ZODL Raises $25M to Expand Zcash Privacy Ecosystem

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Background on Zcash and privacy-focused crypto

Zcash launched in 2016 as one of the first cryptocurrencies designed to provide strong privacy protections on a public blockchain. The network uses zero-knowledge cryptography known as zk-SNARKs to enable shielded transactions that hide sender, receiver, and transaction amounts while still verifying correctness on-chain.

The protocol was originally developed by the Electric Coin Company, which helped introduce several upgrades focused on scalability and privacy. Over time, governance expanded to include the broader Zcash ecosystem, with multiple teams contributing to research and development.

Zcash transitioned to a proof-of-stake model in 2024, marking a major shift in its network architecture while maintaining its core focus on private digital payments.

ZODL raises $25M to expand the Zcash ecosystem

ZODL raises $25M to expand the Zcash ecosystem through a seed round backed by several well-known venture investors.

Participants in the round include:

• Paradigm
• a16z crypto
• Winklevoss Capital
• Coinbase Ventures
• Cypherpunk Technologies
• Maelstrom
• Chapter One

Additional support came from angel investors across the crypto and technology sectors, including Balaji Srinivasan, David Friedberg, Haseeb Qureshi, Mert, and James Nicholas.

The funding will allow ZODL to grow its engineering team and accelerate development of privacy-focused financial tools built on Zcash.

Formation of ZODL and the Zodl wallet

ZODL was formed in early 2026 after the team behind the Electric Coin Company transitioned to the new organization. The move placed greater focus on ecosystem development, user experience, and the adoption of Zcash as private digital money.

The team also leads development of Zodl, a mobile wallet designed to provide self-custodial access to shielded ZEC transactions. Zodl aims to make privacy-preserving payments easier for everyday users while maintaining the cryptographic guarantees of the Zcash network.

Growth of the Zodl wallet and shielded ZEC usage

The Zodl wallet has already seen notable adoption within the Zcash ecosystem.

Since October 2025, the wallet’s built-in swap feature has processed more than $600 million in ZEC swaps. During the same period, activity within the Zcash shielded pool has grown significantly.

According to the team, the shielded pool expanded by approximately 400 percent, indicating rising demand for privacy-preserving transactions. This growth suggests that user-friendly wallet infrastructure can play a major role in increasing adoption of privacy technologies.

How ZODL plans to use the funding

The capital will be used to expand both product development and core protocol research.

Key focus areas include:

• Improving the Zodl mobile wallet
• Expanding engineering and development teams
• Supporting Zcash protocol upgrades
• Building interoperability with other crypto ecosystems

The team also plans to position Zodl as a central interface for interacting with the Zcash network while maintaining open-source development principles.

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