Foundry Digital LLC, operator of Foundry USA Pool™, a prominent Bitcoin mining pool, has announced its intention to launch an institutional-grade Zcash mining pool in April 2026. This initiative seeks to address a perceived gap in the Zcash mining ecosystem by providing compliant infrastructure for institutional and public companies.
Mike Colyer, CEO of Foundry, stated, “Zcash has matured into an institutional-grade asset, but the mining infrastructure supporting it hasn’t kept pace. At Foundry, our mission is to empower decentralized infrastructure that strengthens the digital asset ecosystem, and we believe Zcash plays a critical role in advancing financial privacy.” He added that the Zcash pool would bring the same compliance, transparency, and operational excellence established by Foundry USA Pool™.
Zcash, launched in 2016, is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that utilizes zero-knowledge proof technology. This protocol allows transactions to be verified on a public blockchain while safeguarding sensitive details such as wallet addresses and transaction amounts. Zcash aims to demonstrate how financial privacy and compliant digital infrastructure can coexist, offering fungibility within a decentralized network as the adoption of digital assets increases.
Zooko Wilcox, Founder of Zcash and Chief Product Officer of Shielded Labs, expressed support for the launch. “We at Shielded Labs are delighted that Foundry—the largest Bitcoin mining pool, and one based in North America—is launching an enterprise-grade Zcash mining pool,” Wilcox commented. He anticipates that this development will diversify Zcash mining hashpower, which is currently concentrated in a single pool, and attract new miners who trust Foundry’s service quality.
Foundry’s upcoming Zcash pool will feature U.
S.-based operations designed to mitigate compliance and counterparty risks. It will be built on the same institutional-grade framework as Foundry USA Pool™, offering transparent and auditable payouts with clear methodology and timely reporting. The pool is engineered with a robust technology stack for scale and reliability, supported by 24/7 dedicated support.
Since 2019, Foundry Digital has served as an infrastructure partner for institutional Bitcoin miners globally. Foundry USA Pool™, recognized as the leading Bitcoin mining pool by hashrate, is SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant. These independently audited controls ensure rigorous security, transparency, and reporting standards. Miners leveraging Foundry’s services benefit from an auditable payout methodology, real-time reporting, and a dedicated compliance framework, principles that will extend to the Zcash pool upon its launch.
Based on initial interest from the Zcash mining community, Foundry anticipates beginning Zcash pool operations in April 2026. Foundry Digital LLC, headquartered in Rochester, NY, is a DCG subsidiary focused on providing enterprise software for institutions within the crypto ecosystem, with mining services designed to enhance access, efficiency, and transparency in the digital asset industry.
