What is Zcash? Privacy and security on the blockchain

Source: CritpoTendencia Original Title: What is Zcash? Original Link: Zcash (ZEC) is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency. It was launched in 2016 as an improvement over Bitcoin’s original design, but with a key difference: it allows users to make transactions where the amount, sender, and recipient can remain hidden if the user chooses.

Although it is built on a public blockchain, Zcash adds a layer of anonymity that makes it one of the most advanced coins in terms of personal data protection.

Basic Data

• Name: Zcash
• Symbol: ZEC
• Launch year: 2016
• Maximum supply: 21M

Optional Privacy: The Key to Zcash

Unlike Bitcoin, where everything is visible on the blockchain, Zcash allows users to choose between transparent or shielded transactions.

• Transparent transactions: work just like in Bitcoin. Anyone can see addresses and amounts on the network.
• Shielded transactions: use advanced cryptography to completely hide the data. The network can verify the transaction is valid without revealing sensitive information.

This technology is based on so-called zero-knowledge proofs, a method that lets you prove something is true without showing the details behind it. This gives Zcash a level of privacy that other cryptocurrencies don’t offer.

How Zcash Works

Zcash uses two types of addresses:

• t-addr (transparent): similar to Bitcoin’s public addresses.
• z-addr (shielded): designed to maintain total privacy.

The user decides how to operate. You can use transparent addresses for conventional transactions or shielded addresses when confidentiality is needed. This flexibility made Zcash a reference among so-called privacy coins.

Additionally, ZEC has a maximum supply of 21 million, just like Bitcoin, giving it predictable monetary behavior and resistance to inflation.

What is Zcash Used For?

Zcash is mainly used for:

• Sending and receiving money privately.
• Protecting personal or business financial information.
• Operating in environments where full transparency can pose risks.
• Saving long-term with an extra level of confidentiality.

In a digital world where every piece of data is exposed, Zcash offers an alternative that gives users back control over their privacy.

Conclusion

Zcash is a cryptocurrency designed for those seeking privacy without giving up the security and transparency of blockchain. Its technology lets you choose between operating openly or fully shielded, something very few networks offer.

In an ecosystem where traceability is the norm, Zcash proposes a different approach: privacy as a right, not as an exception.