Stepping down from the Zcash Foundation

[Alex_ZF]

Stepping down from the Zcash Foundation

After five years at the Zcash Foundation, first as COO and, since March 2025, as Executive Director, I’ve decided it’s time to step down.

The Foundation’s next chapter deserves a leader with fresh energy for a new set of challenges and opportunities, and I’m ready to make that space.

The thing I’ll miss most is the team. The people at ZF are brilliant, generous, and endlessly committed to the mission, and they made even the hardest stretches feel worth it. I learn from them every day.

I’ll stay on through the end of January 2027 to help make the handover a smooth one.

To our ecosystem partners and the Zcash community: thank you for your trust and collaboration. Every team building on Zcash is working their asses off nearly every second of every day, and every one of them deserves our gratitude.

To the ZF Board, thank you for your guidance and support. And to @Dodger and @Danika, thank you for taking a chance on a non-profit lifer and bringing me into the Zcash universe.

I’m not going anywhere. But first, I’m trading the 24/7 schedule for time with family and friends and as many days on my snowboard as I can manage. After that, I’ll be working more closely with FPF and taking on interim and fractional CEO and COO roles that fit my interests and values.

Zcash is strongest when we choose cooperation over competition and assume good faith in one another. Financial privacy is worth fighting for, and I’m grateful to keep building alongside you.

With gratitude,

Alex (I’ll see many of you at Zcon7 )

(New ED announcement)

[zancas]

It’s been a pleasure working with you. Looking forward to more!

[Michae2xl]

Thank you for a remarkable journey and for helping build something as grand as Zcash. Enjoy a well-deserved rest. Like ZEC, time has a limited supply, so spend it well. All the best in everything ahead!

[E-zec]

We appreciate all the services provided to the entire ecosystem.

[aquietinvestor]

@Alex_ZF I’ve really enjoyed working with you over the past five years, from my time on ZCG to leading Shielded Labs. When I joined ZCG, its relationship with ZF as the program’s administrator had been difficult. You helped turn that around, addressing the committee’s concerns and building a much more productive working relationship. The same thing happened when you became Executive Director of ZF: after years of tension between organizations, your leadership helped rebuild trust and make it easier for the different teams to work together.

Your leadership has made a real difference for Zcash. I’ve always appreciated your judgment and your ability to find common ground and get things done. You’re one of a kind, and you’ve been a great colleague. Thanks for everything you’ve contributed. Enjoy the well-earned break, and I’m glad you’ll still be involved.

Congratulations to @alchemydc on the new role! I look forward to working with you and finding more ways for our teams to collaborate.

[conradoplg]

It has been a great experience working under @Alex_ZF , his enthusiasm for the project was always encouraging. We will miss you!

[pacu]

Thank you @Alex_ZF for your service to the Zcash ecosystem. It’s been a pleasure to work and learn from your leadership and ability to find common ground and move things forward. You helped steer the ecosystem out of the drama storm into clearer skies that helped Zcash grow as it noticeably has and will continue to do. Passing the baton to @alchemydc is a signal of your great legacy. I don’t doubt that DC will be able to continue your work and also lead ZF to new horizons in this age of Rebel Agents and AIpocalypse.

Onwards

[radbro]

[WEB3NERD]

Thank you so much for all the dedication and passion you’ve shown for Zcash. The time and effort you poured into protecting the value of privacy helped make Zcash what it is today. Even as you leave Zcash, the mark you’ve left will last for a long time. Wherever you are, I’ll always be cheering you on. Wishing you all the best on your new journey!

[maxdesalle]

What a run! Was a pleasure working with you, and really looking forward to what’s next! Zcash wouldn’t be the same without you.

[shieldedonly]

Thank you, Alex, for everything you’ve done for the Zcash Foundation and the broader Zcash ecosystem over the years, both as COO and Executive Director! Really appreciate all the hard work, dedication, and time you’ve put into helping Zcash grow and bringing people together. Glad you’ll be able to spend some well deserved quality time with family and friends, and enjoy the slopes! Wishing you all the best in this next chapter, and glad to hear you’ll still be sticking around the Zcash community!

[elisehamdon]

It’s hard to put into words how much I’ve enjoyed working with you these past four years, Alex. You’re always the kindest person in the room, and your generous spirit of cooperation, along with your habit of assuming good faith in others, is a special kind of magic that puts people at ease and makes genuine conversation possible. I’ve learned so much from you, and I’ll carry your example with me, both here at ZF and in my everyday life. Thank you for your hard work, your steady leadership, and everything you’ve contributed to the Zcash ecosystem.

[fikkute.zil]

Thank you Alex for your contribution to the Zcash ecosystem

[_jon]

Loved working with you! Thanks for the hard work, and the results that came with it

[mrkit2u]

Such a pleasure working with you at ZF, @Alex_ZF and I feel lucky that we’ll be able to continue in other capacities! A class act.

Best,
Kit

[gordonesTV]

Thank you for all your support and community contributions, Alex.

We’ll certainly stay in touch, because you—like many of us—are in the same boat and heading in the same direction.

Thank you, and best of luck in your new role.

[yoditar]

Thank you for all the value you’ve brought to the community over the years! Thank you for your leadership and for building bridges between the various Zcash organizations and projects. The ZF took a new direction under your leadership—one that I’m sure we all appreciate.

Best of luck in your new personal and professional endeavors! We’ll continue to cross paths in the Zcash community.

[igor_zs1]

Thank you, Alex, for five years of steady work behind the scenes and for leading ZF through a big stretch for Zcash.

“Cooperation over competition” is a good line for all of us to keep. Enjoy the time with family

[covfefe]

The professionalism, stability and leadership you’ve brought to the Zcash Foundation have been invaluable. Thank you for everything you’ve contributed so far. Great to see you’ll continue to play a role in Zcash’s future.