Foundry’s Zcash mining pool signals rising institutional interest in privacy coins as investors consider their potential share of Bitcoin’s value.
Institutional interest in cryptocurrency mining continues to expand beyond Bitcoin. Mining infrastructure firms are beginning to support a broader range of networks as demand grows. One of the largest Bitcoin mining operators is now preparing to enter the privacy-focused sector.
Zcash Mining Set for Institutional Push as Foundry Plans New Pool
Digital Currency Group subsidiary Foundry Digital plans to launch a mining pool for Zcash in April. The company currently operates Foundry USA Pool, widely regarded as the largest Bitcoin mining pool by hashrate.
Zcash $ZEC has matured into an institutional-grade asset, and the mining infrastructure should match. Today we announced Foundry's Zcash Mining Pool, launching April 2026. Compliance-first, institutional-grade infrastructure built by the team behind the world's #1 Bitcoin mining…
— Foundry (@FoundryServices) March 11, 2026
Expansion into Zcash marks Foundry’s first step beyond the Bitcoin mining ecosystem. According to the company, the new pool will focus on institutional miners and public companies.
Foundry said the Zcash pool will include compliance tools, reporting features, and U.S.-based operations. These features mirror the infrastructure used in its existing Bitcoin mining pool.
Chief Executive Officer Mike Colyer said Zcash has matured into an institutional-grade asset. However, he noted that mining infrastructure supporting the network has not advanced at the same pace.
Zcash launched in 2016 as a privacy-focused cryptocurrency. Its technology uses zero-knowledge proofs that allow transactions to remain shielded while still verified on a public blockchain.
Zcash founder and Shielded Labs Chief Product Officer Zooko Wilcox welcomed Foundry’s entry into the network. He said a new pool could reduce the concentration of mining power.
“We at Shielded Labs are delighted that Foundry—the largest Bitcoin mining pool based in North America—is launching an enterprise-grade Zcash mining pool,” Wilcox said.
According to Wilcox, the new pool could spread Zcash hashpower across more participants. He added that trusted operators may also attract additional miners to the network.
Barry Silbert Says Privacy Coins Could Capture Up to 10% of Bitcoin’s Value
Foundry said its Zcash pool will run from U.S.-based infrastructure. Operations aim to reduce compliance and counterparty risks for institutional miners.
Transparent payouts and auditable reporting tools will form part of the service. The company also plans a technology stack designed for reliability and scale. Dedicated support teams will provide 24-hour operational assistance to participating miners.
Interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies has recently grown among some investors. Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert said last month that privacy coins could capture part of Bitcoin’s value.
Image Source: CoinCodex
Silbert suggested that roughly 5% to 10% of Bitcoin’s market value could eventually be allocated to assets such as Zcash.
Zcash’s price has remained volatile over the past year. The ZEC token surged from about $50 to nearly $700 in late 2025. Prices later dropped sharply and recently fell below $200, according to market data.
Governance tensions also affected the ecosystem earlier this year. In January, the entire staff of Electric Coin Company resigned after a dispute with its nonprofit parent organization.
