Cypher Lending Meets Cypher Cash

Templar Protocol is integrating Zcash, opening a powerful new path for ZEC to be used in decentralized lending. Once complete, this integration will allow ZEC holders to unlock stablecoin liquidity without rehypothecation or trusting any centralized intermediaries while preserving privacy. It marks an important step toward bringing private money into permissionless DeFi, where Cypher Lending meets Cypher Cash.

Templar is a decentralized lending protocol built on NEAR Protocol. Using the same technology as NEAR Intents, it leverages NEAR’s chain abstraction technology, including multi-party computation (MPC) and Chain Signatures, to enable cross-chain interactions directly from NEAR smart contracts. Instead of relying on wrapped tokens or centralized bridges, Templar uses Chain abstracted money markets and on-chain smart contract enforcement to facilitate borrowing and lending across multiple blockchains. The Zcash integration will extend this system to include shielded ZEC in the future as a supported collateral type.

Once live, the integration will allow users to borrow stablecoins by locking up ZEC as collateral. Funds will be held by a MPC-secured network, with all lending agreements enforced by smart contracts. ZEC will be transferred from the Orchard pool, using a mobile wallet like Zashi, to an MPC-controlled address, preserving user privacy while enabling borrowing without KYC or centralized intermediaries. 

This integration expands Zcash’s role in the broader DeFi landscape. It will give ZEC holders another non-custodial way to access liquidity. It also demonstrates how NEAR’s infrastructure can support trust-minimized, cross-chain applications by enabling smart contracts to interact with assets like ZEC on their native chains.

Templar’s integration of Zcash marks a major milestone in privacy-first DeFi, blending the strongest privacy technology in crypto with a fully decentralized lending protocol. This collaboration paves the way for shielded assets to play a more active role in on-chain finance. As we progress, we’re dedicated to enhancing privacy further—our roadmap begins with integrating shielded ZEC support in our lending ecosystem in Q3 2025. By Q4 2025, expect upgrades like Differential Privacy and the option to use Templar without a “connected” wallet to avoid address reuse. Throughout 2026, we’ll introduce Zcash’s Shielded Assets technology to more assets, Onchain Cash Denominated markets, and ZK Smart Contracts. These advancements will bolster privacy and security for all Templar users.

We’re excited to engage with the Zcash community and privacy coin communities alike! Share your feedback on using ZEC as collateral to borrow through Templar, and let us know your ideas for privacy enhancements. What matters most to you? Join the conversation on X at @TemplarProtocol. As Cypher Lending evolves, privacy features will be essential, and Zcash’s technology represents a strong first step toward that vision.