The mobile wallet formerly known as Zashi has officially been rebranded to Zodl following a separation from its original parent organization, marking a new phase for the development team as an independent entity. According to the announcement made on February 16, users will experience a smooth transition with the next app update, which will automatically change the wallet’s name without affecting functionality or access.
— Zashi (@zashi_app) February 16, 2026
The team emphasized that no new downloads, fund transfers, or recovery phrase updates will be required. Existing balances, transaction records, and security features will remain unchanged, allowing users to continue interacting with the Zcash network without interruption. The developers described the rebrand as the beginning of “a new chapter,” while preserving the same product vision and privacy-first approach that defined the wallet from the start.
Shift towards independent development
The rebranding comes after the entire wallet development team left Electric Coin Company in January 2026. The team, responsible for the development of the underlying protocol and wallet infrastructure, left due to disagreements over governance models, funding, and autonomy.
After the split, the team formed a new entity, Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL). The new entity has rebranded the wallet to Zodl and will function independently of the previous funding models that were associated with the larger ecosystem. The team explains that this will enable them to develop with sustainability in mind while still adhering to their release schedule.
Privacy mission still intact
The new entity still maintains the same mission as the previous team, which is to increase access to private digital payments and enhance the usability of shielded transactions. The wallet will still focus on providing tools that make privacy accessible to the masses, upholding its vision of reducing financial surveillance within digital ecosystems.
The transition comes amid growing attention toward privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, with shielded transaction usage on Zcash increasing steadily. Meanwhile, the Zcash Foundation has outlined plans for ecosystem improvements in its 2026 roadmap, including wallet enhancements and better developer infrastructure.
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