Full Nodes
TL;DR
- A full node keeps a complete copy of the Zcash blockchain and checks every new block and transaction against the consensus rules.
- Zebra (
zebrad) is the node to install today. Zakura is a second implementation, forked from Zebra.
- zcashd is retired. Its End-of-Support halt was reached on 18 July 2026 at block height 3417100, and those nodes no longer start.
- The node and wallet are now separate programs. Zallet runs against a node and holds the keys.
- Running your own node gives you independent verification and removes the need to trust someone else's server.
Core Explanation
A Full Node is software that runs a full copy of a cryptocurrency's blockchain, giving you access to the protocol's features.
It holds a complete record of every transaction that has occurred since genesis and is therefore able to verify the validity of new transactions and blocks that are added to the blockchain.
Node Implementations
Zebra
Zebra is an independent, production-ready full node implementation of the Zcash protocol, created by the Zcash Foundation and written in Rust. As zcashd is retired, Zebra (zebrad) is the recommended full node for new deployments.
Zebra validates blocks and transactions, participates in the peer-to-peer network, and exposes an RPC interface for applications. The wallet is a separate component now: Zallet runs against a Zebra node and handles keys and balances. This replaces zcashd, which bundled the node and wallet in a single process.
To serve shielded light wallets, the node runs alongside an indexer, either the established lightwalletd or the newer Zaino.
Be sure to read the Zebra book for set-up instructions, and join the R&D Discord server for support.
GitHub
The Zebra Book
See Zebra Full Node for install steps, configuration, and hardware requirements.
Zakura
Zakura is a second consensus-compatible full node, forked from Zebra and developed by Valar Group together with Project Tachyon. It follows the same protocol rules and adds faster synchronization, block pruning, and a zcashd RPC compatibility layer. See Zakura Node.
zcashd (retired)
Note: zcashd has been retired. The Electric Coin Company announced the deprecation, and the automatic End-of-Support halt was reached on 18 July 2026 at block height 3417100. Every unmodified zcashd 6.20.0 node shut down at that height and refuses to restart, and the software does not support NU6.3. Use Zebra. If you hold a zcashd wallet.dat, follow the Migration Guide: zcashd to zebrad/Zallet.
zcashd was the original Full Node implementation for Zcash, developed and maintained by the Electric Coin Company. The build instructions below are retained for reference and for operators migrating away from zcashd.
zcashd exposes a set of API's via its RPC interface. These API's provide functions that allow external applications to interact with the node.
lightwalletd is an example of an application that uses a full node to enable developers to build and maintain mobile-friendly shielded light wallets without having to interact directly with zcashd.
Full list of supported RPC commands
The zcashd book
Start up a Node (Linux)
-
Install Dependencies
sudo apt update
sudo apt-get install
build-essential pkg-config libc6-dev m4 g++-multilib
autoconf libtool ncurses-dev unzip git python3 python3-zmq
zlib1g-dev curl bsdmainutils automake libtinfo5
-
Clone latest release, checkout, setup and build:
git clone https://github.com/zcash/zcash.git
cd zcash/
git checkout v5.4.1
./zcutil/fetch-params.sh
./zcutil/clean.sh
./zcutil/build.sh -j$(nproc)
-
Sync Blockchain (may take several hours)
To start the node, run:
./src/zcashd
-
Private Keys are stored in ~/.zcash/wallet.dat
Guide for zcashd on Raspberry Pi
Practical Implications
The Network
By running a full node, you are helping to strengthen the zcash network by supporting its decentralization.
This helps to prevent adversarial control and keep the network resilient to some forms of disruption.
DNS seeders expose a list of other reliable nodes via a built-in server. This allows transactions to propagate throughout the network.
Network Stats
These are example platforms that allow access to Zcash Network data:
Zcash Block Explorer
Coin Metrics
You can also contribute to the development of the network by running tests or proposing new improvements & providing metrics.
Mining
Miners require full nodes to access all mining-related RPC's such as getblocktemplate & getmininginfo.
zcashd also enables mining to shielded coinbase. Miners and mining pools have the option to mine directly to accumulate shielded ZEC in a z-address by default.
Read The Mining Guide or join the Community Forum page for Zcash Miners.
Privacy
Running a full node allows you to independently verify all transactions and blocks on the Zcash network.
Running a full node avoids some privacy risks associated with using third-party services to verify transactions on your behalf.
Using your own node also permits connecting to the network via Tor.
This has an added advantage of allowing other users to connect privately to your node .onion address.
Common Mistakes
- Building zcashd from the instructions above and expecting a working node. Those binaries halt at the deprecation height.
- Running a node and assuming your mobile wallet now uses it. A light wallet keeps talking to whatever server it is configured with until you point it at your own. See Lightwallet Nodes.
- Running only
zebrad and expecting light wallets to connect. The node needs an indexer next to it, either lightwalletd or Zaino.
- Looking for wallet RPCs on the node. Keys and balances moved to Zallet.
Related Pages
Further Learning
Read Support Documentation
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