Zcash is borrowing crypto’s new institutional playbook as privacy goes mainstream

Zcash Labs launched Aug. 6 to move Zcash deeper into business and institutional use. The independent group is focused on integrations, infrastructure, and adoption projects for companies that want to use ZEC.Zcash Labs will front project costs and later seek retroactive reimbursement from ZEC holders with a 20% markup. Its first supported project, zcashtocash, connects ZEC with Venmo, Revolut, Cash App, Chime, Monzo and Zelle across more than 100 geographies.Ethereum and Solana are pushing confidentiality into larger financial networks. Zcash now has to compete on distribution as aggressively as it has competed on cryptography.Zcash is spreading adoption workAll Electric Coin Company employees resigned in January during a governance dispute with Bootstrap. The former ECC team later formed ZODL, carrying wallet and protocol work into a new entity.A Cypherpunk Technologies SEC filing states that Zashi wallet technology and related intellectual property were transferred to the new group. The Z.cash domain and official Zcash social accounts moved to the Zcash Foundation.ZODL raised more than $25 million on March 9 from backers including a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase Venture...