Foundry is expanding beyond Bitcoin mining and into Zcash, with plans to launch an institutional-grade Zcash mining pool in April 2026. The company says the new pool is designed for institutional and public-company miners that want stronger compliance standards, clearer payout processes, and U.S.-based operational support.
The move is notable because Foundry is the operator of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool by hashrate. Now it is trying to bring that same “institution-ready” model to a privacy-focused network.
Why Foundry is moving into Zcash
Foundry says the launch is meant to address what it sees as a gap in Zcash mining: a lack of purpose-built, compliant pool infrastructure that can meet the needs of institutional operators.
CEO Mike Colyer said Zcash has matured into an institutional-grade asset, but the mining infrastructure around it has not kept up. He also framed Zcash as an important part of the broader digital asset ecosystem because of its role in advancing financial privacy.
That is an important angle in the release. Foundry is not presenting this as a niche side project. It is positioning Zcash as a serious asset that now needs more professional mining infrastructure.
What the new Zcash pool will offer
Foundry says the pool will include several features aimed at larger miners and regulated businesses.
According to the announcement, the pool will offer:
- U.S.-based operations, which Foundry says can reduce compliance and counterparty risk
- Compliance-first infrastructure, built on the same framework used for Foundry USA Pool
- Transparent, auditable payouts, with clear methodology and reporting tools
- A robust technology stack, designed for scale, performance, and reliability
- 24/7 dedicated support, with relationship management from Foundry’s operations team
In simple terms, Foundry is trying to make Zcash mining feel more like institutional Bitcoin mining.
Why this matters for Zcash
One of the more interesting parts of the release comes from Zooko Wilcox, founder of Zcash and current Chief Product Officer of Shielded Labs. He said Foundry’s entry could help spread Zcash mining hashpower more evenly, reducing the current concentration in a single pool.
That matters because mining concentration is one of the main decentralization risks for proof-of-work networks. If more hashrate moves into a North America-based, enterprise-grade pool, it could change the balance of Zcash mining over time.
Just as importantly, Foundry’s brand may bring in miners that previously trusted its Bitcoin infrastructure but were not active in Zcash.
Foundry is leaning on its Bitcoin track record
The company is using its Bitcoin credentials as the main proof point. Foundry says its Bitcoin pool is the largest in the world by hashrate and that Foundry USA Pool is both SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 compliant.
It also says miners already rely on its auditable payout model, real-time reporting, and dedicated compliance framework. Foundry’s message is clear: the Zcash pool will be built on the same operational playbook.
That is a practical way to sell the product. Instead of asking miners to trust a new unknown service, Foundry is saying it will apply an already proven institutional model to Zcash.
Why it matters for crypto
- Foundry’s move gives Zcash a stronger institutional mining option at a time when infrastructure quality matters as much as ideology.
- A larger, more compliance-focused pool could make Zcash mining more accessible to public companies and professional operators.
- If miners shift into Foundry’s pool, Zcash hashpower could become less concentrated, which would be positive for network decentralization.
- The launch also shows that privacy-focused assets are still attracting infrastructure investment, not just regulatory debate.
What to watch next
- How much Zcash hashrate Foundry captures after the pool goes live in April 2026.
- Whether the launch actually reduces mining concentration across the Zcash network.
- If more institutional miners begin adding Zcash alongside Bitcoin in their proof-of-work operations.
- Whether Foundry expands deeper into privacy-coin infrastructure beyond mining pools.