ShapeShift has made privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash its default payment rail as part of a major Version 4.0 upgrade to its decentralised exchange platform.
The update introduces Zcash as the primary privacy-preserving asset for payments and routing on ShapeShift. It also adds NEAR Intents support for cross-chain transactions and extends hardware wallet compatibility to Trezor and GridPlus devices.
ShapeShift describes the new release as a return to its original emphasis on self-custody and privacy in digital asset trading. The platform operates as a community-led multichain decentralised exchange aggregator and does not run user accounts or conventional identity checks.
The V4.0 release follows a year of engineering work. The organisation said the upgrade responds to a wider market shift towards custodial models and increased disclosure requirements across parts of the crypto sector.
Zcash, which uses zero-knowledge cryptography to shield transaction details, now sits at the centre of ShapeShift's trading flows. The platform has integrated ZEC directly into its wallet and routing systems. Users can route swaps and transfers via Zcash as a default option rather than an opt-in setting.
ShapeShift said this arrangement applies across major ecosystems including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Cosmos. Users retain self-custody of assets while they conduct multichain swaps.
The DAO behind ShapeShift positions this change as a structural move towards default privacy in DeFi trading. The organisation has framed it as a contrast with models that depend on centralised intermediaries.
NEAR Intents rollout
The update also incorporates NEAR Intents, which ShapeShift describes as a cross-chain routing framework. Users state the desired outcome of a transaction, while the system manages execution across multiple networks.
ShapeShift said NEAR Intents expands the range of potential routes for ZEC and other assets. It aims to increase execution speed, broaden liquidity access and refine pricing across fragmented blockchain networks. These transactions continue to execute without central custody.
The combination of Zcash routing and NEAR Intents places ShapeShift in a growing group of DeFi services that seek to abstract some of the complexity of cross-chain activity. The platform continues to run without a central entity holding customer funds.
Hardware wallet support
ShapeShift V4.0 further extends support for hardware wallets. The platform now includes native compatibility with devices from Trezor and GridPlus.
Users can connect these wallets and perform multichain swaps from cold storage. The platform presents transaction details for review before signing.
ShapeShift said the aim is to cut down on so-called blind signing by improving transaction visibility inside its interface. Blind signing refers to users approving transactions on hardware devices without full on-screen detail of what they authorise.
Houston Morgan, Growth and Community Workstream Leader at ShapeShift, said the industry had normalised this practice over time.
"Blind signing became normalised because users were forced to choose between security and usability. That's a failure of the industry. By centering Zcash, supporting modern hardware wallets and improving cross-chain execution, ShapeShift is showing that privacy and clarity can coexist. We go into 2026 as the leading privacy exchange for the DeFi community, and in our political climate, we couldn't be happier about that," said Houston Morgan, Growth and Community Workstream Leader, ShapeShift.
ShapeShift said the three elements of the release - Zcash as a default privacy rail, NEAR Intents routing and integrated hardware wallet support - form a coordinated privacy-focused update. The DAO said it wants users to retain control of keys, maintain privacy where they choose, and avoid centralised control structures.
The platform, which launched in 2014 and now operates as a DAO, supports swaps across more than 15 blockchains and uses the FOX token in its governance structure. It has moved over time from a more traditional exchange model to a fully non-custodial design.
Tim Black, Tokenomics Product Lead at ShapeShift DAO, said the V4.0 release lays groundwork for further expansion.
"V4 sets the stage with the solid technical foundation to continue to add more chains, more swappers, and more features for our community. We've unlocked momentum," said Black.