Zcash Community Grants Committee Google Meet Meeting: June 9, 2025
[Minutes taken by FPF]
Attendance:
- Artkor
- Brian
- GGuy
- Jason
- Zerodartz
- Alex (FPF resource, notetaker)
Key Takeaways:
- Open Grants
- Ledger Live Integration
- Deliberations continue.
- ZSAs in NU7 (H2 2025)
- Vote pending information from applicant.
- Zaino Specification
- Vote pending information from applicant.
- Ongoing ZeWIF and Interop Support
- Unanimous rejection.
- Research on Algebraic Anomalies in ECDSA Signatures
- Unanimous rejection.
- Zingo: Z|ECC Summit
- Unanimous approval.
- Ledger Live Integration
Open Grant Proposals
- Ledger Live Integration
- Zondax: This project’s main objective is to integrate the new Zcash Ledger Shielded application with Ledger Live to enable transparent transaction support. While they intend to explore shielded transaction integration in a subsequent phase, their initial focus is on delivering transparent transaction support within a reasonable timeframe to ensure a successful and timely release. The requestor is asking for $95,000.
- The committee is continuing deliberations related to this grant. An update will be provided shortly.
- Zondax: This project’s main objective is to integrate the new Zcash Ledger Shielded application with Ledger Live to enable transparent transaction support. While they intend to explore shielded transaction integration in a subsequent phase, their initial focus is on delivering transparent transaction support within a reasonable timeframe to ensure a successful and timely release. The requestor is asking for $95,000.
- ZSAs in NU7 (H2 2025)
- This grant proposal from QEDIT continues the work initiated in Grant #6 to integrate Zcash Shielded Assets (ZSAs) into Network Upgrade 7 (NU7). As ZSA development has evolved alongside other core components like Zebra and Orchard, integration now requires focused engineering to avoid misalignment and inefficiencies. A dedicated team of eight engineers and architects will implement protocol updates across the stack, ensure compatibility with other NU7 efforts, collaborate with ECC on OrchardZSA reviews, and maintain tools such as zcash_tx_tool. By concentrating efforts on resolving the “moving target” challenges, this grant ensures timely and coordinated ZSA support throughout the NU7 release cycle. They are requesting $708,000.
- Waiting on additional information from QEDIT.
- This grant proposal from QEDIT continues the work initiated in Grant #6 to integrate Zcash Shielded Assets (ZSAs) into Network Upgrade 7 (NU7). As ZSA development has evolved alongside other core components like Zebra and Orchard, integration now requires focused engineering to avoid misalignment and inefficiencies. A dedicated team of eight engineers and architects will implement protocol updates across the stack, ensure compatibility with other NU7 efforts, collaborate with ECC on OrchardZSA reviews, and maintain tools such as zcash_tx_tool. By concentrating efforts on resolving the “moving target” challenges, this grant ensures timely and coordinated ZSA support throughout the NU7 release cycle. They are requesting $708,000.
- Zaino Respecification
- Zingo Labs: Unanticipated architectural challenges have emerged in the Zaino project due to inaccuracies in the published zcashd RPC specifications. To address this without delaying the overall Zaino timeline, we are reallocating additional development resources to rewrite key components of the architecture. This grant will support the effort to define, implement, and test a reliable and authoritative spec that aligns with the updated Zaino implementation. They are requesting $44,000.
- Waiting on additional information from Zingo.
- Zingo Labs: Unanticipated architectural challenges have emerged in the Zaino project due to inaccuracies in the published zcashd RPC specifications. To address this without delaying the overall Zaino timeline, we are reallocating additional development resources to rewrite key components of the architecture. This grant will support the effort to define, implement, and test a reliable and authoritative spec that aligns with the updated Zaino implementation. They are requesting $44,000.
- Ongoing ZeWIF and Interop Support
- This grant supports continued development and community adoption of the Zcash extensible Wallet Interchange Format (ZeWIF) over the next year. Following initial delivery of ZeWIF and related tools in early 2025, ongoing collaboration with ECC and Zingo Labs has led to critical revisions and testing. Funding will sustain this technical support as more wallet developers adopt ZeWIF and will also enable broader knowledge-sharing and interoperability efforts across the Zcash ecosystem. They are requesting $60,000.
- After receiving feedback from multiple parties, ZCG has unanimously voted to reject this grant.
- This grant supports continued development and community adoption of the Zcash extensible Wallet Interchange Format (ZeWIF) over the next year. Following initial delivery of ZeWIF and related tools in early 2025, ongoing collaboration with ECC and Zingo Labs has led to critical revisions and testing. Funding will sustain this technical support as more wallet developers adopt ZeWIF and will also enable broader knowledge-sharing and interoperability efforts across the Zcash ecosystem. They are requesting $60,000.
- Research on Algebraic Anomalies in ECDSA Signatures
- This project will adapt a peer-reviewed vulnerability detection method to conduct the first large-scale audit of algebraic anomalies in Zcash’s ECDSA signatures. By scanning all transparent transactions, it will identify structurally weak signatures that could enable key recovery under specific conditions. Funding will support the adaptation of the detection pipeline, full-network analysis, and open publication of results, helping confirm Zcash’s cryptographic resilience or reveal rare edge-case risks. They are asking for $19,500.
- After receiving feedback from multiple parties, ZCG has unanimously voted to reject this grant.
- This project will adapt a peer-reviewed vulnerability detection method to conduct the first large-scale audit of algebraic anomalies in Zcash’s ECDSA signatures. By scanning all transparent transactions, it will identify structurally weak signatures that could enable key recovery under specific conditions. Funding will support the adaptation of the detection pipeline, full-network analysis, and open publication of results, helping confirm Zcash’s cryptographic resilience or reveal rare edge-case risks. They are asking for $19,500.
- Zingo: Z|ECC Summit
- Applicant is requesting $6,200 to cover the costs associated with attending the Z|ECC summit in Prague.
- Brian: I support it.
- Gguy: I’m happy to support this.
- Zerodartz: I approve.
- Artkor: I approve this too.
- Jason: I approve. Zingo is a core team and should be at the summit.
- Unanimous approval.
- Applicant is requesting $6,200 to cover the costs associated with attending the Z|ECC summit in Prague.
Brainstorm Session Follow-Ups
- Maya Protocol
- ZCG and FPF have discussed becoming a liquidity provider for the Maya service. With ZCG under FPF we are now able to consider the pros and cons of these types of engagements. Conversations are ongoing and next steps should be agreed upon and implemented prior to the next ZCG meeting.
- Least Authority
- Least Authority and ZCG reviewed the request from @Milton to audit the Zebra Launcher. After reviewing the Least Authority budget and the estimated timeline and cost for this audit, ZCG has decided to not pursue this engagement at this time in favor of high priorities, but is open to auditing the project at a later time.
- BTC Pay Server
- Milestone 2, and with it this grant, is nearing completion. Currently, testing of interaction with the existing Zcash infrastructure is underway. Some issues have been identified and successfully resolved. Details can be found in the latest update in the grant thread.
- After the plugin is officially completed, ZCG recommends conducting an external audit of its code. This is not critically necessary because the plugin does not require the entry of any private keys for the receiving address and only interacts with the viewing key. However, ZCG believes that mentioning such an external audit in the plugin repository, as well as in marketing materials, could serve as additional motivation and promote the use of ZEC as a means of accepting payments. Especially for large merchants.
- Iron Fish
- Iron Fish has discussed with ZCG several ideas for engagement between their org and the Zcash community. They will be submitting a grant application shortly.
- LLMs
- ZCG is reviewing the pros and cons of LLMs being used by grant applicants and where it can be a benefit and detriment to the ecosystem.