Shielded Zcash

Shielded supply refers to the amount of Zcash (ZEC) that is held in private, shielded addresses rather than transparent ones.

Shielded Zcash uses zero-knowledge cryptography to hide transaction amounts and balances, making it one of the most privacy-preserving digital assets in existence.

The chart above shows the total amount of Zcash held in shielded addresses over time, including the share of total supply and the split between Orchard and Sapling pools.

All shielded supply data on this page updates in real time.

What Is Shielded Supply?

Shielded supply is the portion of Zcash that exists inside shielded addresses, where balances and transaction details are hidden from public view.

Unlike transparent blockchains, Zcash allows users to:

• send transactions privately,
• hold balances without revealing amounts,
• and transact without exposing sender or receiver details.

This makes shielded supply fundamentally different from:

• “coins in circulation” on transparent chains,
• or balances visible on block explorers.

How Much Zcash Is Shielded?

• As of today, roughly 30% of all Zcash is held in shielded addresses.
• The majority of shielded ZEC now resides in the Orchard pool
• Older shielded funds remain in the Sapling pool

The share of shielded supply has grown over time as:

• wallet support has improved,
• protocol upgrades have simplified shielding,
• and privacy awareness has increased.

Orchard Pool vs Sapling Pool

Orchard Pool

• Newest shielded pool
• Introduced with NU5
• Uses modern cryptography
• Actively recommended for new shielded transactions

Sapling Pool

• Older shielded pool
• Still secure, but gradually being phased out
• Holds legacy shielded balances

Today, the Orchard pool accounts for the majority of shielded Zcash.

Why Shielded Supply Matters

Shielded supply is not just a technical metric, it reflects actual privacy usage on the Zcash network.

A higher percentage of shielded ZEC means:

• stronger privacy guarantees for users,
• larger anonymity sets,
• and less on-chain information leakage.

This makes shielded supply one of the most important health indicators for Zcash as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency.

Is All Zcash Shielded?

No.

Zcash supports both transparent and shielded addresses.

• Transparent ZEC behaves like Bitcoin (balances are public).
• Shielded ZEC hides balances and transaction details.

Users can choose which type to use, but only shielded ZEC contributes to shielded supply.

Is Shielded Zcash Truly Private?

Shielded transactions in Zcash use zero-knowledge proofs to:

• hide amounts,
• hide addresses,
• and prevent transaction graph analysis.

When used correctly, shielded Zcash provides strong on-chain privacy guarantees.

How Does Zcash Shielded Supply Compare to Other Cryptocurrencies?

Unlike most cryptocurrencies where 100% of balances are publicly visible, Zcash allows a significant portion of supply to remain shielded while still being cryptographically verifiable.

Most cryptocurrencies:

• expose all balances publicly,
• have no concept of “shielded supply”.

Zcash is unique in allowing:

• optional privacy,
• measurable private usage,
• and verifiable shielded balances without revealing ownership.

👉 See also:

• Zcash vs Monero
• Zcash vs Bitcoin

Does Shielded Supply Affect Zcash Price?

Indirectly.

While shielded supply does not set price, it:

• reflects real-world usage,
• influences long-term narrative,
• and affects how Zcash is perceived as a privacy asset.

For broader context:
👉 Zcash Price Prediction

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “shielded” mean in Zcash?

Shielded means transaction details are hidden using cryptography.

Can shielded Zcash be audited?

Yes. Total shielded supply can be measured without revealing individual balances.

Is shielding mandatory?

No. Zcash allows both transparent and shielded usage.