Zcash teams propose Ironwood pool to restore supply verification after Orchard flaw
Zcash developers are proposing Ironwood, a new shielded pool, after a recently patched Orchard vulnerability raised concerns that counterfeit ZEC might have been created unnoticed. The upgrade, led by ZODL with Tachyon, Valar Group, the Zcash Foundation, and Shielded Labs, would add formal verification and independent audits to Orchard and then close Orchard to new deposits and internal transfers. Funds moving into Ironwood would have to pass through a “turnstile,” an accounting checkpoint designed to block any excess or counterfeit ZEC from entering circulation. Developers said there is no evidence user funds were affected or that total supply changed, but auditors warned the bug could have allowed unlimited fake ZEC to be minted inside Orchard without detection. Shielded Labs said Ironwood could also help reveal whether the bug was ever exploited: if excess coins try to exit Orchard, the turnstile would reject them; if not, that would support the view that no exploit occurred. Activation is targeted for late July 2026, pending testing and review.
