Zano Targets 2027 Move to Zenith, a Pure Proof-of-Stake Privacy Protocol

Research path behind Zenith

According to the project, Zenith grew out of several years of work on the limits of Zano’s existing hybrid design. The team first tried to improve the combination of proof of work and proof of stake, but said those efforts continued to inherit constraints linked to mining.

Zano then worked with blockchain research firm Common Prefix on pure proof-of-stake alternatives. That collaboration produced two research directions, StakeNote and Zenith. Zano ultimately chose Zenith because it builds on the privacy framework already present in the network through Zarcanum, instead of introducing a separate architecture.

The project says Zenith is designed to determine whether a participant can produce a block without revealing the amount staked or creating a lasting public connection between outputs and identity. Zano co-founder and core developer Andrey Sabelnikov said the design reflects more than 12 years of research into combining newer proof-of-stake mechanics with the privacy expectations of Zano users.

Faster blocks and shorter confirmation times

Under the proposed upgrade, block time would fall from roughly one minute to about 15 seconds. Zano also said the recommended confirmation threshold would drop from 10 blocks to between four and six.

If those targets are reached, typical confirmation time would decline to about 60 to 90 seconds. The project also said six Zenith confirmations are expected to deliver stronger security guarantees than the 10 confirmations used on the network today. Those figures, however, remain projected outcomes until testing is completed.

Storage changes and archival option

To manage the higher storage and synchronization demands that come with more frequent blocks, Zenith uses what Zano describes as ephemeral blocks. Full block data would remain available close to the chain tip, then become more compact after an epoch is finalized.

Each epoch would last 10 minutes and include 40 blocks. After finalization and a retention period, most of those blocks would be reduced to compact cryptographic records. Zano said one block reward per epoch would remain permanently included in the network’s global output index, while the other 39 reward records would not need permanent indexing. The design also includes an optional archival mode for operators that want to retain complete historical data.

End of mining emissions

A successful move to Zenith would also end proof-of-work mining on Zano. The project said miners currently receive about 720 newly created ZANO per day, and that issuance would disappear once the pure proof-of-stake system is activated.

Zano argues this would reduce the amount of new ZANO entering circulation and remove some selling pressure tied to mining costs such as electricity, hardware, hosting, and maintenance. At the same time, the project noted that demand, liquidity, adoption, and broader market conditions would still shape the token’s market value.

Alongside the protocol announcement, Zano said it has launched an official forum for technical discussion, support, and community questions. Users can verify their on-chain aliases there to receive a visible badge intended to help distinguish authenticated accounts from unverified participants.

Zenith marks Zano’s planned evolution from the hybrid network it launched in 2019 toward a pure proof-of-stake system built around its existing privacy technology. For now, the change remains a proposed technical direction rather than a completed migration, with the 2027 target dependent on further testing and rollout work.