The Zcash mainnet has activated the Ironwood NU6.3 upgrade, introducing a new shielded pool

Zcash activated the Ironwood NU6.3 network upgrade at block height 3,428,143, launching a new shielded pool to enhance network security and allow for the independent verification of ZEC circulating supply.

After the upgrade, the original Orchard pool was restricted, and new funds are not allowed to enter. Existing funds must be migrated out through a turnstile before re-entering Ironwood, ensuring at the protocol level that pool expenditures do not exceed verifiable income. Ironwood is based on a revised protocol that has been formally verified and independently audited, aimed at preventing similar risks to the previous Orchard declarative vulnerabilities. Wallets supporting Ironwood (such as Zodl 3.8.0) have provided migration paths, allowing users to transfer funds from Orchard to the new pool without changing addresses.