{"id":1636,"date":"2019-06-27T23:28:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-27T23:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2miners.com\/blog\/?p=1636"},"modified":"2019-07-25T15:44:15","modified_gmt":"2019-07-25T15:44:15","slug":"zelcash-upcoming-hardfork-and-mining-algorithm-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2miners.com\/blog\/zelcash-upcoming-hardfork-and-mining-algorithm-change\/","title":{"rendered":"ZelCash Upcoming Hardfork and Mining Algorithm Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

ZelCash is an anonymous cryptocurrency and the main transaction tool in the Zel ecosystem. The project started as a Zcash fork and became popular thanks to its features such as ASIC resistance, zk-SNARK technology and staking with the help of ZelNodes. Soon the developers will activate the upgrade called Kamiooka v3.2.0. Let\u2019s see what it will change.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Kamiooka: ZelCash Update<\/h2>\n

Kamiooka is an important step for Zel<\/a>. The upgrade will be activated on block 372,500 on July 2, 2019. It will introduce a number of improvements in the Zel network and ZelNodes.<\/p>\n

The main new features of ZelCash hardfork are as follows.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The launch of a ZelHash PoW algorithm \u2013 a modified Equihash 125_4 that will protect the network against FPGA and ASIC once and for all. ZelHash will be supported by Gminer, lolMiner, and MiniZ.<\/li>\n
  2. Changes in ZelNodes payment and voting systems \u2013 optimization of the number of votes per tier and sync update in case of an error.<\/li>\n
  3. Zcash v2.0.5-2 integration \u2013 Zel continues to adopt useful improvements that Zcash developers create for their project.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Important note: It would be impossible to rent hashing power on Nicehash after the fork. It could be temporarily, but it\u2019s still not clear when Nicehash is going to add Equihash 125_4 on the list of supported algorithms.<\/p>\n

    What Is ZelHash<\/h2>\n

    The most important feature of Kamiooka is the new algorithm, so let\u2019s take a closer look at it. But first some context.<\/p>\n

    From the very first days of the network existence, Zel developers have been fighting against potential centralization (ASIC miners). The project was launched on the standard algorithm Equihash 200_9. Soon ASICs learned how to work with it and there came Anminer Z11 and others. This forced creators to switch to Zhash\/Equihash 144_5.<\/p>\n

    But it didn\u2019t last very long. Nowadays there is a risk that FPGA and ASIC for Zhash may be launched, so Zel decided to create its own PoW algorithm with the assistance from a lolMiner representative known as Lolliedieb.<\/p>\n

    By the way, for now, there is no ASIC for Equihash 144_5, so ZEL developers definitely know something that we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

    The new algorithm will be activated together with other network upgrades, including the updated Zcash codebase that will allow to inherit innovative features from the Zcash Co. team.<\/i><\/p>\n

    ZelHash is still based on Equihash and uses \u201cn\u201d and \u201ck\u201d values for 125_4. This is not a revolutionary update, because some coins already use the same variant. However, the new algorithm will give the possibility to anticipate ASIC manufacturers thus destroying the risks of centralization.<\/p>\n

    The key features of the ZelHash algorithm are as follows.<\/p>\n