Zcash has launched its NU6.1 upgrade, diverting 20% of block rewards to community grants and making the Orchard shielded pool the default for new wallets as of November 2025.
The upgrade marks a critical advancement in privacy, decentralization, and governance, significantly impacting market dynamics and institutional interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Zcash.
Zcash NU6.1 Directs 20% Rewards to Community Governance
Zcash’s NU6.1 upgrade directs 20% of block rewards to community grants, enhancing decentralized governance. This upgrade integrates the Orchard shielded pool, promoting default privacy for new wallets and increasing transaction volume. Leadership like Zooko Wilcox supports these changes.
“With the NU6.1 upgrade, we are directing 20% of block rewards to community grants and funding managed by the Zcash Foundation. This marks a major step toward decentralized governance and sustainable development of shielded privacy features.” – Josh Cincinnati, Executive Director, Zcash Foundation
The Zcash Foundation and Electric Coin Co. spearhead these advances. Josh Cincinnati and Nathan Wilcox guide efforts to boost Zcash’s privacy capabilities. The new unified address model aims to enhance user experience with seamless privacy integration.
Zcash ETF Filing Spurs Institutional Interest
Institutional interest in Zcash rises as Grayscale files for a spot ETF, motivated by Zcash’s regulatory clarity. ZEC’s market cap growth outpaces rivals like Monero. The community focuses on supporting privacy research through increased funding.
The upgrade’s financial implications are evident as shielded pool transactions soar. On-chain data shows more than 4.5 million ZEC held in these pools.
Institutional demand and regulatory acceptance strengthen Zcash’s position as a premier privacy-focused cryptocurrency.
NU6.1 Positioned as Key Zcash Privacy Milestone
Previous upgrades, like the 2018 Sapling, advanced Zcash’s privacy. The current NU6.1 upgrade emphasizes the project’s long-term decentration goals. Zcash’s history showcases consistent innovation to enhance privacy and security in the blockchain sector.
Experts highlight Zcash’s strategic ETF filing as pivotal for broader acceptance. Historical trends suggest rising institutional involvement parallels clear regulatory guidance. The community remains optimistic about Zcash’s continued growth and technological advancements.
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