE

Follow one use.

Illustrative: a shielded payment can prove that the sender had spendable funds without displaying the amount to every observer. The recipient still learns the information needed to receive it.

05 / CHECK THE EXPLANATION

Sources & snapshot.

Network descriptions use the references below. The CoinMarketCap snapshot determines which assets are in scope and their captured rank; it does not assess the quality of a network.

Zcash · What is Zcash? Zcash
Zcash · Shielded and transparent transfers Zcash
Zcash Protocol Specification · November 13, 2026 Zcash protocol specification contributors
CoinMarketCap top 100 snapshot Captured 14 Nov 2026 · See the complete scope audit
Zcash (ZEC) on CoinMarketCap Captured asset rank #10

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026. Network designs and ranked positions can change.