What Is Zama (ZAMA) and How Does It Work?
Zama is an open-source cryptography project focused on bringing privacy and confidentiality to
blockchain and AI applications through cutting-edge encryption technology. At its core, Zama leverages Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a breakthrough that allows computations to be performed directly on encrypted data without needing to decrypt it first. This means sensitive information can remain encrypted throughout its lifecycle, solving long-standing privacy issues in decentralized systems.
Instead of launching its own standalone blockchain, Zama builds a confidentiality layer that can sit on top of existing
layer-1 and
layer-2 networks. Through tools like FHEVM, developers can write smart contracts that operate on encrypted inputs and states, enabling confidential smart contracts and private
on-chain computation on networks like
Ethereum while retaining composability with existing decentralized applications.
Once fully live, the Zama ecosystem will be supported by the $ZAMA token, which is intended to power protocol fees, staking, and incentives for network operators under a burn-and-mint economic model. By combining FHE-based confidentiality with public verifiability and scalability, Zama aims to unlock new privacy-preserving use cases in DeFi, identity, and secure data processing that were previously impractical on transparent public blockchains.
When Did Zama Launch?
Zama was founded in 2020 as an open-source cryptography company with a mission to make Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) practical for blockchain, AI, and privacy-preserving applications. The project was co-founded by Dr. Rand Hindi and Dr. Pascal Paillier, both experts in privacy and cryptographic technologies, and has grown into a team of world-renowned cryptographers and engineers focused on solving privacy challenges in decentralized systems.
Since its inception, Zama has made steady progress: it raised significant funding, including a $73 million Series A in 2024 and a $57 million Series B in 2025 that valued the company over $1 billion, marking it as a leader in FHE technology. In 2025, Zama also unveiled the Zama Confidential Blockchain Protocol, launched a public testnet, and began onboarding developers to build private smart contracts using FHE tools like FHEVM.
Zama Roadmap
• 2020 – Company founded by Rand Hindi and Pascal Paillier.
• 2024 – Major Series A funding ($73 M) accelerates R&D.
• 2025 Q2 – Series B funding and launch of Zama Confidential Blockchain Protocol.
• 2025 Mid-Late – Public testnet live; tooling such as FHEVM available for developers.
• Q4 2025 – Subsidized mainnet rollout planned.
• H1 2026 – ZAMA token generation event (TGE) and expansion to additional EVM chains.
• 2026 – Broader ecosystem support, including Solana and further blockchain integrations.
What Is the ZAMA Token Used for?
The $ZAMA token is the native utility token of the Zama Confidential Blockchain Protocol, designed to power the confidential computing ecosystem built on top of existing blockchains. It is primarily used to pay for protocol fees, such as verifying encrypted inputs, decrypting ciphertexts, and bridging encrypted assets, and to stake with network operators who secure and run the protocol.
The token follows a burn-and-mint economic model, where fees paid in $ZAMA are burned and new tokens are minted to reward operators and stakers, helping align incentives and secure network operations. Additionally, $ZAMA plays a role in governance and protocol parameter decisions as the ecosystem grows.
You can trade Zama on the
BingX Futures market by opening the
ZAMA/USDT perpetual contract. You simply need to transfer
USDT to your Futures wallet, choose your position size and leverage, and place a long or short order based on your market view, allowing you to profit from both rising and falling ZAMA prices without owning the token directly.
What Is Zama Tokenomics?
$ZAMA is the native token of the Zama Confidential Blockchain Protocol. It is designed to fund encrypted computation at scale while keeping the network economically self-sustaining. ZAMA is used for protocol fees and staking, and it follows a burn-and-mint model: 100% of all fees paid by users are burned, while new ZAMA tokens are minted to reward network operators who run the protocol and keep transactions confidential.
What users pay for in USD-stable pricing:
• Encrypting data: $0.005–$0.50
• Reading private balances: $0.001–$0.10
• Cross-chain confidential transfers: $0.01–$1 - Heavy users get up to 100× discounts, keeping costs predictable even if ZAMA’s price changes.
How Rewards Work on Zama
Zama uses Delegated Proof-of-Stake with operators, KMS nodes and FHE coprocessors, running encrypted computation. Coprocessors earn higher rewards for heavier compute, while KMS nodes earn less with lower costs. ZAMA holders can stake and delegate to these operators to earn rewards.
If privacy adoption scales, e.g., 10% of crypto transactions become confidential, Zama could generate over $1 billion in annual fees, all of which are burned, making ZAMA a usage-driven crypto asset tied directly to demand for encrypted on-chain activity.
How Does Zama Differ From Other Privacy-Focused Crypto Projects?
Zama is fundamentally different from most
privacy-focused crypto projects because it uses Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) instead of techniques like
zero-knowledge proofs or private sidechains. With FHE, data stays encrypted even while it is being processed, meaning smart contracts can run on sensitive information without ever revealing it to validators, nodes, or the public. This allows Zama to bring true confidentiality to existing blockchains like Ethereum without sacrificing composability or transparency of execution.
Most other privacy projects either hide transactions after the fact or move activity to separate privacy chains, which breaks interoperability and limits real-world adoption. Zama instead acts as a privacy layer for the entire crypto ecosystem, enabling confidential DeFi, private balances, encrypted
AI agents, and compliant on-chain finance on top of public networks. This makes Zama suitable not just for anonymous payments, but for enterprise-grade, regulated, and data-sensitive blockchain applications.
What Blockchain Network Does Zama Operate on?
Zama does not run as a standalone blockchain; instead, it operates as a confidentiality layer on top of existing blockchains, starting with EVM-compatible networks like Ethereum and its Layer-2s. Through its FHEVM and Confidential Blockchain Protocol, Zama enables encrypted smart contracts and private transactions to run directly on public chains, allowing developers to add privacy to DeFi, AI, and Web3 applications without leaving their existing blockchain ecosystems.
Which Wallets Support ZAMA Tokens?
Once the $ZAMA token is officially listed, the easiest place to store and manage your tokens is directly on your BingX wallet. After purchasing ZAMA on the BingX Spot market, your tokens will be securely held in your BingX account wallet, where you can view your balance, transfer to other supported wallets, or trade easily without needing to import private keys.
For external
self-custody, ZAMA will be supported by major
EVM-compatible wallets that allow custom token additions and interact with Ethereum-based assets. This includes popular options like
MetaMask,
Trust Wallet,
Base App, and similar
Web3 wallets. Simply add the ZAMA token contract address to view and manage your holdings, and connect to decentralized applications that support Zama’s ecosystem.
Is Zama (ZAMA) a Good Investment?
Zama (ZAMA) can be seen as a compelling investment candidate because it tackles a critical and growing market need, on-chain privacy and confidential computation, using cutting-edge Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), a technology few blockchain projects have successfully operationalized; its burn-and-mint economic model ties token supply to actual network usage rather than speculation, meaning increased demand for confidential transactions and encrypted dApps directly fuels protocol value, while staking and delegation incentivize long-term participation.
Additionally, by functioning as a privacy layer compatible with major EVM networks, Zama is positioned to attract developers and enterprises seeking regulatory-compliant confidentiality, potentially driving real utility and adoption that underpin sustainable token demand.