What is Zano (ZANO)?

Deep Dive

1. Privacy Architecture

Zano implements CryptoNote 2.0 – the protocol underpinning Monero – enhanced with Zarcanum, the first Proof of Stake variant that obscures staked amounts. Every transaction masks:
- Amounts (hidden via ring signatures)
- Addresses (stealth addresses prevent sender/receiver linkage)
- Asset types (even when using custom tokens).

This "triple-blind" design ensures financial privacy without sacrificing auditability through optional transparent wallets.

2. Confidential Asset Ecosystem

Beyond its native coin, Zano enables:
- User-minted tokens – Privately traded assets retain full anonymity features.
- Ionic Swaps – Trustless atomic swaps between assets while preserving privacy.
- Wrapped assets – Bridges for BTC/ETH/BNB (via Confidential Layer) become private on Zano.

Projects like Freedom Dollar (private stablecoin) and ObscuraNFT (confidential NFTs) demonstrate ecosystem growth.

3. Hybrid Consensus Mechanics

Zano’s PoW/PoS hybrid balances security and energy efficiency:
- PoW miners secure initial transaction ordering.
- PoS validators (using Zarcanum) finalize blocks without revealing stake sizes.
- 70% staked supply (as of August 2025) reduces attack viability while maintaining decentralization.

Conclusion

Zano positions itself as a modular privacy platform where enterprises and individuals can transact confidentially while retaining optional transparency. Its technical lineage (CryptoNote founder Andrey Sabelnikov) and focus on auditable privacy set it apart from purely anonymous coins. How will evolving global regulations impact adoption of its "privacy-by-default" model as institutional interest grows?