ZcashLearning Atlas
A Field Guide to Privacy Money

Learn Zcash,
three ways.

A curated atlas of the Zcash ecosystem — the canonical resources, organized for who you are and what you came here to do.

Path 01 / The Newcomer

Start at the
shielded shore.

You've heard about Zcash. Maybe you're privacy-curious, maybe Bitcoin-fluent, maybe wholly new to crypto. This path moves from "what is it" to "I have a wallet and made a shielded transaction."

Understand Zcash Shielded vs. transparent Pick a wallet First shielded tx Join community
Filter
Foundations ↗
ZecHub Wiki — Home
The community-run knowledge base. Plain-language explanations of every Zcash concept.
zechub.wiki
Foundations ↗
What is Zcash?
A clean intro: privacy by default, the difference from Bitcoin, why zero-knowledge proofs matter.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/whatiszcash
Foundations ↗
Learn Zcash — z.cash
The official learning hub. Curated explainers and onboarding paths from the original Zcash site.
z.cash/learn
Foundations ↗
Why Financial Privacy Matters
The case for privacy money — surveillance, fungibility, civil liberties.
zechub.wiki/zcashbasics/financialprivacy
Foundations ↗
History of Zcash
From Zerocash (2014) to today — the origin story, the trusted setup, the path of network upgrades.
zechub.wiki/zcashbasics/historyofzcash
Foundations ↗
ZEC Supply & Halvings
21M cap, halving schedule, issuance — the monetary policy at a glance.
zechub.wiki/zcashbasics/zecsupply
Privacy ↗
Shielded Pools Explained
Sprout, Sapling, Orchard — what each pool is, what's in use, how funds move between them.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/shielded-pools
Privacy ↗
Unified Addresses
The modern address format: one address, multiple receiver types, future-proof.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/unifiedaddresses
Privacy ↗
Address Types
t-addresses (transparent), z-addresses (shielded), u-addresses (unified) — the family tree.
zechub.wiki/zcashbasics/addresses
Privacy ↗
zk-SNARKs, Gently
Zero-knowledge proofs without the math degree — what they prove, how Zcash uses them.
zechub.wiki/zcash-tech/zk-snarks
Privacy ↗
Privacy Best Practices
Don't blow your own privacy. Guidance on metadata, exchanges, and shielded hygiene.
zechub.wiki/privacy-security/best-practices
Privacy ↗
Encrypted Memos
Send a private message attached to a transaction — a feature unique to shielded Zcash.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/memos
Wallets ↗
Zashi Wallet
Mobile-first, shielded-by-default wallet from Electric Coin Co. The cleanest first wallet for newcomers.
zashi.app
Wallets ↗
YWallet
Power-user wallet with multi-account, offline signing, and advanced features.
ywallet.app
Wallets ↗
Wallet Catalog
Every supported wallet, what shielded features each one has, and how to choose.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/wallets
Wallets ↗
How to Buy ZEC
Exchanges, DEXs, and on-ramps that support Zcash — and which support shielded withdrawals.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/buyingzec
Wallets ↗
Sending Your First Tx
Step-by-step: shielded sends, fees, confirmations, what to expect.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/sendingzec
Wallets ↗
Free2Z — Earn ZEC
A creator platform where you can earn small amounts of ZEC and practice receiving shielded payments.
free2z.com
Community ↗
Zcash Community Forum
Where governance happens. Grants, ZIPs, debates — the front porch of the ecosystem.
forum.zcashcommunity.com
Community ↗
Zcash Community Discord
Real-time chat with developers, miners, and community members across many channels.
discord.gg/zcash
Community ↗
@zcash on X
The community-stewarded Zcash handle for news, releases, and announcements.
x.com/zcash
Community ↗
Zcash Foundation Blog
Quarterly reports, releases, governance updates from the Zcash Foundation.
zfnd.org/blog
Community ↗
Electric Coin Co. Blog
Updates from ECC — wallets, zcashd successors, ecosystem partnerships.
electriccoin.co/blog
Community ↗
ZecWeekly Newsletter
A weekly digest of everything happening in Zcash — releases, governance, ecosystem news.
zechub.substack.com
Path 02 / The Builder

From clone to
contribution.

You write code. You want to integrate Zcash, build a wallet, ship a service, or contribute upstream. This path moves from protocol literacy to running a node to writing your first integration.

Read the spec Run a node Pick an SDK Test on testnet Submit a ZIP
Filter
Protocol ↗
The Zcash Protocol Spec
The single source of truth. Cryptography, consensus, transaction formats — every detail.
zips.z.cash/protocol/protocol.pdf
Protocol ↗
Zcash Improvement Proposals
Every consensus and standards change goes through a ZIP. Browse them all here.
zips.z.cash
Protocol ↗
ZIPs Explained
Plain-language summaries of important ZIPs and how the proposal process works.
zechub.wiki/zcash-tech/zips
Protocol ↗
Network Upgrades
Sprout → Overwinter → Sapling → Blossom → Heartwood → Canopy → NU5/NU6 — the upgrade history.
zechub.wiki/zcash-tech/network-upgrades
Protocol ↗
Halo 2 — No Trusted Setup
The proving system behind Orchard. Recursive proof composition without a trusted ceremony.
zechub.wiki/zcash-tech/halo-2
Protocol ↗
FROST — Threshold Signatures
The threshold signature scheme used in Zcash for distributed key management. Maintained by the ZF.
zfnd.org/frost
Nodes ↗
Zebra — The Rust Node
The Zcash Foundation's modern Rust-based full node. Audited, performant, the go-forward client.
zfnd.org/zebra
Nodes ↗
Zebra Documentation
Install, configure, and operate a Zebra node. Includes RPC reference and metrics.
zebra.zfnd.org
Nodes ↗
Zebra Source — GitHub
The Zebra repo. Issues, releases, the place to file bugs or contribute.
github.com/ZcashFoundation/zebra
Nodes ↗
zcashd — The Original C++ Node
The legacy reference client. Being deprecated in favor of Zebra; useful for historical context.
github.com/zcash/zcash
Nodes ↗
How to Run a Node
Practical setup guide — hardware, install, sync, and ongoing maintenance.
zechub.wiki/using-zcash/run-a-node
Nodes ↗
lightwalletd
The backend that powers light wallets. Run your own to support the network's privacy.
zechub.wiki/infrastructure/lightwalletd
SDKs ↗
librustzcash
The core Rust crates for Zcash — the foundation of every modern wallet and tool.
github.com/zcash/librustzcash
SDKs ↗
Android Wallet SDK
Build shielded mobile wallets on Android. Maintained by Electric Coin Co.
github.com/Electric-Coin-Company/zcash-android-wallet-sdk
SDKs ↗
iOS / Swift Wallet SDK
The iOS counterpart for building shielded mobile wallets in Swift.
github.com/Electric-Coin-Company/zcash-swift-wallet-sdk
SDKs ↗
Integration Resources
For exchanges, services, and merchants — what you need to know to integrate Zcash safely.
zechub.wiki/dev/integration-resources
SDKs ↗
zcashd RPC Reference
The classic JSON-RPC interface — most tools and integrations still target this surface.
zcash.readthedocs.io
SDKs ↗
Developer Resources Index
A curated list of every dev tool, faucet, explorer, and integration aid in the ecosystem.
zechub.wiki/dev/zcash-developer-resources
Contribute ↗
Zcash Community Grants
Funding for ecosystem work. Read past grants, see open RFPs, submit a proposal.
zcashgrants.org
Contribute ↗
Submit a ZIP
The repo for proposing protocol or standards changes. Read the contribution guide first.
github.com/zcash/zips
Contribute ↗
Zcash GitHub Org
All the official repos — protocol, libraries, tooling, specs.
github.com/zcash
Contribute ↗
Zcash Foundation Org
Zebra, FROST, and other ZF-maintained repositories.
github.com/ZcashFoundation
Contribute ↗
Electric Coin Co. Org
Wallets, SDKs, and ECC-maintained tooling.
github.com/Electric-Coin-Company
Contribute ↗
Forum — Development
Where technical proposals get debated before they become ZIPs.
forum.zcashcommunity.com
Path 03 / The Miner

Hash, propose,
secure.

You want to mine Zcash — solo, in a pool, or as an operator. This path covers Equihash, hardware, pool selection, and the operational realities of mining ZEC today.

Equihash & PoW Pick hardware Solo vs. pool Configure & tune Track payouts
Filter
Fundamentals ↗
Intro to Zcash Mining
The starting point — what mining is, how Zcash's PoW works, and what to expect.
zechub.wiki/mining/intro-to-mining
Fundamentals ↗
Equihash 200,9
The proof-of-work algorithm Zcash uses. Memory-hard, ASIC-resistant in theory, ASIC-mined in practice.
zechub.wiki/mining/equihash
Fundamentals ↗
Block Rewards & Halvings
What you actually earn. Halving schedule, block subsidy, and the dev fund split.
zechub.wiki/zcashbasics/zecsupply
Fundamentals ↗
Mining FAQ
Common questions: difficulty, payouts, taxes, shielded vs. transparent payouts.
zechub.wiki/mining/mining-faq
Fundamentals ↗
Upgrade History
Network upgrades change consensus rules — every miner needs to track these.
zechub.wiki/zcash-tech/network-upgrades
Fundamentals ↗
Forum — Mining
Where miners actually talk. Hardware threads, profitability discussions, pool reviews.
forum.zcashcommunity.com/c/mining
Hardware ↗
Mining Hardware
Current ASIC models, hashrate, power draw, and what's economical at today's difficulty.
zechub.wiki/mining/mining-hardware
Hardware ↗
ASIC Mining
The dominant approach. Antminer Z15/Z15 Pro and successor models, configuration, firmware.
zechub.wiki/mining/asic-mining
Hardware ↗
GPU Mining
Mostly historical now — but useful for understanding the algorithm and for testnet.
zechub.wiki/mining/gpu-mining
Hardware ↗
Mining Software
Stratum clients, monitoring tools, and pool-side software for operators.
zechub.wiki/mining/mining-software
Hardware ↗
Solo Mining
For miners with enough hashrate to find blocks alone — node config, getblocktemplate, payouts.
zechub.wiki/mining/solo-mining
Hardware ↗
Shielded Mining Payouts
Mining straight to a shielded address — what's supported, what isn't, why it matters for fungibility.
zechub.wiki/mining/shielded-mining
Pools ↗
Mining Pools — The List
Every active Zcash mining pool, with fee, payout scheme, and shielded-payout support.
zechub.wiki/mining/mining-pools
Pools ↗
Flypool
One of the longest-running and largest Zcash pools.
flypool.org
Pools ↗
ViaBTC — Zcash
Major multi-coin pool with strong Zcash hashrate and PPS+ payouts.
zcash.viabtc.com
Pools ↗
F2Pool — Zcash
Long-standing pool with a Zcash workgroup and reliable infrastructure.
f2pool.com/coin/zec
Pools ↗
Mining Profitability
How to model break-even, electricity costs, difficulty trends, and post-halving economics.
zechub.wiki/mining/mining-profitability
Pools ↗
Pool Stats — Zcash
Real-time hashrate distribution across pools. Useful for picking a pool with healthy decentralization.
miningpoolstats.stream/zcash
Network ↗
Zcash Explorer (Mainnet)
The canonical block explorer. Block height, transactions, network difficulty.
mainnet.zcashexplorer.app
Network ↗
Zcash Block Explorer
Alternative explorer with rich shielded pool stats and historical charts.
zcashblockexplorer.com
Network ↗
All Explorers
The full directory of block explorers and chain analytics tools.
zechub.wiki/infrastructure/explorers
Network ↗
Halving Countdown
Time-to-halving and reward schedule — essential for capacity planning.
zcashcommunity.com/halving
Network ↗
Governance & Dev Fund
Miner concerns about the dev fund split and governance happen on the forum first.
forum.zcashcommunity.com