Zcash

ZEC Launched 2016

Proof-of-Work (Equihash)

25/100
ProtoLedger Index
Zcash
Post-Quantum Governance Energy

Zcash is the most privacy-focused of the evaluated chains, with default shielded transactions available since Sapling. However, it retains Proof-of-Work consensus (scoring zero on energy proportionality), has no post-quantum security, no formal governance, and the majority of transactions remain transparent in practice — undermining the anonymity set.

Principle Breakdown

P1 — Trustlessness 8/10
PoW provides trustlessness similar to Bitcoin. No admin keys in the consensus layer.
P2 — Decentralisation 5/10
Mining concentration similar to Bitcoin. Small chain, lower Nakamoto Coefficient.
P3 — Post-Quantum Security 0/10
ECDSA and BLS12-381 (used in zk-SNARKs). The Groth16 proving system uses an elliptic curve that is not quantum-resistant.
P4 — Privacy by Default 6/10
Shielded transactions available and opt-in. In practice, most transactions remain transparent — the anonymity set is smaller than ideal. Trusted setup (Powers of Tau) is a historical caveat, now mitigated.
P5 — Deterministic Finality 1/10
PoW probabilistic finality — same weakness as Bitcoin.
P6 — Energy Proportionality 0/10
PoW — scores zero. Energy consumption is significant relative to transaction volume.
P7 — Formal Verifiability 3/10
Protocol has more formal documentation than most, given its academic origins.
P8 — On-Chain Governance 0/10
Governance by Zcash community and Electric Coin Company. No on-chain mechanism.
P9 — MEV Resistance 2/10
PoW miners can reorder. No structural MEV protection.
P10 — Sybil-Resistant Identity 0/10
No identity system.
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