About this Chart

Every block mined on Zcash creates new ZEC through a coinbase transaction that distributes the block subsidy according to protocol rules. This chart shows how these newly minted coins are allocated between miners (who secure the network) and various funding streams that support protocol development and ecosystem growth. The distribution has evolved through distinct eras as the network upgraded:

Founders Reward Era (blocks 1-850,000): Miners received 80% of each block subsidy, with 20% going to founders—the original developers and early contributors who launched Zcash in October 2016. These funds were distributed across 48 rotating addresses to support initial development.

Transition Period (blocks 850,001-1,046,399): A brief window where miners received 100% of the block subsidy as the network prepared for the next funding mechanism.

Canopy Era (blocks 1,046,400-2,726,399): The ZIP 214 governance proposal restructured funding into three streams totaling 20% of the subsidy: 7% to the Electric Coin Company (ECC) for core protocol development, 5% to the Zcash Foundation (ZF) for research and community support, and 8% to Major Grants (MG) for ecosystem projects. Miners continued receiving 80%.

NU6 Era (blocks 2,726,400 onward): A revised ZIP 214 maintains the 80/20 split with updated recipients: 8% to Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) for decentralized funding decisions, and 12% to a temporary Lockbox that accumulated funds without creating transaction outputs. The Lockbox made its final disbursement at block 3,146,400 (November 24, 2025), after which the full 20% goes to ZCG.

The block subsidy itself follows Bitcoin's halving schedule, starting at 12.5 ZEC and decreasing by half approximately every four years (first halving at block 840,000 to 6.25 ZEC, second at block 2,520,000 to 3.125 ZEC). This means the absolute amounts distributed decrease over time even as the percentage allocations remain constant within each era.