Zcash Advocacy Group Launches Lobbying Effort in Washington
A new advocacy group focused on Zcash has officially registered as a lobbyist in Washington, marking a significant step for the privacy-focused cryptocurrency in shaping U.S. policy. Pretty Good Policy for Zcash (PGPZ) filed its lobbying registration on October 1, with Divij Pandya serving as its sole lobbyist. The group's lobbying efforts will center on key legislative proposals, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act and two digital asset tax proposals.
PGPZ evolved from Pretty Good Policy for Crypto, an initiative launched in 2022 by Electric Coin Co. The group has previously hosted policy roundtables and organized congressional briefings on encryption technologies. Paul Brigner, founder of PGPZ and chief policy and regulatory officer of ZODL, emphasized the importance of ensuring Zcash is understood and defended in policy discussions. He stated, 'Policymakers are making decisions that will affect whether privacy-preserving digital cash can exist, be used lawfully, and serve the public interest.'
In August, the Zcash Community Grants approved a $750,000 grant to support PGPZ’s first year of operations. This funding underscores the community's commitment to advancing Zcash's policy engagement in Washington. The move comes as the cryptocurrency prepares for its NU7 mainnet upgrade, scheduled for November, which includes a reduction in block times to 25 seconds.