Winklevoss-owned Gemini switches Zcash software ahead of faster 25-second blocks
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has upgraded its Zcash software to a new program called Zakura to improve synchronization speeds. This transition is intended to prepare the exchange for an upcoming network upgrade that will significantly increase block frequency.
Why it matters
Efficient node synchronization is critical for crypto exchanges to maintain liquidity and ensure that customer deposits are processed without extended downtime.
The exchange now uses Zakura, a program that follows Zcash and checks its transaction history. Gemini said Tuesday that Zakura caught up with the latest block in a little over six hours during its deployments. Zebra, the program it used before, took close to a day.
That six-hour result measures how quickly a computer can catch up after starting or falling behind. Zakura's developers published a separate test that took four hours and 20 minutes, against nearly 21 hours for Zebra.
They also provide a saved copy of recent network data that can bring a replacement computer online without downloading Zcash's history from the beginning. In their test, that approach was about 680 times faster than a standard sync.
Gemini is controlled by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, whose Zcash interests extend beyond the exchange.
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