Zano
ZANO
Evaluation Score
Overall rating on a scale of 0-10
Dimension Breakdown
AI Analysis
Comprehensive evaluation of the token
ZANO displays strong active engineering and development (8.0/10), characterized by consistent multi-year code delivery, hard fork upgrades (e.g., Zarcanum, HF6), and an upcoming shift to pure-PoS (Zenith). Its tokenomics (6.5/10) feature predictable emission, fixed 1 ZANO block rewards, and 100% transaction fee burns, with ~78% of the initial premine already utilized and minimal unlock overhang. Security practices (6.0/10) are highlighted by an active Immunefi bug bounty competition, static analysis integration via Coverity, and a clean historical operational record without realized hacks or exploits. However, ZANO faces notable headwinds: community engagement and observable organic traction are weak (2.5/10), market liquidity is thin relative to established competitors like Monero and Zcash (5.5/10), and the asset is subject to inherent category-wide regulatory pressure as a default-privacy Layer-1 protocol.
Development Activity
Code updates and developer engagement
Community Support
Social media presence and community engagement
Tokenomics
Supply, distribution, and utility
Market & Use Case
Value proposition and competitive landscape
Team & Governance
Team background and project governance
Security & Audits
Security history and audit status
About Zano (ZANO)
Zano (ZANO) is a native Layer-1 privacy-oriented blockchain derived from CryptoNote technology, originating from development lineage dating back to Boolberry in 2014 and launching in 2019. The network utilizes a hybrid Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism designed to provide confidential transactions, stealth addresses, and ring signatures by default. ZANO functions as the native currency used for network transaction fees, staking consensus, and the creation of confidential assets following the Zarcanum upgrade. The development roadmap outlines a transition toward a pure Proof-of-Stake model through an upgrade designated as Zenith.
The protocol operates with an approximate one-minute block time and a fixed block reward of 1 ZANO divided between PoW miners and PoS stakers. The asset has an uncapped maximum supply resulting in an asymptotic inflation rate nearing zero percent, counterbalanced by a mechanism that burns 100% of the 0.01 ZANO transaction fees. From an initial premine of approximately 6 million ZANO, around 78% has been expended, leaving the foundation reserve at roughly 5.4% of the circulating supply. Core development is led by developer Andrey Sabelnikov, with formalized on-chain governance mechanisms and multisig controls remaining in development on the project's roadmap.
While Zano has documented no historical security breaches, protocol defaults, or malicious exploits, security disclosures from an Immunefi bug bounty competition revealed a High-severity wallet RPC server vulnerability alongside cryptographic proof findings that were resolved prior to any on-chain loss. The project contends with structural regulatory headwinds common to privacy coins, relatively low trading liquidity in comparison to its market capitalization, and competition from older privacy-focused networks such as Monero and Zcash, alongside limited retrievable data regarding organic community adoption.
