Right in the middle of all these discussions, I think we are actually at a stage where we need to understand how an independent initiative can be supported.
Zec Market is being built as a marketplace where people can trade using Zcash. We work on it every day and constantly research and test different things to make the platform as healthy and reliable as possible. We have also started working on the mobile side, and we believe we can complete it within about a month.
We have been moving forward independently from the beginning. After days of testing, we added an escrow model to the platform. Then the platform was attacked. We worked day and night to close the vulnerabilities, and we are still working on them. Because of this, we postponed the launch to September 22. We may even move it a little further if necessary. We want to make sure that all tests are running properly before opening the platform to active use.
We are a team. We are handling many different areas at the same time: development, mobile applications, user support panels, administration, and many other things. At a certain point, we started looking for investors and funding to help us continue this work.
Most of the funding we were looking for was going to be used for an independent security audit, making the platform even safer, and keeping the team coordinated and operational during the first 1–2 months.
Normal trades on the platform can be completed without any commission.
The platform has two, or indirectly three, sources of revenue:
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Banner sponsorships displayed on the homepage
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Featured listings
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A small platform fee when the escrow model is used
We believe this platform can be successful and that it will not turn into a dark marketplace. Every listing will be reviewed and approved by our team before being published. We are doing everything we can to make sure the platform does not move in that direction.
Now, here is the real problem…
For about a month, we have made 2–3 small funding calls and talked with some investors. We explained the idea, made presentations, and also openly mentioned in some of our posts on X that we were looking for support.
But so far, we haven’t received any donations, investment, sponsorship, or meaningful support from anyone in the Zcash ecosystem.
This naturally makes us ask:
Is the platform somehow negative for Zcash?
We don’t think so.
Only 5–6 months after building Zecmap, we reached more than 500 registered users. Android and iOS downloads are above 350, and there are more than 9,800 businesses listed on the platform.
So we can clearly see that there are many people who want to use Zcash in their everyday lives. Because of this, we also believe that a marketplace like this can eventually become widely used.
Right now, zecmarket.org has 15 listed products and 76 registered users.
So if this platform can provide a positive contribution to the Zcash ecosystem, why can’t we reach the people who could support us?
Is it because we don’t have strong enough connections, or because we are simply not getting enough attention?
If the first one is the answer, what should we do to build those connections?
If the second one is the answer, what can we do to get more attention?
Naturally, this leads us to another question.
Yes, Zcash has become stronger and continues to grow. But it sometimes seems like investors, sponsors, or organizations that can provide independent support are more interested in projects that are highly technical or capable of generating more hype.
Although I am asking this because I may simply not have enough information:
Have there been people recently who invested in or supported projects outside of pure development that were genuinely passionate about the Zcash ecosystem?
I think this is actually one of the important roles ZCG can play.
Maybe this idea will reach more than 1,000 users in six months and become a really useful marketplace. But when you are at the early stage and don’t know how to reach the right people, many good ideas can disappear before they even have the chance to grow.
ZCG funds different ideas and initiatives by making decisions based on what it believes is beneficial for Zcash. We are trying to find people and organizations that can support us before applying to ZCG. Applying to ZCG will be our last option, but we don’t want to do that at this stage.
So this is what I would like to ask from you:
We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you know an investor, sponsor, or anyone who might be interested in this project, you can help us by connecting us with them.
You can also support us by helping Zcash move further forward socially and commercially.
And perhaps most importantly:
If there is something we are missing, please tell us openly.
What are we doing wrong? What could we do better? Is there something we are overlooking?
We are going to keep building for Zcash.
ZEC Market a private, non-custodial marketplace built on Zcash - Zcash Apps - Zcash Community Forum