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
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Product requirement specification (PRS)
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Wallet architecture and system design
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UX flow and initial interface design
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Initial Zcash infrastructure setup
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Deployment and synchronization of 2 Zcash RPC nodes
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Core wallet implementation (key management, address generation, state management)
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Zcash RPC integration
Acceptance Criteria
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Complete product and technical documentation delivered
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Architecture and design approved internally
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RPC nodes deployed and fully synchronized
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Wallet successfully generates addresses and connects to RPC
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Core wallet foundation functional for further development
Milestone 2 — Internal Launch & Validation Phase (9/5/2026) Grant amount: 12,500
Deliverables
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Internal wallet launch
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Transaction functionality (send/receive, including shielded transactions in test environment)
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Initial proof generation system integration
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Wallet UI integrated with backend (functional test version)
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Testnet documentation and user guides for testers
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Audit process initiated (security review in progress)
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Internal QA testing and bug tracking system
Acceptance Criteria
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Wallet operational on testnet with transaction support
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Shielded transactions working in test environments
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Users can follow guides to test wallet functionality
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Audit process formally started
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No critical blockers in core functionality
Milestone 3 — Audit Completion & Beta Release (18/5/2026) Grant amount: 10,500
Deliverables
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Beta (public test) launch of wallet
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Completed wallet security audit and relevant integration/security reviews
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Bug fixes and performance optimizations based on audit findings
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Community feedback collection system (forms, Discord, etc.)
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Iteration on wallet UX/UI based on real user feedback
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Stability improvements and cross-device/browser testing
Acceptance Criteria
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Audit reports completed with no critical unresolved issues
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Wallet stable for public beta users
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Feedback collected and documented from community testing
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Key usability improvements implemented
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Wallet performs reliably across supported environments
Milestone 4 — Mainnet Launch & Ecosystem Growth (25/5/2026) Grant amount: 6,200
Deliverables
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Mainnet wallet launch
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Chrome Extension / Web Store deployment
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Wallet tutorials and user guides (beginner-friendly)
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Developer documentation for integrations
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Social media launch campaign and announcements
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Community feedback collection and reporting
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Feature improvement roadmap based on usage
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Ecosystem partnership outreach (integrations, collaborations)
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Ongoing wallet feature iteration and improvements
Acceptance Criteria
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Wallet successfully deployed on mainnet and publicly accessible
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Chrome Store (or equivalent) listing live
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Tutorials and onboarding materials published
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Social media launch completed
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Community feedback report compiled
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Integration discussions initiated with ecosystem partners
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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.