The Zcash Arboretum is a non-normative guide to the mathematics,
cryptography, and engineering of the Zcash protocol. It covers the
foundations of Halo 2 and Orchard, deployed consensus and wallet protocols,
and designs being explored beyond them. The protocol specification,
applicable ZIPs, and consensus rules remain authoritative.
The order is layered. The Math, Crypto, and Halo 2
Guides construct the foundations. The Consensus, Ironwood,
and Wallet Guides explain the deployed system and its
boundaries. The remaining parts examine the unbuilt FlyClient bridge,
shielded assets, and threshold authorization.
Three reading paths cover most uses. For prerequisites, begin with the first
three parts; readers new to proof systems may start with the worked example
that closes the Halo 2 Guide. For the life of a shielded payment, read
Ironwood, then Wallet and Consensus. For
proposed changes, read the relevant frontier part only after its lower-layer
dependencies. Each part restarts its own section numbering so that citations
agree with the separately published volume.