Zano: The Privacy-First Cryptocurrency You Need to Know About

Zano stands out in the crypto world as a privacy-focused open-source cryptocurrency with solid security features.

Unlike many other coins, Zano hides transaction details by default, meaning nobody can see how much was sent, who sent it, or even what type of asset was transferred. This makes Zano particularly useful for people who value their financial privacy.

Built from scratch (not forked from other projects), the blockchain project was created by Andrey Sabelnikov—the same developer who built the original CryptoNote protocol that Monero now uses. Zano takes privacy protection to the next level with its unique technologies and features.

How Does It Work, and Why Is It Different?

Most cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, show all transaction details publicly. This blockchain project does the opposite—it hides everything. When a Zano transaction happens, the only visible information is that a transaction occurred. The sender and receiver can verify the details using transaction IDs, but nobody else can see the specifics.

It uses a hybrid consensus model that combines both Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) methods. This approach makes the network more secure against attacks. To successfully attack this project, someone would need both the majority of computing power and own a large portion of staked coins, making attacks extremely expensive and basically impossible.

What makes this project truly special is Zarcanum, the world’s first hidden-amount Proof-of-Stake system. This means people can stake their Zano coins to help secure the network and earn rewards while keeping their stake amounts completely private.

The privacy tech behind it includes:

1. d/v-CLSAG Ring Signatures and Stealth Addresses to hide sender/receiver details
2. Bulletproofs+ technology to keep transaction amounts private
3. A unique storage system that only allows access to transaction data by the people who authorized the transactions

Key Features That Set Zano Apart

This blockchain project isn’t just about privacy; it offers a whole ecosystem for building private applications. Some of its key features include:

• Confidential Assets: Anyone can create private tokens on the project. These tokens have all the privacy features of Zano itself. This allows for private stablecoins, wrapped versions of other cryptocurrencies, and more—all protected by Zano’s privacy technology.
• Escrow Contracts: Users can create custom contracts that don’t need middlemen. These contracts require all parties to put up deposits, creating financial incentives to follow through with agreements. This allows for direct person-to-person business deals without trusting a third party.
• Aliases: Instead of using long, complicated wallet addresses, Zano lets users create simple names like @username. These user-friendly names work with Zano’s messenger, reputation system, and authentication systems.
• Marketplace API: Developers can build decentralized online stores where people can create, update, and remove offers directly on the blockchain. Anyone can view these offers, making it possible to create truly decentralized marketplaces.
• Ionic Swaps: These are improved versions of atomic swaps, allowing users to trade different cryptocurrencies privately. This technology powers Zano’s decentralized exchange.
• Auditable Wallets: For situations where transparency is needed, Zano offers an opt-in feature to create transparent wallets. Importantly, this doesn’t affect the privacy of the rest of the network.

Zano also has a true decentralized governance system. The people who stake Zano can vote anonymously on important decisions about the blockchain’s future, making the project more democratic.

When comparing this project to Monero (another major privacy coin), Zano offers more features. While both protect transaction privacy, Zano adds confidential assets, escrow contracts, ETH signature compatibility, and on-chain voting through its DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).

This blockchain has also developed different wallet options for different needs:

• Desktop Wallet: A full-node wallet with all features, including staking
• Mobile Wallet: Easy access to most features except staking
• Lite Wallet: For everyday small transactions (in development)
• Zano Companion: A browser extension similar to MetaMask for connecting to Zano applications

With its focus on privacy, security, stability, true decentralization, and ease of use, Zano represents a significant step forward for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and applications.