RT Dev 🧪: Zcash testnet is updating for Ironwood tomorrow! We have two independently developed consensus implementations of it. One by @valargroup,...
Zcash testnet is updating for Ironwood with two independently developed consensus implementations, one by Valar Group (in audit) and another by the Zcash Foundation. Users can try a desktop wallet fork with migration code, and Keystone dev device users can update firmware to test signing 11+ transactions with a single QR code.
Background
- Zcash is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency (forked from Bitcoin in 2016) that uses zk-SNARKs cryptography to let users transact anonymously. Its testnet is a sandbox network for testing software before public release.
- Ironwood is an upcoming Zcash network upgrade that increases the maximum size of Orchard (its latest privacy protocol) actions per block, enabling higher private transaction throughput.
- Two independently developed consensus implementations (by Valar Systems and the Zcash Foundation) are a big deal: they prove the upgrade spec is unambiguous. If one client has a bug, the other won't, preventing a chain split.
- Keystone is a hardware wallet. "Sign 11+ txs with one QR code" lets users batch-sign multiple transactions from an offline device, improving usability.
- "Record for Zcash testnet readiness" means this upgrade cycle has more parallel preparation (two implementations, wallet forks, hardware wallet support) than prior ones, reducing risk of delays.