Zcash Developers Launch New Structure and Rename Wallet

The developers formerly associated with the Electric Coin Company (ECC) have unveiled a new initiative called the Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL).

"Hi. It's a new day for Zcash!

We are now Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), and the Zashi wallet has been rebranded to Zodl.

No action is needed from users; the app will update automatically with the next release.

This is just the beginning. Exciting developments are on the horizon." — Josh Swihart 🛡 (@jswihart) February 16, 2026

The Zashi wallet will now be known as Zodl, but the developers assure users that this change will not disrupt their experience. No new downloads, seed phrase changes, or fund transfers are necessary.

"Users can continue using Zashi as usual. The app will transition to Zodl in the upcoming version. The name change will be reflected across all official platforms, including our support Discord," the development team stated.

In January, the entire ECC team departed due to internal disagreements, with former CEO Josh Swihart citing conflicts with the Bootstrap nonprofit's board, which he claimed were misaligned with the goals of private cryptocurrency.

The team believes this restructuring is crucial for advancing the protocol and ensuring the ongoing development of ZEC without depending on external funding.

"The engineers and product specialists who have contributed to Zcash over the years remain committed and are focused on delivering innovative solutions," ZODL emphasized.

The rebranding has received mixed reactions from users; some appreciated the new name, likening it to the popular term HODL, while others criticized it for its pronunciation.

In reaction to the announcement, the price of ZEC experienced a 2.4% increase over the past day, trading at approximately $287, with a market cap of $4.7 billion.

Additionally, Barry Silbert, CEO of Digital Currency Group, has suggested a potential shift in investor focus from Bitcoin to Zcash.