About this Chart

This chart breaks down Zcash's transaction activity by both transaction type (which pools are used) and protocol version (which consensus rules apply). Transaction types reveal how users interact with different chain value pools, while protocol versions show the network's technical evolution through successive upgrades.

Transaction Types:

Coinbase: Special transactions created by miners to claim block rewards and transaction fees, generating new ZEC that enters the transparent pool.

Transparent: Public transactions using Bitcoin-like inputs and outputs where addresses and amounts are visible on the blockchain.

Sprout: Transactions using the original privacy protocol from October 2016, now deprecated after the November 2020 Canopy upgrade stopped accepting new funds.

Sapling: Transactions using the efficient privacy protocol introduced in October 2018, offering strong privacy with mobile wallet support.

Orchard: Transactions using the latest privacy protocol activated in May 2022, providing the strongest privacy guarantees through advanced cryptography.

Mixed Sapling + Orchard: Transactions that combine both Sapling and Orchard components, allowing users to move or consolidate funds across these two shielded pools simultaneously.

Protocol Versions:

v1-v2 Legacy: Original Zcash transaction formats supporting only transparent and Sprout operations, used before the Overwinter upgrade.

v3 Overwinter: Introduced in June 2018, adding transaction expiry heights and version group IDs for structured network upgrades.

v4 Sapling: Introduced in October 2018, enabling the efficient Sapling shielded protocol with improved proof systems.

v5 Orchard: Introduced in May 2022 with NU5, supporting the Orchard protocol, unified addresses, and the latest consensus rules.