Zcash Blocks Crosslink Staking Upgrade Proposal
The network retains its Nakamoto consensus as the proposed staking layer is canceled over architectural concerns.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Josh Swihart has formally blocked the adoption of the Crosslink staking upgrade for the Zcash network. The proposed project aimed to implement a staking layer on top of the existing mining consensus, but Swihart argued that the architecture introduces unnecessary vulnerabilities and protocol complexity.
Why it matters
The decision underscores a fundamental divide within the Zcash community regarding consensus models. By rejecting a shift toward staking, Swihart reinforces a commitment to the original Nakamoto consensus, halting a project that had secured financial support from high-profile backers like Vitalik Buterin and the Winklevoss twins.
The Crosslink proposal suggested staking amounts in powers of 10 ZEC (1, 10, 100, 1,000) to mitigate network attacks and transaction rollbacks. This design aimed to integrate a staking layer with existing mining, yet the proposal remains unimplemented due to concerns regarding protocol overhead.
The players
Josh Swihart
A Zcash leader who advocates for maintaining the Nakamoto consensus and prioritizing coin scalability.
Shielded Labs
The development group that authored the Crosslink proposal to introduce staking to the Zcash network.
Vitalik Buterin
A prominent developer and co-founder of Ethereum who provided financial backing for the Crosslink project.
Winklevoss twins
Investors in cryptocurrency infrastructure who supported the development of the Crosslink staking layer.
The details
Crosslink was designed to function as an additional layer placed on top of traditional mining to secure the Zcash network. Shielded Labs developed the proposal, utilizing specific ZEC denominations to maintain user anonymity during the staking process. However, Swihart maintained that the architectural compromise required for this integration posed unacceptable security risks to the protocol.
Timeline
Developers first explored a transition to Proof-of-Stake in 2021.
Josh Swihart formally blocked the Crosslink staking upgrade on October 25, 2026.
The Tech Race
The rejection of Crosslink marks a definitive end to the transition trajectory established during the 2021 Zcash Proof-of-Stake exploration. This decision forces the network to maintain its existing consensus architecture while competing platforms continue to iterate on hybrid models.
Users of the Zcash network will continue using the existing Nakamoto consensus model for transaction validation. No new staking features will be integrated into the protocol as a result of this decision.
The takeaway
The abandonment of Crosslink signals a sustained focus on traditional mining rather than staking for the Zcash ecosystem. Observers should track upcoming network updates to see how the team addresses scalability without the proposed staking layer.
Further reading
For more on the evolving infrastructure of distributed ledgers, explore the Quantum Computing section.
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