Zcash plans to introduce quantum-recoverable wallets within a month and aims for complete post-quantum security in the next 12 to 18 months, as announced by Josh Swihart, founder and CEO of Zcash Open Development Lab, during a session at Consensus Miami. The discussion was moderated by Mert Mumtaz from Helius. In tandem, another initiative is working towards scaling to MasterCard- and Visa-level throughput.
This roadmap announcement coincides with a significant rally in the ZEC token, which has surged over 110% in the last month. This increase follows Multicoin Capital’s revelation of a substantial investment in ZEC, bolstering the privacy-focused narrative among investors according to sentiment data.
Swihart critiqued Bitcoin for not fulfilling its original vision as cypherpunk-grade money, arguing that it now functions more like an ETF wrapper and store of value rather than a private peer-to-peer payment system. He emphasized that visible balances on transparent ledgers allow governments to seize assets they can track, echoing sentiments expressed by Multicoin’s Tushar Jain.
The momentum is partly driven by the Electric Coin Company’s mobile wallet, especially after integrating with Near Intents in October to facilitate cross-chain swaps involving BTC, SOL, and USDC into shielded ZEC. Near Intents allows users to specify their desired transactions, such as converting USDC to ZEC, while specialized routers manage complex trades across various blockchains.
Since its launch, approximately $600 million to $700 million has moved through this channel, primarily involving USD and USDC, Swihart noted. Meanwhile, Near’s broader intent-based system processed nearly $800 million in the past month, with Ethereum, Solana, and Zcash leading on chain usage according to Near Protocol data.
Currently under active discussion within the community forum is a proposal to reduce Zcash’s target block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. Mumtaz highlighted that bridges to Solana and Hyperliquid are already operational. Swihart also mentioned plans for token-holder voting through Zashi, serving more as an opinion layer than formal governance to complement the project’s consensus model.
For traders, a key indicator of success will be whether quantum recoverability is implemented within the stated timeframe. The shielded pool, currently at about 30% of circulating ZEC—an all-time high—serves as a safety net. If this metric continues to rise alongside prices, it suggests that the rally is driven by genuine adoption rather than mere speculation.