Zcash Network Hashrate
Network Data
What the Zcash network hashrate measures
The network hashrate is the combined computing power that all miners worldwide contribute to the Zcash network - stated in Sol/s (solutions per second), because the Equihash algorithm is based on finding valid solutions rather than classic hash repetitions. It is mined with specialised Equihash ASICs, such as the Antminer Z15 series. A rising hashrate means more competition for the same block reward - earnings per Sol/s decline; a falling hashrate works the other way round. Next to the price, the hashrate is therefore the most important network metric for miners; it is also a measure of chain security, since any attack attempt becomes more expensive as total hashrate rises.
Difficulty as a control mechanism
Difficulty defines how hard it is to find a valid block and continuously adjusts to the network hashrate to keep the block rate stable. Hashrate and difficulty therefore move in lockstep - switch between both metrics in the chart above to see the relationship directly.
Zcash as a privacy coin
Besides regular, transparent transactions, Zcash optionally offers shielded transactions based on zk-SNARKs - sender, recipient and amount can be hidden for shielded transactions, while transparent transactions remain openly visible, as with most other coins. This makes no difference for the network hashrate and block security: both transaction types are processed and secured by the same Equihash miners.
When is the next Zcash halving?
Unlike many newer proof-of-work coins, Zcash has a classic halving at a fixed block height: the block reward halves abruptly on a set date rather than declining continuously in small steps. The next halving is scheduled for 23 November 2028. For miners, this means a predictable but abrupt cut in ZEC revenue per block - an investment calculation should account for this date from the start. How a halving specifically affects earnings can be calculated in the Zcash mining calculator.
History since the network launch
Cryptohall24's dataset goes back to October 2016, the launch of the Zcash network - one of the longest continuously recorded coins in our own monitoring. Since then, the record has grown by one data point per day - the charts above show the full history with a freely selectable time range.