Answers to common questions about Zcash grants, governance, ZIPs, and contributing.
Write a proposal covering what you're building, why it benefits Zcash, your team's credentials, timeline, and budget. Post it on the Zcash Forums in the Grants category for community feedback, then submit a formal application to the Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) committee. Read our Community Guide for the full process.
A ZIP is a design document that proposes a change to the Zcash protocol, standards, or processes. Anyone can write a ZIP. They are discussed on the Zcash Forums and GitHub before being accepted or rejected. ZIPs are numbered sequentially - ZIP-316 introduced Unified Addresses, for example.
ZCAP is a panel of community members who vote on major governance decisions - including trademark policy and protocol parameters. Membership requires demonstrated community contribution and is managed through the Zcash Foundation. ZCAP votes are not binding but carry significant weight in governance decisions.
Many valuable contributions don't require programming: writing documentation, translating content, running local meetups, creating educational content, testing wallet releases, or advocating for financial privacy. The ZCG program funds non-technical projects too. Start by engaging on the Zcash Forums.
20% of each newly mined ZEC block reward goes to the Zcash development fund, split between ECC, the Zcash Foundation, and the Zcash Community Grants pool. This funding model (similar to a "dev tax") ensures ongoing development without relying on venture capital. The percentages and recipients are subject to community governance and change at network upgrades.
The primary forum is forum.zcashcommunity.com. Zcash also has a community Discord for real-time discussion, and all ZIP proposals are discussed on GitHub at github.com/zcash/zips. Twitter/X and Reddit (r/zec) are less formal discussion venues.
Still have questions? Contact us or visit the official Zcash website.