Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL) has announced plans to activate a new network upgrade and the Ironwood privacy pool in July 2026, aimed at enhancing Zcash's security. The upgrade, developed in collaboration with Tachyon, Valar Group, Zcash Foundation, and Shielded Labs, will build on the existing Orchard protocol. Ironwood will incorporate formal verification and undergo additional independent audits to bolster security. The upgrade addresses a recently discovered integrity issue in Orchard, which has been resolved without evidence of exploitation or impact on user funds. Post-upgrade, wallets supporting Orchard will facilitate a seamless migration to Ironwood, maintaining existing receiving addresses. The transition will utilize a "Turnstile" mechanism to ensure the ZEC supply in circulation matches the amount entering the new pool. The activation is scheduled for the end of July, contingent on testing and ecosystem coordination.