Zano has announced plans to launch its Hard Fork 6 in the second quarter of 2026, introducing a trustless cross-chain bridge mechanism called Bridgeless that will enable its native token ZANO to securely connect to EVM-compatible chains, the TON network, and Solana blockchain. This upgrade will replace the current centralized wZANO wrapping solution, eliminating single points of failure and custodial risk.
Gateway Addresses and Threshold Signatures: The Core of Decentralized Bridging
Hard Fork 6 introduces a new type of address known as Gateway Addresses, which use an account-based model instead of Zano's standard UTXO model. Designed for large-scale programmatic interaction, these addresses lock native ZANO tokens on the Zano side when a user transfers via Bridgeless. The protocol holds the funds, not any individual or entity. On the destination chain, an equivalent amount of wZANO (Zano's wrapped token) is minted and sent to the user's wallet. When bridging back, wZANO is burned and native ZANO is unlocked. Each wZANO in circulation is backed 1:1 by native ZANO and secured by threshold signatures—no single party ever possesses the full private key required to authorize a transfer.
“For the first time, native ZANO and Bridgeless-compatible confidential assets like Freedom Dollar will be able to connect to EVM, TON, and Solana networks through a trustless, non-custodial mechanism that replaces an old compromise with something built the right way,” the Zano team stated. Bridgeless runs on a decentralized network of validator nodes using Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), and smart contracts manage deposits and withdrawals on the EVM, TON, and Solana sides without a central server or single controlling team.
Balancing Privacy and Transparency
It is important to note that gateway addresses are transparent by design—the amounts moving through them are visible on-chain. However, the sender's identity remains hidden through Zano's stealth addresses and ring signatures, preventing external observers from tracking which output was spent. Once a user bridges to a public chain, wZANO balances are fully transparent like any other token on those networks; bridging back to native ZANO restores all privacy protections.
This feature also paves the way for ZANO to be listed on major exchanges. Previously, many top-tier trading platforms rejected ZANO due to its default transaction privacy. As a transparent asset, wZANO does not face the same compliance hurdles, making it more viable for listing on well-known centralized platforms. The team emphasized, “This is not just a technical upgrade—it is the infrastructure that could bring ZANO to top-tier exchanges and DeFi liquidity pools for the first time.”
wZANO Goes Live on Base: Fiat On-Ramp for New Users
As part of Zano's deployment plan, wZANO will launch on the Base network. Any Base ecosystem token can be purchased with fiat currency through the Coinbase app, offering a direct entry point for new users. A user can buy wZANO with a bank card, withdraw it to a wallet, and convert it to native ZANO in just a few steps. Additionally, as a standard ERC-20 token, wZANO can participate in lending protocols, yield strategies, and liquidity provision. A wZANO liquidity pool on Uniswap could replace the existing custodial setup with a non-custodial equivalent. The bridge will be accessible via the website and the Confidential Layer application.
The testnet for gateway addresses is already operational, ahead of the Hard Fork 6 mainnet target in Q2 2026. The Bridgeless platform is currently in an alpha proof-of-concept phase, and its native incentive token, BRIDGE, has not yet been listed. The team advises users that privacy is fully maintained only on the native Zano chain; once bridging to public networks, users should weigh the trade-offs.