Rhea Finance – Zcash Gateway (Browser Wallet + Cross-Chain DeFi)

Community Grants Applications
1

Hi guys, Kruzz from the Rhea Finance team here to submit our grant application for the Rhea Zcash Gateway.

Funding Requested

$54,200

Overview

Rhea Finance is building cross-chain abstracted liquidity infrastructure to enable seamless DeFi access across multiple ecosystems.

With this proposal, we introduce the Rhea Zcash Gateway, a browser-based wallet and infrastructure layer that integrates ZEC into cross-chain DeFi, enabling lending, borrowing, and liquidity access while preserving Zcash’s privacy guarantees.

Problem

Zcash remains largely isolated from DeFi due to:

  • Lack of browser-based wallet infrastructure

  • No lending/borrowing markets for ZEC

  • Complex cross-chain access

  • Limited usability of shielded assets

As a result, ZEC is mostly a passive asset.

Solution

Rhea will build a Chrome Extension Wallet that unlocks ZEC in DeFi through:

  • Cross-chain lending (ZEC as collateral)

  • Privacy-preserving bridge to multi-chain liquidity

  • Intent-based routing (no manual bridging)

  • Shielded transaction support

  • Seamless dApp integration

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Users will be able to supply ZEC, borrow stablecoins, and access DeFi without losing privacy.

What We’re Delivering

  • Zcash browser wallet (Rhea Zcash Gateway)

  • Cross-chain lending infrastructure

  • Privacy-preserving bridge layer

  • Intent-based execution system

Rhea already has a live cross chain lending platform that supports ZEC lending:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: https://x.rhea.finance/

Team

  • Zero (CEO) – 8+ years in crypto, ex-BIHU core dev

  • Sun Hao (CTO) – ex-China Telecom, Cardano researcher, NEAR contributor

  • Aescobar (Ops Lead) – scaled $300M BTC bridge, $70M TVL

  • 10 additional engineers (frontend/backend)

Technical Approach (Summary)

  • Rust + WASM core for secure key management and shielded transactions

  • Chrome extension UI with strict isolation from private keys

  • Built on Zcash SDKs and ecosystem libraries

  • Uses NEAR Intents for cross-chain execution

Budget Summary

  • Total: $54,200

    • Infrastructure + audit: $26,200

    • Development + marketing: $28,000

Milestones

We have structured the project across 7 milestones, covering:

  • Wallet architecture & design

  • Core wallet implementation

  • Shielded transaction support

  • Public release

  • Documentation & onboarding

  • Ecosystem integrations

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Full milestone breakdown (detailed deliverables & timelines):
https://github.com/ZcashCommunityGrants/zcashcommunitygrants/issues/239

Key Risks

  • Browser-based proof generation performance

  • Lack of existing Zcash web wallet baseline

Mitigation:

  • Hybrid proof system (local + backend-assisted)

  • Modular architecture built on proven Zcash libraries

Success Metrics

  • Functional browser wallet

  • Shielded transaction support

  • Successful public release

  • User adoption and integrations

Closing

This proposal enables Zcash to move from a passive store of value → active DeFi asset, while maintaining its core privacy guarantees.

We are looking forward to hearing feedback from the Zcash community and contributors. Our goal is to collaborate closely, iterate based on input, and continue improving the product.

Ultimately, we aim to unlock more DeFi activation for ZEC, bringing new utility, liquidity, and participation into the Zcash ecosystem.

2 Likes
Zcash Community Grants Meeting Minutes 3/30/2026
Zcash Community Grants Meeting Minutes 4/13/2026
2

@noir_wallet at the most recent meeting, ZCG voted to approve this proposal. Congratulations!

To keep the community informed, ZCG requests that you provide monthly updates via the forum in this thread.

Please check your forum inbox for a direct message from FPF with important next steps, including a link to the Milestone Payment Request Form and your unique validation code for submitting payment requests.

3 Likes
Zcash Community Grants Meeting Minutes 4/13/2026
3

Based on feedback from the Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) committee, we have restructured our milestone-based grant plan to better align with expected deliverables, clearer development phases, and more transparent progress tracking.

This updated structure introduces defined checkpoints across product development, validation, security, and launch readiness. Each milestone is designed to demonstrate tangible progress, ensure accountability, and de-risk delivery through staged execution — from foundational architecture to public deployment and ecosystem integration.

Milestone 1 — Foundation & Core Development (24/4/2026) Grant amount: 15,000

Deliverables

  • Product requirement specification (PRS)

  • Wallet architecture and system design

  • UX flow and initial interface design

  • Initial Zcash infrastructure setup

  • Deployment and synchronization of 2 Zcash RPC nodes

  • Core wallet implementation (key management, address generation, state management)

  • Zcash RPC integration

Acceptance Criteria

  • Complete product and technical documentation delivered

  • Architecture and design approved internally

  • RPC nodes deployed and fully synchronized

  • Wallet successfully generates addresses and connects to RPC

  • Core wallet foundation functional for further development

Milestone 2 — Internal Launch & Validation Phase (9/5/2026) Grant amount: 12,500

Deliverables

  • Internal wallet launch

  • Transaction functionality (send/receive, including shielded transactions in test environment)

  • Initial proof generation system integration

  • Wallet UI integrated with backend (functional test version)

  • Testnet documentation and user guides for testers

  • Audit process initiated (security review in progress)

  • Internal QA testing and bug tracking system

Acceptance Criteria

  • Wallet operational on testnet with transaction support

  • Shielded transactions working in test environments

  • Users can follow guides to test wallet functionality

  • Audit process formally started

  • No critical blockers in core functionality

Milestone 3 — Audit Completion & Beta Release (18/5/2026) Grant amount: 10,500

Deliverables

  • Beta (public test) launch of wallet

  • Completed wallet security audit and relevant integration/security reviews

  • Bug fixes and performance optimizations based on audit findings

  • Community feedback collection system (forms, Discord, etc.)

  • Iteration on wallet UX/UI based on real user feedback

  • Stability improvements and cross-device/browser testing

Acceptance Criteria

  • Audit reports completed with no critical unresolved issues

  • Wallet stable for public beta users

  • Feedback collected and documented from community testing

  • Key usability improvements implemented

  • Wallet performs reliably across supported environments

Milestone 4 — Mainnet Launch & Ecosystem Growth (25/5/2026) Grant amount: 6,200

Deliverables

  • Mainnet wallet launch

  • Chrome Extension / Web Store deployment

  • Wallet tutorials and user guides (beginner-friendly)

  • Developer documentation for integrations

  • Social media launch campaign and announcements

  • Community feedback collection and reporting

  • Feature improvement roadmap based on usage

  • Ecosystem partnership outreach (integrations, collaborations)

  • Ongoing wallet feature iteration and improvements

Acceptance Criteria

  • Wallet successfully deployed on mainnet and publicly accessible

  • Chrome Store (or equivalent) listing live

  • Tutorials and onboarding materials published

  • Social media launch completed

  • Community feedback report compiled

  • Integration discussions initiated with ecosystem partners

  • Updated feature roadmap based on real usage and feedback

Beyond delivery, we aim to grow the broader Zcash ecosystem — showcasing practical use cases, lowering barriers to entry, and building a foundation that other teams can expand on.

We also want to recognize ZCG’s continued support and collaboration throughout this process. During the RHEA incident, we worked closely with partners and stakeholders to monitor ZEC outflows from the shielded pool suspected to be linked to the attacker. We’re pleased to confirm that all affected funds have since been fully recovered.

This experience has meaningfully strengthened our approach to security, monitoring, and cross-ecosystem coordination. The learnings are directly reflected in our updated milestone structure and security considerations going forward.

4

We would like to showcase the Zcash wallet extension demo. The application is currently being tested by a closed group while we work on completing the wallet audit. It will be opened to the public in the third milestone.

1 Like
6

Here is the report for milestone 2.

We will be working on the audit for the wallet and opening beta testing next.

2 Likes
7

Good morning, here is the report for milestone 3.

We have opened our private beta and shared the audit report with the Zcash Community Grants team.

Moving forward, we will focus on onboarding more builders and users into the Noir ecosystem while continuing to promote and grow adoption of the wallet extension.