ZAMA public launch begins January 21 with a privacy-first Dutch auction on Ethereum, showcasing FHE technology and fair token distribution.
Author: Chirag Sharma
January 20, 2025 The ZAMA public launch is set to begin on January 21, 2026, at 8:00 AM UTC. This marks the first public distribution of the $ZAMA token. Rather than relying on a traditional fixed-price or first-come launch, Zama is deploying a sealed-bid Dutch auction built directly on its own protocol. The sale will distribute 10% of the total 11 billion $ZAMA supply, starting from a $55 million floor FDV with no upper cap.
High Signal Summary For A Quick Glance
Richard Seiler
@richardseiler
@zama Very interesting project Zama and reading up on FHE and the recent uptick in privacy projects this is one to add to your list ⚡️
The $ZAMA Public Sale Starts Tomorrow at 8:00AM UTC. A sealed-bid Dutch auction, built on the Zama Protocol. https://t.co/iGkHDkkFQ4
04:48 PM·Jan 20, 2026
Rand Group
@cryptorand
@zama The countdown is on, lets go ✌️
The $ZAMA Public Sale Starts Tomorrow at 8:00AM UTC. A sealed-bid Dutch auction, built on the Zama Protocol. https://t.co/iGkHDkkFQ4
04:48 PM·Jan 20, 2026
Pii™Ducks
@piitien1603i
@zama yup fr gonna cook hard tomorrow lfg
The $ZAMA Public Sale Starts Tomorrow at 8:00AM UTC. A sealed-bid Dutch auction, built on the Zama Protocol. https://t.co/iGkHDkkFQ4
08:40 AM·Jan 20, 2026
The timing and structure of the ZAMA presale are not accidental. Zama has spent years developing Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a technology that allows computation on encrypted data without ever revealing the underlying information. This auction is a live demonstration of that capability.
As blockchain adoption grows, so do concerns around data exposure, transaction transparency, and surveillance. While zero-knowledge proofs solve parts of this problem, they fall short for complex computations across DeFi, AI, and enterprise use cases. Zama’s approach adds a native confidentiality layer without requiring users or developers to leave existing chains.
The project’s readiness is backed by scale. Since 2019, Zama has raised over $130 million, including major rounds in 2024 and 2025, and launched its Ethereum mainnet in late 2025. Community testing, NFT programs, and feedback also shaped the final auction design, with the launch date pushed back slightly to ensure smoother KYC flows and global access.
In that sense, the ZAMA presale is less about short-term fundraising and more about positioning privacy as core infrastructure for the next phase of crypto adoption.
Timeline of Zama Events Until Now
Zama is founded by Rand Hindi and Pascal Paillier with a core focus on Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) for blockchain privacy.
Zama raises $73M in a Series A led by Multicoin Capital and Protocol Labs, reaching a $1B+ valuation and expanding its FHE focus to AI and blockchain use cases.
Zama launches its public testnet, allowing developers to experiment with encrypted smart contracts in an Ethereum-compatible environment.
Zama launches its OG NFT program with 5,500 editions, rewarding early supporters through creator campaigns and future ecosystem perks.
Zama raises an additional $57M led by Pantera Capital and launches its Ethereum mainnet, enabling live FHE operations on-chain.
Zama reveals $ZAMA tokenomics, including an 11B total supply, public sale mechanics, and creator program seasons to drive engagement.
Public auction dates are set for January 12–15, 2026, with registration opening under mandatory KYC requirements.
Zama postpones the public auction to January 21–24 due to KYC processing delays, while the OG NFT community sale begins on January 15.
Registration for the $ZAMA public auction concludes, with pre-market trading indicating an implied valuation near $850M amid volatility.
Several milestones will shape how the market interprets the ZAMA presale.
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