zcashd API Migration Guide

zcashd is retired. For every public API method it exposes, an operator migrating away from it needs one question answered: who owns this now?

This page is that record. For each of the 135 RPC methods zcashd 6.20.0 registers, plus its ZMQ topics, REST interface, and notification hooks, it names the component that owns the API method now, the method that replaces it, or the reason it was retired.

It is a statement of ownership, not a feature comparison. “Zebra owns getblockchaininfo” means Zebra is where that API method lives from now on; it does not promise byte-identical responses. Where Zebra diverges from zcashd, the Notes column says how.

This page describes Zebra 7.0.0-rc.0 and Zallet 0.1.0-beta.3. Zallet releases after 0.1.0-beta.3 read chain data only from Zebra; see Running Zallet with Zebra for what that requires of zebrad.

Where the boundary falls today

Outcome	Methods	Share
Available from Zebra	36	27%
Available from Zallet	27	20%
Replaced by another method	21	16%
Planned	18	13%
Deferred	6	4%
Undecided	2	1%
Retired	25	19%

84 of the 135 methods (62%) have a working path today: the method itself, or a replacement that does the same job.

How to read the table

Method

Links go to the zcashd RPC reference. Methods the generated reference omits are unlinked: the hidden methods, and the wallet-encryption methods, which zcashd only lists in help for an encrypted wallet.

Owner

Who owns the API method now that zcashd is gone.

Owner	Meaning
Zebra	The validator node. Node-level chain, network, mempool, and mining API methods.
Zallet	The `zcashd` wallet replacement. Anything that needs keys or wallet state. Per-method status follows Zallet’s changelog; its JSON-RPC method status page lags it for a few methods.
—	No owner: the method is retired, or its disposition is still open.

Owner names the component that implements the API method. Zallet also serves a few node-level methods, such as getrawtransaction, validateaddress, and z_listunifiedreceivers; where Zebra implements the method too, the row says Zebra.

A marker on the owner records what the zcashd-compat sidecar does with the method during a migration. The sidecar is a temporary bridge, not an owner: an unmarked row buys migration time, it does not remove the need to move to the owner named in the column.

Marker	Meaning
(none)	The sidecar serves it with stock `zcashd` semantics.
†	The sidecar serves it but rejects some inputs — Ironwood always, and Orchard from NU6.3 on. See Wallet shielded-pool support.
*	`zcashd` registers it, but the sidecar build does not. The miner RPCs and `addnode` are removed so a misconfigured miner or peer setup fails loudly.

Status

Whether the API method is available from the owner named in the previous column — not from zcashd.

Status	Meaning
Done	The owner implements it and treats it as a supported API method.
Partial	Implemented, but diverges from `zcashd`. The Notes column says how.
Stub	Registered and returns success, but does nothing.
Replaced	The owner provides a different method or mechanism for the same job; Notes names it.
Planned	The owner has decided to provide it; not shipped yet.
Deferred	Owner assigned; waits on other work named in Notes.
Undecided	Whether the owner will provide it is still open.
Retired	Not provided by anyone; it goes away with `zcashd`. Notes says why.

Note

The table might be outdated. If a method is listed as Planned, Deferred, or Undecided and you need it, check the owner’s current release before concluding it is unavailable.

Decisions and open questions

The dispositions of the zcashd node and utility methods Zebra does not implement are recorded in #11022. Where an older issue decided a row, the Notes column links it. Open questions are tracked in:

#11033: unresolved differences in methods Zebra does implement.
#11027: peer topology and relay-policy controls.
#11281: the v2 P2P protocol, which the deferred peer-control methods wait on.

Keeping this page current

Any PR that adds, removes, or intentionally changes a zcashd-compatible method, field, notification, or integration point updates this page in the same PR. Before each Zebra stable release, the page is checked against the owners’ current releases and the version line at the top is updated.

RPC methods

Control

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`getexperimentalfeatures`	—	Retired	Out of scope for a validator node.
`getinfo`	Zebra	Partial	No `timeoffset`. The wallet fields are zcashd-wallet-only and never apply.
`getmemoryinfo`	—	Retired	Out of scope for a validator node.
`help`	Zallet	Done	Zallet serves `help` for its own RPC; Zebra does not.
`setlogfilter`	Zebra	Replaced	Use the tracing `/filter` endpoint (`filter-reload` build feature); see Tracing Zebra.
`stop`	Zebra	Partial	Regtest only. Returns `Zebra server stopping`, not zcashd’s `Zcash server stopping`. #11033

Blockchain

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`getbestblockhash`	Zebra	Done
`getblock`	Zebra	Partial	No `authdataroot`, `chainhistoryroot`, `chainwork`, or `anchor`. The `verbosity` argument must be a number, where zcashd also accepts a bool. Adds `nTx` and an `ironwood` entry in `trees`. Also accepts verbosity `3`, which zcashd rejects: it adds a `prevout` to each transparent input and a `fee` to each non-coinbase transaction.
`getblockchaininfo`	Zebra	Partial	No `initial_block_download_complete` or `softforks`. Some fields are placeholders. #11033
`getblockcount`	Zebra	Done
`getblockdeltas`	—	Retired	Block-explorer index, out of scope for a validator node. Build on the indexer gRPC service instead.
`getblockhash`	Zebra	Done
`getblockhashes`	—	Retired	Block-explorer index, out of scope for a validator node. Build on the indexer gRPC service instead. #8436
`getblockheader`	Zebra	Partial	No `chainwork`, which is undocumented in zcashd. Adds `blockcommitments`.
`getchaintips`	Zebra	Planned	#10666
`getdifficulty`	Zebra	Partial	Computed from the high 128 bits of the expanded difficulty instead of zcashd’s `f64` division; the two agree to `f64` precision. Errors where zcashd returns `1.0` on a chain too short to measure.
`getmempoolinfo`	Zebra	Partial	The regtest-only key is spelled `fully_notified`; zcashd spells it `fullyNotified`.
`getrawmempool`	Zebra	Done
`getspentinfo`	Zebra	Planned	Will use the spending-transaction index from Zebra’s `indexer` build feature.
`gettxout`	Zebra	Done
`gettxoutproof`	Zebra	Planned	Decision
`gettxoutsetinfo`	—	Retired	Block-explorer index, out of scope for a validator node. Build on the indexer gRPC service instead.
`verifychain`	—	Retired	Out of scope for a validator node.
`verifytxoutproof`	Zebra	Planned	Decision
`z_getsubtreesbyindex`	Zebra	Done
`z_gettreestate`	Zebra	Partial	Each pool reports `finalState` only — no `finalRoot` or `skipHash`. `sprout` is omitted when empty, where zcashd always emits it. Adds `ironwood`. #11033

Address index

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`getaddressbalance`	Zebra	Done
`getaddressdeltas`	—	Retired	Block-explorer index, out of scope for a validator node. Build on the indexer gRPC service instead. #8440
`getaddressmempool`	—	Retired	Block-explorer index, out of scope for a validator node. Build on the indexer gRPC service instead.
`getaddresstxids`	Zebra	Done
`getaddressutxos`	Zebra	Done

Mining

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`getblocksubsidy`	Zebra	Done
`getblocktemplate`	Zebra*	Done	Superset: adds `maxtime` and `submitold`. `capabilities` and `mutable` match zcashd, and long polling and proposal mode are both implemented.
`getlocalsolps`	—	Retired	Out of scope for a validator node.
`getmininginfo`	Zebra	Partial	No `difficulty`, `errors`, `errorstimestamp`, `genproclimit`, `localsolps`, `pooledtx`, or `generate`.
`getnetworkhashps`	Zebra	Done	Deprecated alias for `getnetworksolps`, in both zcashd and Zebra.
`getnetworksolps`	Zebra	Done
`prioritisetransaction`	Zebra	Planned	Decision
`submitblock`	Zebra*	Partial	Returns only `null`, `duplicate`, or `rejected`. zcashd also returns `duplicate-invalid`, `duplicate-inconclusive`, `inconclusive`, and the specific BIP-22 reject reason in place of a bare `rejected`.

Generating

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`generate`	Zebra*	Done	Regtest only, as in zcashd.
`getgenerate`	—*	Retired	Controls zcashd’s built-in CPU miner. Mine with `getblocktemplate` and `submitblock`.
`setgenerate`	—*	Retired	Controls zcashd’s built-in CPU miner. Mine with `getblocktemplate` and `submitblock`.

Network

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`addnode`	Zebra*	Partial	Regtest only, and only the `add` command. #10329
`clearbanned`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).
`disconnectnode`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).
`getaddednodeinfo`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).
`getconnectioncount`	Zebra	Replaced	Use `connections` from `getnetworkinfo` or `getinfo`.
`getdeprecationinfo`	Zebra	Partial	Only `end_of_service`. No `version`, `subversion`, `deprecated_features`, or `disabled_features`.
`getnettotals`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).
`getnetworkinfo`	Zebra	Partial	No `warningstimestamp`. `localaddresses` and `warnings` are empty. #11030
`getpeerinfo`	Zebra	Partial	10 of zcashd’s 24 per-peer fields; Zebra’s peer set does not track the rest. Adds `connection_state`.
`listbanned`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).
`ping`	Zebra	Stub	Intentional (#11028): Zebra already pings every peer about once a minute, so `getpeerinfo`’s `pingtime` and `pingwait` stay current without an explicit ping.
`setban`	Zebra	Deferred	Deferred to the v2 P2P protocol (#11281).

Raw transactions

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`createrawtransaction`	Zallet	Replaced	Use Zallet’s PCZT methods (`pczt_create`, `pczt_prove`, `pczt_sign`, `pczt_extract`) instead. #8952
`decoderawtransaction`	Zallet	Done	Not implemented in Zebra. #8645
`decodescript`	Zallet	Done
`fundrawtransaction`	Zallet	Replaced	Use Zallet’s PCZT methods instead.
`getrawtransaction`	Zebra	Partial	`vout` omits `valueSat`, and the `-spentindex` fields (`spentTxId`, `spentIndex`, `spentHeight`) are absent. P2PK outputs have an empty `addresses` list (#9671). Adds `ironwood`.
`sendrawtransaction`	Zebra	Partial	`allowhighfees` is accepted and ignored.
`signrawtransaction`	Zallet	Replaced	Use Zallet’s PCZT methods instead.

Util

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`createmultisig`	Zallet	Planned
`validateaddress`	Zebra	Partial	No `scriptPubKey`. Adds `isscript`.
`verifymessage`	Zallet	Done	Not implemented in Zebra. #8947
`z_validateaddress`	Zebra	Partial	Emits `address_type` but not zcashd’s deprecated `type` alias. No `diversifier` or `diversifiedtransmissionkey` (Sapling), or `payingkey` or `transmissionkey` (Sprout). `ismine` is always false.

Wallet

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`addmultisigaddress`	Zallet	Planned
`backupwallet`	—	Retired	Not planned as a Zallet RPC; may become a Zallet CLI command.
`dumpprivkey`	—	Retired	Not planned by Zallet.
`encryptwallet`	Zallet	Replaced	Key material is always encrypted from wallet setup; use `walletpassphrase`/`walletlock`.
`getbalance`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_getbalanceforaccount` instead.
`getnewaddress`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_getnewaccount` + `z_getaddressforaccount`.
`getrawchangeaddress`	—	Retired	Not needed: Zallet derives change addresses internally.
`getreceivedbyaddress`	Zallet	Planned
`gettransaction`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_viewtransaction` instead.
`getunconfirmedbalance`	Zallet	Planned
`getwalletinfo`	Zallet	Partial	Balance fields are not populated. `unlocked_until`, `mnemonic_seedfp`, and `mnemonic_seedfps` are real; the remaining fields are placeholders.
`importaddress`	Zallet	Replaced	Use the `zallet import-address` CLI command, or `z_importaddress`.
`importprivkey`	Zallet	Planned
`importpubkey`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_importaddress`.
`importwallet`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_importkey` per key, or `zallet migrate-zcashd-wallet`.
`keypoolrefill`	—	Retired	Not needed: Zallet has no key pool.
`listaddresses`	Zallet	Done
`listaddressgroupings`	—	Retired	Not planned by Zallet.
`listlockunspent`	Zallet	Planned
`listreceivedbyaddress`	Zallet	Planned
`listsinceblock`	Zallet	Planned
`listtransactions`	Zallet	Planned	Available today as the account-scoped `z_listtransactions`.
`listunspent`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_listunspent` instead.
`lockunspent`	Zallet	Planned
`sendmany`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_sendmany` or `z_sendfromaccount`.
`sendtoaddress`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_sendfromaccount`; `z_sendmany` covers most uses too.
`settxfee`	—	Retired	Not needed: ZIP 317 fees are always used.
`signmessage`	Zallet	Done	Shipped in 0.1.0-beta.3; Zallet’s status page still lists it as not implemented.
`walletconfirmbackup`	Zallet	Replaced	Internal to zcashd; use the `zallet confirm-backup` command.
`walletlock`	Zallet	Done	Unlocks and re-locks the key store.
`walletpassphrase`	Zallet	Done	Unlocks and re-locks the key store.
`walletpassphrasechange`	Zallet	Undecided
`z_converttex`	Zebra	Done	Zallet implements it too.
`z_exportkey`	Zallet	Done
`z_exportviewingkey`	Zallet	Done	Shipped in 0.1.0-beta.2; Zallet’s status page still lists it as not implemented.
`z_exportwallet`	Zallet	Planned	Planned as a ZeWIF export, likely a CLI command.
`z_getaddressforaccount`	Zallet	Done
`z_getbalance`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_getbalanceforaccount` instead.
`z_getbalanceforaccount`	Zallet	Done
`z_getbalanceforviewingkey`	Zallet	Replaced	Imported viewing keys get accounts, so `z_getbalanceforaccount` covers them.
`z_getmigrationstatus`	—	Retired	Sprout migration; Zallet does not support Sprout. May be revisited for a future pool migration.
`z_getnewaccount`	Zallet	Done
`z_getnewaddress`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_getnewaccount` + `z_getaddressforaccount`.
`z_getnotescount`	Zallet	Done
`z_getoperationresult`	Zallet	Done
`z_getoperationstatus`	Zallet	Done
`z_gettotalbalance`	Zallet	Done	Deprecated; `include_watchonly = false` is not honored yet. Prefer `z_getbalanceforaccount`.
`z_importkey`	Zallet	Done	Sapling extended spending keys only.
`z_importviewingkey`	Zallet	Done	Sapling extended full viewing keys only. Shipped in 0.1.0-beta.2; Zallet’s status page still lists it as not implemented.
`z_importwallet`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `z_importkey` per key, or `zallet migrate-zcashd-wallet`.
`z_listaccounts`	Zallet	Done
`z_listaddresses`	Zallet	Replaced	Use `listaddresses` instead.
`z_listoperationids`	Zallet	Done
`z_listreceivedbyaddress`	Zallet	Planned
`z_listunifiedreceivers`	Zebra	Done	Zallet implements it too.
`z_listunspent`	Zallet	Done
`z_mergetoaddress`	Zallet†	Planned
`z_sendmany`	Zallet†	Done
`z_setmigration`	—	Retired	Sprout migration; Zallet does not support Sprout. May be revisited for a future pool migration.
`z_shieldcoinbase`	Zallet†	Done
`z_viewtransaction`	Zallet	Done
`zcbenchmark`	—	Retired	Out of scope for a validator node.
`zcsamplejoinsplit`	—	Retired	Sprout-only.

Disclosure

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`z_getpaymentdisclosure`	—	Retired	Sprout-only, like `z_validatepaymentdisclosure`.
`z_validatepaymentdisclosure`	—	Retired	Sprout-only. #8443

Hidden

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`dumpwallet`	—	Retired	Already removed from zcashd. Zallet plans a ZeWIF export (`z_exportwallet`) instead.
`invalidateblock`	Zebra	Done
`reconsiderblock`	Zebra	Partial	Returns the reconsidered block hashes; zcashd returns null. #11033
`resendwallettransactions`	Zallet	Undecided
`setmocktime`	—	Retired	Test-only; out of scope for a validator node.

Zebra-only methods

API methods Zebra adds that zcashd never had. Listed so this page describes the whole RPC boundary, not only a zcashd subset. None of them exist in zcashd or the sidecar.

Method	Owner	Status	Notes
`getbestblockheightandhash`	Zebra	Done	Tip height and hash in one call, so a caller cannot read a torn pair across two requests.
`getstandardfee`	Zebra	Done	Returns `{standard_fee, version}`: the ZIP 317 marginal fee per logical action, in zatoshis, for the next block. The value depends on the next block’s height (#11557).
`generatetoaddress`	Zebra	Done	Regtest only. Like `generate`, but pays the coinbase to a given address instead of the configured `mining.miner_address`, which lets one node fund several test wallets.
`rpc.discover`	Zebra	Done	OpenRPC schema for every Zebra RPC method.

Notification transports

zcashd publishes chain and mempool events over ZMQ. Zebra does not implement ZMQ today; publishing the zcashd topics is proposed in #10881, #11034, and #11036.

Zebra’s equivalent is the indexer gRPC service (zebra-rpc/proto/indexer.proto). It streams best-chain tip changes (ChainTipChange), non-finalized blocks (NonFinalizedStateChange), and mempool additions, invalidations, and mined transactions (MempoolChange), and serves single blocks (GetBlock). Enable it by setting indexer_listen_addr in the [rpc] section of zebrad.toml. It has no authentication, so bind it to a loopback or private address. Zallet uses this service; see Running Zallet with Zebra.

`zcashd` topic	Owner	Status	Notes
`zmqpubhashblock`	Zebra	Replaced	Indexer `ChainTipChange` stream (hash and height), or `block_notify_command`. ZMQ publishing is proposed in #10881.
`zmqpubrawblock`	Zebra	Replaced	Indexer `NonFinalizedStateChange` stream. #11034
`zmqpubhashtx`	Zebra	Replaced	Indexer `MempoolChange` stream. #11036
`zmqpubrawtx`	Zebra	Replaced	Indexer `MempoolChange` stream plus `getrawtransaction`. #11036

Other integration points

Integration point	Owner	Status	Notes
REST interface (`-rest`, `/rest/*`)	—	Undecided	JSON-RPC is the supported HTTP interface. #11022
`-blocknotify` hook	Zebra	Done	`block_notify_command` in the `[notify]` section of `zebrad.toml`; `%s` is replaced by the new tip’s hash. Runs only once the node is close to the network tip. #10726
`-txexpirynotify` hook	—	Undecided	No hook. The indexer `MempoolChange` stream reports expired transactions as invalidated, without distinguishing expiry from other removals.
`-walletnotify` hook	Zallet	Done	`notify` in the `[external]` section of Zallet’s config; `%s` is replaced by the transaction ID. `zallet migrate-zcash-conf` maps `walletnotify` to it.
`-alertnotify` hook	—	Retired	The Zcash alert system is retired; `zcashd` no longer sends alerts.

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