The Gwart Show | Blockspace Media Zcash Resurgence, Privacy, and Quantum w/ Zcash cofounder Ian Miers
Nov 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Ian Miers, cofounder of Zcash and a cryptography expert, shares insights on vital topics including the importance of zero-knowledge proofs for privacy in cryptocurrencies. He explains the privacy pitfalls of Bitcoin's public ledger and why Zcash’s unique mechanisms enable transactions without compromising user data. The conversation also touches on the potential threats of quantum computing and explores future prospects for a resurgence of interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
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From ZeroCoin Paper To Zcash Launch
- Ian Miers described building ZeroCoin (2013) then ZeroCash which became Zcash as academic-to-production work.
- He recruited Zuko to turn grad-student code into the first industrial SNARKs deployment.
Trust Without Exposure
- Zero-knowledge proofs let you prove correctness without revealing private data, enabling trust without exposure.
- Zcash uses nullifiers to prevent double-spending while keeping balances private.
SNARKs As Programmable Enforcement
- SNARKs act as a programmable tool to force dishonest parties to run stateful programs correctly.
- That enables private proofs about income, identity, or transaction history without revealing raw data.