ZecHub's 2026 Grant Proposal: Growing The Zcash Ecosystem

by Alex Johnson 58 views

Introduction

This article delves into ZecHub's grant application for 2026, focusing on their commitment to expanding Zcash's open-source education hub and fostering a vibrant community of contributors. ZecHub, a well-known entity within the Zcash ecosystem, outlines its plans to enhance education, communication, and governance within the Zcash community. This proposal highlights ZecHub's past achievements, future goals, and detailed plans for the upcoming year.

Terms and Conditions

The ZecHub team has agreed to the following terms and conditions:

  • [x] Adherence to the Grant Agreement if funded.
  • [x] Provision of KYC information if funded above $50,000 USD.
  • [x] Disclosure of conflicts of interest.
  • [x] Adherence to the Code of Conduct and Communication Guidelines.
  • [x] Understanding that all milestone deliverables will be validated and accepted by their intended users or their representatives.
  • [x] Agreement to create a CONTRIBUTING.md file for any new open-source software, reflecting the high standards of Zcash development.
  • [x] Adherence to project-specific contribution guidelines when contributing to existing Zcash code.
  • [x] Agreement to post request details on the Community Forum.
  • [x] Responsibility to post a link to this issue on the Zcash Community Forums for community input.

Application Owners

  • @dismad
  • @zksquirrel
  • @vitozkp
  • @onajifortune
  • @theKroy

Organization Name

ZecHub

How ZecHub Learned About Zcash Community Grants

Through active participation as Zcash Community Members.

Requested Grant Amount (USD)

$419,361.00

Category

Education

Project Lead

Name: zksquirrel

Role: Core Contributor

Background: Zcash Arborist Community Notetaker and ZKAV Club Team Member

Responsibilities: Operations, Comms, Education

Additional Team Members

  • Name: dismad Role: Core Contributor Background: Mathematics, Computer Science, and Education. Cypherpunkzero holder, Discord Moderator, experience in the Automotive Industry for 15+ years Responsibilities: Technical, Governance, Education
  • Name: vitozkp Role: Core Contributor Background: Zcash Discord Administrator. Previous reviews, sponsored articles, opinions, and much more about the digital world. Digital Editor. Responsibilities: Media Editor, Community, Social media
  • Name: onajifortune Role: Core Contributor Background: Software Developer and active open-source contributor with a strong focus on problem-solving, rapid prototyping, and practical implementation. Also a Graduate Electronic and Electrical Engineer. Responsibilities: Developer
  • Name: theKroy Role: Core Contributor Background: Multidisciplinary Graphic Designer with 7+ years of experience and proficiency with Adobe CC programs; Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Designer of Zkool's official logo. Responsibilities: Designer

Project Summary

This project summary outlines ZecHub's focused effort to grow Zcash’s open-source education hub, with the primary goal of onboarding more contributors to the Zcash ecosystem. Through strategic initiatives and community engagement, ZecHub aims to enhance educational resources and streamline contribution processes, thereby expanding the Zcash community and solidifying its position as a leader in privacy-focused cryptocurrency. ZecHub is committed to delivering value through consistent, high-quality content and collaborative projects. ZecHub’s commitment extends to various aspects, including enhancing the visual brand identity, developing a new ZEC Bounties Platform, and maintaining an informative Zcash Ecosystem Digest and Newsletter. The establishment and operation of the ZecHub DAO, along with the production of educational tutorials and podcasts, underscore their multifaceted approach. These efforts are all designed to promote Zcash, build its community, and ensure its continued growth and success. Through these comprehensive efforts, ZecHub is poised to significantly enhance Zcash's ecosystem, making it more accessible, engaging, and impactful for both existing and new contributors. By providing crucial resources, engaging content, and community-driven governance, ZecHub aims to facilitate the ongoing development and adoption of Zcash. The focus on collaboration, education, and streamlined processes positions ZecHub as a pivotal force in Zcash's future.

Project Description

The project description provides a comprehensive overview of ZecHub's plans for 2026, building upon their achievements over the past three years. The primary focus of ZecHub's project is to foster a larger and more engaged Zcash community. The proposal outlines several key areas of focus, including ecosystem communication, developer discovery, governance exploration, and education expansion. Each area is designed to address critical needs within the Zcash ecosystem, from enhancing its visual brand to creating a streamlined bounty platform. One of the main goals of this project is to grow the Zcash ecosystem. This initiative is not just about increasing numbers but about improving the quality of interactions, contributions, and overall community health. ZecHub’s detailed approach demonstrates a clear understanding of the Zcash ecosystem's current state and its future needs. Through a combination of technical developments, educational content, and community engagement initiatives, ZecHub aims to strengthen Zcash's position as a leading privacy-focused cryptocurrency. By addressing the challenges of ecosystem growth and community engagement, ZecHub is poised to make a significant impact on the Zcash project.

Previous Achievements

Over the past 3 years, ZecHub has made significant strides in the Zcash community, onboarding 232 new contributors and cultivating a thriving community across various platforms like Twitter, Discord, and Matrix. ZecHub has also established partnerships with other privacy-focused projects like Nym, Namada, Penumbra, Pirate Chain, Decred, and Dash. These achievements showcase ZecHub's effectiveness in driving community engagement and fostering collaboration within the broader privacy ecosystem. The impact of these accomplishments is significant, as they contribute to the overall growth and development of Zcash and its community. Achievements like the establishment of the ZecHub DAO, which now has 26 members, and the growth of their YouTube channel to over 1000 subscribers, highlight their dedication to decentralized governance and educational content creation. With their weekly digest reaching over 451 subscribers and accumulating over 71,000 views, ZecHub has demonstrated a consistent ability to provide valuable information to the community. They have also successfully funded six Ambassador projects globally in 2025 and have built a strong presence with over 4,000 Discord users. Their Twitter activity has generated 1.3 million impressions and 65.3k engagements, and they have executed 123 proposals on DAODAO. Furthermore, ZecHub processed 316 shielded payments to contributors in 2025 via FPF, underscoring their commitment to privacy and financial support within the community. This strong foundation of accomplishments positions ZecHub as a reliable and impactful contributor to the Zcash ecosystem.

Areas of Focus for 2026

ZecHub has identified key areas of focus for 2026 to maximize their impact on the Zcash ecosystem. These areas include ecosystem communication, developer discovery, governance exploration, and education expansion. By focusing on these specific areas, ZecHub aims to address critical needs within the Zcash community and contribute to its continued growth and development. Communication is a crucial aspect, ensuring that community members are well-informed about the latest developments and opportunities. Developer discovery aims to attract new talent to the Zcash ecosystem, fostering innovation and expanding the developer base. Governance exploration seeks to improve the decision-making processes within the community, ensuring that all voices are heard and that the community is well-governed. Education expansion aims to provide valuable resources and training to community members, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the Zcash ecosystem. Each of these areas is designed to complement the others, creating a synergistic effect that will drive the growth and success of Zcash.

Here are some more details on areas we plan to focus on:

ZecHub Visual Brand Identity

ZecHub plans to establish a visual brand identity to create branded assets and project a more professional image across all platforms. This initiative aims to enhance ZecHub's recognition and credibility, making it easier for community members and newcomers to identify and engage with their content and activities. A well-defined visual brand will also help ZecHub communicate its mission and values more effectively, strengthening its connection with the Zcash community. The visual brand identity is not just about aesthetics; it’s about building a stronger, more cohesive brand that reflects ZecHub's commitment to quality and professionalism. This will improve the visibility of ZecHub and help its members. By creating a consistent look and feel across all their platforms, ZecHub can enhance user experience and foster a stronger sense of community. This investment in brand identity will contribute to ZecHub's long-term success and its ability to attract and retain community members.

New ZEC Bounties Platform

ZecHub intends to develop a ZEC Bounty platform to replace Dework in 2026, enabling direct shielded ZEC payments and streamlining processes. This platform will not only provide a more efficient way to distribute bounties but also promote the use of shielded ZEC transactions. Additionally, the platform will be designed to be forked and used by other projects like Namada or Penumbra, fostering collaboration and shared resources within the privacy-focused ecosystem. The new bounty platform represents a significant step forward in ZecHub's efforts to support and incentivize contributions to the Zcash ecosystem. By streamlining the bounty process and promoting shielded ZEC payments, ZecHub is reinforcing its commitment to privacy and community empowerment. Furthermore, by making the platform open-source and adaptable, ZecHub is encouraging other projects to adopt similar models, creating a more collaborative and interconnected ecosystem.

Zcash Ecosystem Digest & Newsletter

The Zcash Ecosystem Digest & Newsletter serves as a vital resource, keeping the community informed about the latest developments in the Zcash ecosystem. With numerous independent teams working globally, staying updated on all the activities can be challenging. ZecHub addresses this challenge by providing a comprehensive, shielded newsletter, as well as traditional venues like Substack. This newsletter not only keeps the community informed but also promotes the use of shielded transactions. By offering the newsletter through various channels, ZecHub ensures that it reaches a broad audience and remains accessible to all community members. The Zcash Ecosystem Digest & Newsletter is a crucial component of ZecHub's efforts to foster communication and transparency within the Zcash ecosystem. This ensures that the Zcash community remains well-informed and engaged.

ZecHub DAO

ZecHub aims to be the first public Zcash DAO to openly use FROST for wallet operations, experimenting with new governance technologies to improve consensus-building. Community involvement is encouraged, as engagement is key to learning. The DAO will manage community-submitted proposals, providing a platform for new developers and educators to get involved from the ground level. By using FROST, ZecHub is at the forefront of privacy-enhancing technologies, showcasing its commitment to innovation and security. The ZecHub DAO serves as a model for decentralized governance within the Zcash ecosystem, encouraging community participation and providing a platform for new ideas and initiatives. The DAO's focus on consensus-building and community engagement ensures that it remains responsive to the needs of its members and that decisions are made in a transparent and inclusive manner. This initiative is vital for the continued growth and development of Zcash.

ZecHub Podcast

Throughout the year, ZecHub plans to continue hosting knowledgeable guests from Privacy Projects on the ZecHub Podcast, educating on new platforms and building context around technologies complementary to Zcash. The podcast serves as a valuable educational resource, providing in-depth discussions on various topics related to privacy and cryptocurrency. By inviting guests from other privacy-focused projects, ZecHub fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the broader ecosystem. The ZecHub Podcast is an essential component of ZecHub's efforts to educate and engage the Zcash community, providing valuable insights and fostering a deeper understanding of privacy technologies.

ZecHub Tutorials

ZecHub will continue to produce timely educational tutorials for the community, using Premiere Pro and other software to enhance the quality of editing, including audio and animations. These tutorials will cover a range of topics relevant to Zcash, providing community members with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute effectively. By using professional software to improve the quality of their tutorials, ZecHub is demonstrating its commitment to excellence and ensuring that its content is engaging and informative. The ZecHub Tutorials are a vital resource for the Zcash community, providing valuable educational content and fostering a culture of learning and development.

ZecHub Collaborations

ZecHub will reach out to existing education platforms like Khan Academy in an effort to disseminate Zcash and privacy-related material, continuing to build relationships and engage with aligned communities. They will also participate in all ecosystem workshops to spearhead the educational needs of the community. This collaborative approach will help ZecHub reach a broader audience and integrate Zcash education into mainstream learning platforms. By building relationships with other organizations and participating in ecosystem workshops, ZecHub is strengthening its position as a leader in Zcash education and community engagement.

ZecHub Wiki Delegation

ZecHub intends to hand off ZecHub wiki operations to DAO members, granting every DAO member access to the GitHub repository to further decentralize their work. Core contributors will oversee any issues that may arise. This delegation will empower DAO members to contribute to the wiki, ensuring that it remains up-to-date and relevant. By decentralizing the wiki's operations, ZecHub is fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility within the community, encouraging more active participation and contribution.

ZecHub Dashboard Management

ZecHub will continue to manage the more technical areas of data collected for the ZecHub Dashboard, including running and maintaining Zebrad/zcashd nodes, responding to new data needs from the community, fixing/reporting bugs, and staying up-to-date with changes with the new Z3 stack. This dashboard provides valuable insights into the Zcash network, enabling community members to track key metrics and trends. By managing the technical aspects of the dashboard, ZecHub ensures that it remains a reliable and informative resource for the Zcash community.

Arborist Call Recap Management

ZecHub will help manage all aspects of the biweekly Arborist calls, including notetaking, short clip creation (with subtitles), and social media threads. These recaps provide a concise summary of the Arborist calls, making it easier for community members to stay informed about the latest discussions and developments. By managing the Arborist call recaps, ZecHub is contributing to the overall transparency and accessibility of the Zcash ecosystem.

ZecHub Voting Authority

ZecHub will commit to running as a Voting Authority for all elections in 2026, including running and maintaining a server, renewing and using the zecvote.zone domain, holding workshops before each election, and working with Hahn, ZCG, and the community to report bugs and communicate issues as they arise. This commitment ensures that the Zcash community has a reliable and trustworthy voting authority, promoting fair and transparent elections. By providing workshops and documentation, ZecHub is empowering community members to participate in the voting process and make informed decisions. ZecHub contributes to the integrity and decentralization of the Zcash ecosystem.

ZecHub Hackathons

This year, ZecHub proposes to host 2 hackathons to maximize their impact in growing Zcash developer excitement, emphasizing that onboarding new developers is the biggest opportunity for growth within the Zcash ecosystem. ZecHub is uniquely positioned to find and fund smaller developers/projects that may fall between the cracks, demonstrating their commitment to grassroots development. These hackathons will provide a platform for developers to showcase their skills, learn from each other, and contribute to the Zcash ecosystem. By focusing on smaller developers and projects, ZecHub is fostering innovation and diversity within the Zcash community.

ZecHub Store Management

ZecHub plans to manage https://zechub.store/ throughout 2026, proudly accepting shielded ZEC and emphasizing the importance of leading by example when selling their merch. Designs come from community members, and all ZEC received is purposed toward Zcash education. They currently use ZGO for shielded payments. This store not only provides a source of funding for ZecHub's educational initiatives but also promotes the use of shielded ZEC transactions. By accepting community designs, ZecHub is empowering community members to contribute to the store and share their creativity with the world.

Namada Validator

ZecHub plans to continue operating their ZecHub Validator for Namada as a way to bridge their two communities and learn from one another, potentially providing a source of income for the DAO. This validator not only provides a source of revenue for ZecHub but also fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the Zcash and Namada communities. By participating in the Namada ecosystem, ZecHub is expanding its reach and contributing to the development of privacy technologies.

My First Zcash (MFZ)

ZecHub plans to take over the MFZ project and manage it through to publishing of v2 with engaged contributors and/or DAO members, having already secured the needed domain names for 2026. This project aims to make Zcash more accessible to newcomers, providing them with the resources and support they need to get started. By taking over the MFZ project, ZecHub is demonstrating its commitment to education and community engagement. This ensures that Zcash remains accessible to everyone.

Other

ZecHub is open to hearing from the community about what they would like them to focus on moving into 2026, emphasizing that part of what makes ZecHub work so well is their ground-level work that really listens to members in the community. This openness and responsiveness to community feedback is a key factor in ZecHub's success.

Proposed Problem

The Zcash ecosystem is rapidly growing, and various aspects of the ecosystem are developing quickly and must be understood by the community in real-time. The technical nature of Zcash may introduce misunderstandings, and widely available educational resources can eliminate these. There is also a need for an independent group to test new ecosystem infrastructure as necessary. Zcash users span the globe, and having a single resource where folks can convene and engage in discussion is important, coordinating and assisting Core orgs and global communities towards community events.

Proposed Solution

ZecHub's role in the ecosystem is to consistently provide interesting educational content through a Weekly Ecosystem Digest, Wallet Demos, Video Explainers, Twitter Posts, and Events. ZecHub also serves as an open meeting place for community member planning and discussions.

Solution Format

The format of the work will be:

  • Monthly milestone recaps with KPIs on the Zcash community forum
  • Ecosystem presence / communication
  • Discord Office hours
  • Zcash wiki
  • Weekly Zcash Ecosystem Digest
  • Consistent Zcash education via Social Media channels
  • Video Explainers, Community Events, Podcasts, X Spaces, Zcash Wallet Demos
  • Wiki Site Documentation
  • Zcash Network Metrics
  • Written Articles about Zcash
  • ZecHub Hackathon(s) 2026
    • 60% of Bounty fund (60 ZEC)
    • Higher payout to encourage more development work
  • Ambassadors Initiatives
    • 20% of Bounty fund (20 ZEC)
    • Proposal to DAO required
    • Monthly recap on Zcash Community Forum required
  • ZecHub Community Proposals
    • 10% of Bounty fund (10 ZEC)
    • DAO votes on every proposal
  • Small Bounty Fund
    • 10% of Bounty fund (10 ZEC)
    • Dev work: 0.12 to 0.5 ZEC
    • Video content - up to 0.15 ZEC per video and/or audio posted on ZecHub
    • Newsletter - 0.05 ZEC per edition
    • ZecHub Wiki - 0.08 ZEC per new page published socials
    • Dev work: 0.12 to 0.5 ZEC

Dependencies

The podcast and Twitter spaces events are dependent on Zcash community members and other projects being open to attending. ZecHub is dependent on its DAO members and open-source contributors to see the platform thrive.

Execution Risks

The biggest execution risk would be misallocation of the Bounty Pool. It is vital that ample time is provided for project planning. Specifically, Tasks, Services, and Events need to be budgeted for in advance.

Technical Approach

The ZecHub DAO manages all ZEC bounties, while FPF administers the payments. On a weekly basis tasks relevant to Zcash including documentation research, graphic design, and development are listed on Dework (soon to be ZEC bounties app), and paid.

ZecHub Wiki

ZecHub wiki is an open-source repository hosted on the ZecHub GitHub. It includes guides, wallets including their features, privacy tools, research, and links to community projects. Brand logos are also available for community projects.

Zechub Dashboard

ZecHub dashboard is an open-source Zash data repository hosted on the zechub-wiki GitHub. Zcash node data is uploaded either daily or weekly depending on the type. It is sourced from a running Zebrad node and available in JSON format.

ZecHub Store

  • We proudly use ZGo to accept shielded ZEC payments
  • We accept community designs
  • All ZEC received is used purposed for Zcash education
  • Provide store support for the ecosystem as needed

Outreach

We will build relationships and engage with aligned communities by joining community calls, events, and creating tutorials. We will also participate in all ecosystem workshops to spearhead the educational needs of the community

Community Infra

We will commit to running as a Voting Authority for all elections in 2026. This includes:

  1. Run and maintaining a server used to run zcash-vote-server and cometbft as needed
  2. Renew and use the zecvote.zone domain (if needed)
  3. Hold workshops before each election teaching/training those who need assistance with becoming a vote authority. This will aid in creating good up-to-date documentation that community can use.
  4. Work with Hahn, ZCG, and the community to report bugs and communicate issues as they arise

Media

  • YouTube playlists for tutorials, interviews, podcasts, and events.
  • Twitter tutorials
  • Custom motion graphics

Hardware/Software Costs (USD)

0

Hardware/Software Justification

n/a

Service Costs (USD)

0

Service Costs Justification

n/a

Compensation Costs (USD)

376320.00

Compensation Costs Justification

@squirrel   - $65 * 32 hrs  * 48 weeks = $99,840
@dismad     - $65 * 32 hrs  * 48 weeks = $99,840
@vito       - $45 * 32 hrs  * 48 weeks = $69,120
@tron       - $35 * 32 hrs  * 48 weeks = $53,760
@Kroy       - $35 * 32 hrs  * 48 weeks = $53,760

Total Budget (USD)

419361.00

Previous Funding

Yes

Previous Funding Details

ZecHub 2025

Other Funding Sources

No

Other Funding Sources Details

n/a

Implementation Risks

The biggest execution risk would be misallocation of the Bounty Pool. It is vital that ample time is provided for project planning. Specifically Tasks, Services and Events need to be budgeted for in advance.

Potential Side Effects

n/a

Success Metrics

The main metrics related to ZecHub’s success are social media metrics (followers, video views, newsletter subscribers, etc.) and the number of contributors building ZecHub-related items.

Startup Funding (USD)

43041.00

Startup Funding Justification

Start up costs:

Adobe CC $69.99 - month / 12x = $840
Canva: $8 - month / 12x = $96
Linktree: $5 - month / 12x = $60
Twitter premium+: $400 year
Wordpress hosting: $300 year
Docs Collaboration - $200 year
Business License - $300 year
Tailscale Personal Plus - $60 year
VPS (3 servers) - $1600 year
Midjourney $30 - month / 12x = $360
Misc $500

=> $4716

ZEC Bounty

Admin fee: - 5 ZEC

We will follow the below earmarks:

       
- ZecHub Hackathon(s) 2026
   - 50% of Bounty fund ( 50 ZEC )
   - Higher payout to encourage more development work
   
- Ambassadors Initiatives
   - 20% of Bounty fund ( 20 ZEC )
   - Proposal to DAO required
   - Monthly recap on Zcash Community Forum required

- ZecHub Community Proposals
   - 10% of Bounty fund ( 10 ZEC )
   - DAO votes on every proposal

- Small Bounty Fund
   - 20% of Bounty fund ( 20 ZEC )
   - Dev work: 0.12 to 0.5 ZEC
   - Video content - up to 0.15 ZEC per video and/or audio posted on ZecHub 
   - Newsletter - 0.05 ZEC per edition
   - ZecHub Wiki - 0.08 ZEC per new page published
socials
   - Dev work: 0.12 to 0.5 ZEC

=> $38,325

Milestone Details

Milestone 1 - estimated completion date: 01/31/2026

Milestone 1 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 1.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 2 - estimated completion date: 02/28/2026

Milestone 2 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 2.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 3 - estimated completion date: 03/31/2026

Milestone 3 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 3.1: ZecHub team report**
Milestone 4 - estimated completion date: 04/30/2026

Milestone 4 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 4.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 5 - estimated completion date: 05/31/2026

Milestone 5 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 5.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 6 - estimated completion date: 06/30/2026

Milestone 6 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 6.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 7 - estimated completion date: 07/31/2026

Milestone 7 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 7.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 8 - estimated completion date: 08/31/2026

Milestone 8 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 8.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 9 - estimated completion date: 09/30/2026

Milestone 9 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 9.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 10 - estimated completion date: 10/31/2026

Milestone 10 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 10.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 11 - estimated completion date: 11/30/2026

Milestone 11 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 11.1: ZecHub team report
Milestone 12 - estimated completion date: 12/31/2026

Milestone 12 - USD value of payout upon completion of deliverables: $31,360
Deliverable 12.1: ZecHub team report

Conclusion

ZecHub's grant application for 2026 showcases its continued commitment to the growth and development of the Zcash ecosystem. Through a focus on education, communication, and governance, ZecHub aims to empower community members, attract new contributors, and foster a more vibrant and engaged community. With a strong track record of success and a detailed plan for the future, ZecHub is well-positioned to make a significant impact on the Zcash project. The ZecHub team’s dedication to these initiatives underscores their pivotal role in shaping the future of Zcash. For more information on Zcash and its community, visit the Zcash Community Forum at https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/.