Zashi, the mobile wallet for Zcash, will be renamed Zodl in its next software update. In a statement released on Feb. 16, the development team said the change is limited to branding. Users will not need to install a new app, move funds, or replace recovery phrases, and the update will be applied automatically.
The rebrand follows a structural break from the wallet’s former parent organization. The full Zashi development team left Electric Coin Company in January 2026 and later formed a new company, Zcash Open Development Lab, or ZODL. Under that entity, the wallet now moves ahead under independent management. The team described the shift as a new chapter while keeping the same product, developers, and privacy focus.
Wallet behavior, security, and blockchain connection stay the same
The announcement makes clear that the rename does not alter how the wallet works. Balances, transaction history, and seed phrases will continue to function as before, and the app will remain connected to the Zcash blockchain. For existing users, this is an in-place update rather than a migration.
Over the coming days, the Zashi name will also be replaced by Zodl across websites, support channels, and social media accounts. Outside the new name, the team said there is no change to security or compatibility. That point sits at the center of the update.
Split came after disagreements over governance, funding, and autonomy
The rebrand is tied directly to the team’s departure from Electric Coin Company. According to the source material, the developers had helped build both the Zcash protocol and the Zashi wallet, but resigned after internal disagreements involving governance, funding, and autonomy. After the split, they continued shipping updates and maintaining the wallet under the new independent structure.
The developers said an independent organization was needed to support long-term growth without relying on the Zcash development fund. Renaming the wallet to Zodl reflects that management change as much as it does a branding decision.
Privacy mission remains in place as shielded ZEC usage rises
In its statement, the team said its mission has not changed. Zodl will keep focusing on private transactions and wider access to shielded ZEC. The announcement said the group envisions a world without mass financial surveillance and sees financial privacy as central to personal sovereignty.
The change arrives as privacy-focused crypto assets continue drawing attention. The source says that, with privacy features seeing greater use, shielded ZEC transactions now account for roughly 30% of the circulating supply. At the same time, the Zcash Foundation has published its 2026 roadmap, with plans covering wallet usability, developer tooling, and network infrastructure.
At the ecosystem level, the Zodl transition adds another example of tensions that can emerge between governance bodies and independent development teams in crypto projects. For now, the team’s message is simple: users can keep using the wallet as usual, and future updates will stay focused on privacy tools and user experience.