Who is Zooko Wilcox?
Zooko Wilcox is the CEO and co-founder of Electric Coin Company (ECC), the organization behind the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash. Born Bryce Wilcox, Zooko has a strong background in computer science. He is known for having developed several computer licenses and protocols, including the Transitive Grace Period Public License (TGPPL) and the Mojo Nation system.
In the 1990s, Wilcox worked on developing an electronic cash system called DigiCash, which was led by David Chaum. His trajectory in the world of cryptocurrencies dates back to 2009, the year Bitcoin was launched, when he published an influential blog about the asset. Zooko has gained prominence in the cryptocurrency industry due to his involvement with Zcash, a cryptocurrency that allows users to transact privately, publicly, or partially privately. Zcash, created in 2016, uses zk-SNARK technology, allowing proof of asset transfers without revealing specific information.
Inspired by a 2014 protocol called Zerocash, Zcash operates as a currency on its own native network, initially based on Bitcoin code. Electric Coin Company is responsible for the construction and ongoing development of Zcash. As leader of ECC, Zooko maintains an active presence on Twitter, where she has an audience of over 50.000 followers. Additionally, the Zcash Foundation, a non-profit organization, focuses on promoting the privacy and adoption of Zcash.
In 2022, ECC and Zcash went through a busy period, with several updates, including version 5.0 in May, which introduced the ability to conduct private Zcash transactions via mobile phones, and the addition of the proof system called Halo . It was also revealed that NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden helped launch Zcash in 2016 under the pseudonym John Dobbertin.
In 2023, Zcash is likely to continue to advance under the leadership of Zooko Wilcox, who continues to actively engage with the crypto community on Twitter, advocate for privacy through Zcash, and grant interviews due to her significant industry experience.
