Zcash

2013-01-01

Academic research into the Zerocoin protocol begins at Johns Hopkins University under Matthew Green, Ian Miers, and Christina Garman.

2015-01-01

Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn forms the Zerocoin Electric Coin Company (later Electric Coin Company) to develop the Zcash protocol.

2016-10-28

Zcash mainnet launches with the Sprout protocol. Six participants conduct a trusted setup ceremony to generate zk-SNARK parameters; one participant uses the pseudonym 'John Dobbertin.'

2018-03-01

ECC employee Ariel Gabizon discovers a critical vulnerability allowing infinite counterfeit shielded ZEC creation via the original MPC ceremony transcript. The discovery is kept confidential.

2018-10-28

Sapling network upgrade activates, covertly patching the counterfeiting vulnerability and significantly improving shielded transaction efficiency.

2019-02-05

Electric Coin Company publicly discloses the counterfeiting vulnerability, approximately seven months after its discovery and four months after the patch was deployed.

2019-02-21

The Zcash Company rebrands as the Electric Coin Company (ECC).

2020-11-01

Canopy network upgrade activates. The original four-year Founders' Reward expires. ZIP 1014 takes effect, directing 20% of block rewards to ECC (7%), Zcash Foundation (5%), and Major Grants (8%).

2020-01-01

Electric Coin Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bootstrap Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

2022-04-27

Zcash Media reveals that Edward Snowden participated in the 2016 trusted setup ceremony under the pseudonym 'John Dobbertin.' Snowden confirms this in an exclusive interview.

2022-05-01

Network Upgrade 5 (NU5) activates, introducing the Orchard shielded protocol and the Halo 2 proving system, which requires no trusted setup.

2023-08-31

The Zcash Foundation receives a formal SEC subpoena under the inquiry 'In the Matter of Certain Crypto Asset Offerings (SF-04569).' The existence of the investigation is not publicly disclosed at this time.

2023-09-15

Coinbase flags that mining pool ViaBTC controls over 51% of Zcash's network hash rate (peaking at approximately 53%). Coinbase increases ZEC deposit confirmation requirements and restricts trading to limit-only.

2023-12-18

Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn steps down as CEO of the Electric Coin Company; Josh Swihart succeeds him.

2025-04-10

Binance includes ZEC in a 'Vote to Delist' community campaign. ZEC receives 8.6% of votes (second-highest), drawing industry criticism. Binance states the vote is not the sole determinant of delisting decisions.

2026-01-07

The entire Electric Coin Company development team resigns following an alleged governance dispute with Bootstrap board members Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai. ZEC falls approximately 14-20%.

2026-01-14

Zcash Foundation publicly discloses that the SEC closed its two-and-a-half-year investigation without recommending enforcement action or changes. ZEC rallies approximately 10-14%.