Zano has shared a clearer look at how its upcoming Zano Execution Layer (ZEL) will work alongside its privacy-focused blockchain.
In a recent post, Zano explained that ZEL will be a standard EVM environment running alongside Zano’s privacy-by-default blockchain.
Table of Contents
- How Zano and ZEL Will Work Together
- Where $ZANO Fits In
- Privacy and Smart Contracts Have Different Roles
- Learn More About ZEL
1. How Zano and ZEL Will Work Together
The idea is simple: Zano’s main blockchain remains focused on privacy, while ZEL provides an environment for smart contracts.
Smart contracts are programs that run on a blockchain. They can power applications such as decentralized exchanges, lending platforms and other Web3 services.
Instead of changing Zano’s privacy-focused Layer 1 to support these applications, ZEL will operate alongside it.
This gives the two layers different jobs:
- Zano: Private transactions and assets
- ZEL: Public and verifiable smart contracts
2. Where $ZANO Fits In
Bridged $ZANO will be used to pay for transactions and smart-contract activity on ZEL. These fees are known as “gas fees” and are similar to paying a small fee to use a service.
This means $ZANO will connect Zano’s privacy-focused blockchain with the new smart-contract environment on ZEL.
3. Privacy and Smart Contracts Have Different Roles
One of the key points from Zano’s post is that privacy and smart-contract transparency do not necessarily have to exist on the same layer.
Zano can keep its main blockchain focused on protecting private assets and transactions, while ZEL allows users and developers to interact with public, verifiable smart contracts.
In simple terms:
- Private assets on Zano.
- Verifiable smart contracts on ZEL.
The goal is to let each layer do what it was designed to do without compromising the other.
4. Learn More About ZEL
For readers who want a deeper explanation of how ZEL works, including the bridge between Zano and ZEL, what happens when $ZANO moves between the networks, and what developers could build on ZEL, read our full guide:
👉 Zano Execution Layer (ZEL) Explained: Smart Contracts Without Changing Zano’s Privacy
Zano’s roadmap currently lists the ZEL mainnet release as a Q4 2026 target, with the goal of bringing programmable smart contracts to the ecosystem while Zano L1 remains the privacy chain.
Sources
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