Arborist Call #90 R&D Updates
The Zcash Arborist Calls are bi-weekly protocol development meetings focused on tracking upcoming protocol deployment logistics, consensus node implementation issues, and protocol research.
This summary focuses on the last call that took place on 11/14/2024
Our meeting began with an update on Network Upgrade 6 activating 23 November ~09:30 UTC
@ZcashFoundation intends to coordinate with @ElectricCoinCo to host a live watchparty!
@ZcashFoundation Zebra Update
Work completed:
Verification of transactions that spend mempool UTXOs is ready to be merged.
The JSON RPC server in Zebra is being replaced, the one currently in use is no lnger maintained.
Bug fixes for getrawtransaction RPC also to be merged
@ElectricCoinCo update with @nuttycom
Main focus has been ZIP editing work for NU7 ZIPs.
@Str4d has nearly finalized testing the partially constructed Zcash transaction format (PCZT).
It will be used for @keystonewallet's hardware wallet integration & for producing FROST.
In the wallet backend team has merged a note management system enabling wallets to maintain a distribution of spendable notes. #tipthebarista
The command line version of the wallet app from the internal CLI application used for testing is proceeding.
Into zcashd Deprecation Updates:
@thecodebufet has received a few responses from non-custodial exchanges. Many use the same provider with some actually running nodes. Collection of responses on node requirements continuing.
Network Sustainability Mechanism
@aquietinvestor went over updates from the previous call:
ZIP 233 establishes a voluntary burning mechanism in NU7, its a non-controversial change that involves changing the transaction format already happening with ZSAs.
https://t.co/HfNv5c5lXn
ZIP 235 burns 60% of the transaction fees, a consensus level change that can be skipped.
Instead updating the node software to default to 60% burning of the transaction fees allows it to be tested before any consensus changes.
https://t.co/nuNKPqTJKD
ZIP 234 smooths the issuance curve, likely not included in NU7 allowing time to consider alternatives.
All three zips as originally envisioned as consensus level changes have been submitted as candidates for NU7.
@Nate_ZEC created a graph of issuance over time with the two different kinds & showing the block height when the two cross over in an effort to improve ZIP 234 that currently has activation height TBD.
New issue to update the issuance ZIP-234.
Simple option will be to place the activation block halfway through the next halving period, sometime mid-2026.
if any ZEC is burned prior to that you would get a slight rise upward in issuance, 100ths or 1,000ths of a ZEC.
@nuttycom adding due to ZSA issuance being transparent, there is potentially some dynamic that could advantage some miners over others with respect to mining ZSA issuance transactions.
If ZSA issuance fees are burned, that has better economic effects across the network.
Next we moved to Trailing Finality updates with @zooko
Work continues on scoping for the Crosslink first deployment. Thoughtful feedback from Zcash Foundation, ECC and people across the community was received.
Zooko is now integrating that feedback into documentation. If you're interested in privacy and staking, then you might be interested to follow along here: Scoping for First Deployment of Crosslink.
@Nate_ZEC is building a roadmap. Aim is to take the scoping document, which lists several goals, and start putting those into GitHub tickets and then working backwards.
some tickets have prerequisites which are the end engineering goals for the team.
@ShieldedLabs will not be making a wallet, there is still an open question on if wallet guidelines will be written. Working with Wallet vendors, CEX and at least one DEX or Bridge will be a priority. If they know how to implement, what needs to be implemented for their users etc.
FROST updates with @conradoplg
Team has merged the Taproot BIP 340 PR useful for Bitcoin & also Zcash for the issuance of ZSAs.
They have merged support for refresh shares functionality using the DKG. Next work will be to complete the FROST server functionally.
Zcash Shielded Assets update with Vivek
Starting with ZIPs, earlier PR 854 was merged, ZSA ZIPs are now in consideration for NU7.
https://t.co/xjdrZ2vzkU
The team has responded to some of the comments, and have opened a new PR.
@jonrouach adding that there's an ongoing security audit for the core ZSA protocol, also giving thanks to the Zcash community for putting the effort to make Zcash Shielded Assets a reality
A series of @qeditzkp webinars to explain more in detail how to hold and run ZSA's TBA!
We then moved to Open Discussion starting with @zcashcommgrants requesting core developers and the node implementers review the updated proposal from hanh's Proof of balance Coin Holder Voting Mechanism.
Meeting to vote on this proposal is November 25th.
Thanks for Reading!
