Zano will open natively $ZANO to EVM networks, $TONand Solana via a non-custodial bridge mechanism tied to the upcoming Hard Fork 6, scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
Key Takeaways:
- Zano’s Hard Fork 6, targeted for Q2 2026, introduces gateway addresses that reliably bridge native $ZANO to EVM, $TONand Solana Networks.
- The Bridgeless protocol uses Threshold Signatures so that no single validator controls a transfer, completely reducing centralized custody risk.
- wZANO on Base opens a Coinbase fiat-on-ramp, giving new users a direct path to Zano’s full privacy stack without niche exchange accounts.
Zano is aiming for a hard fork to push in the second quarter of 2026 $ZANO Cross chain
The project currently operates a packaged version of Zano on Ethereum called wZANO, an ERC-20 token managed by Zano’s core team. That bridge runs on a centralized server infrastructure, creating a single point of failure and requiring users to entrust their funds to a custodian. Hard Fork 6 eliminates that arrangement.
The most important change is a new address type called Gateway Addresses. These use an account-based model instead of the standard UTXO model and are built for programmatic interaction at scale. When a user bypasses $ZANO via Bridgeless, their native tokens lock into a Gateway address on the Zano side.
The protocol contains the money, not a person. An equivalent amount of wZANO is minted on the destination chain and sent to the USthere’s wallet. Bridging back burns the wZANO and unlocks the native $ZANO.
Every wZANO in circulation is supported 1:1 natively $ZANO and secured via Threshold Signatures, meaning no party ever owns the entire private key needed to authorize a transfer.
“For the first time, born $ZANOand confidential assets backed by Bridgeless, such as Freedom Dollar, wiwill be bridgeable to EVM networks, $TONand Solana through a non-custodial, reliable mechanism that replaces an old compromise with something built right,” the Zano team said on Tuesday.
Bridgeless runs on a decentralized network of validator nodes using Delegated Proof of Stake. A cryptographic threshold of validators must work together to sign each cross-chain operation. Smart contracts process deposits and withdrawals on the EVM, $TONand Solana side without a central server or a single controlling team.
The platform is currently in an alpha, proof-of-concept phase and the original token, BRIDGE, has not yet been listed. One tradeoff users should understand: Gateway addresses are transparent by design.
The amounts that pass through are visible in the chain. However, the sender’s identity remains protected by Zano’s stealth addresses and ring signatures, which hide user addresses and prevent outside observers from tracking what output was issued.
Privacy does not transfer once a user bridges to a public chain. A wZANO balance on Ethereum, Solana or $TON is publicly visible, just like any other token on those networks. A bridge back to the mother tongue $ZANO restores all privacy protections. The infrastructure is also changing how $ZANO have access to major scholarships.
Original $ZANO has been rejected by several tier-1 trading platforms due to default transaction privacy. As a transparent asset, wZANO does not face the same compliance issues, making it better suited for listing on well-known centralized platforms.
“This is not just a technical upgrade: it is the infrastructure that this can bring $ZANO to tier-1 exchanges and DeFi liquidity pools for the first time,” the team noted.
The launch of wZANO on Base is part of Zano’s rollout plan. Every token in the Base ecosystem can be purchased with fiat through the Coinbase app, giving new users a direct entry point. A user can purchase wZANO with a bank card, withdraw it to a wallet and bridge to native $ZANO in a few steps.
As a standard ERC-20 token, wZANO can participate in lending protocols, yield strategies and liquidity provision. A wZANO liquidity pool on Uniswap could replace the existing custodian environment with a non-custodian equivalent. Bridging will be accessible via the Confidential Layer website and app.
The gateway address testnet is already anticipating the Hard Fork 6 target for Q2 2026.