ViaBTC responds to reports that it "controls over 51% of Zcash hashrate”

ViaBTC responded officially to reports by media outlets and the Coinbase security team that it "controls over 51% of Zcash hashrate” with the following press release.

We would like to clarify recent discussions that “ViaBTC controls over 51% of Zcash hashrate”. As of September 21, 2023, Zcash hashrates distributed across ViaBTC have indeed exceeded 51% of the total Zcash hashing power, according to on-chain statistics. We know that the community sees 51% attacks as a Sword of Damocles hanging over the crypto space. As a member of the PoW community, we fully understand the concerns and unease about the excessive concentration of Zcash hashrate within one mining pool.
 
First and foremost, the report that “ViaBTC controls over 51% of Zcash hashrate” is not accurate. ViaBTC itself does not control over 51% of Zcash hashrate, as we do not own all the hashrates connected to our platform. In fact, they are owned and controlled by individual Zcash miners running mining rigs. ViaBTC’s share in Zcash hashrate, therefore, is not up to us. In an open, inclusive space, any Zcash miner may join ViaBTC Pool or switch to another pool at any moment. Technically speaking, ViaBTC merely hosts the Zcash hashrates for a temporary period.
 
It must be reiterated that ViaBTC contributes to the PoW community and maintains blockchain networks as a mining pool operator running a neutral technical service platform. This has been the case since our inception in 2016. As a member of the PoW community, we are keenly aware of how the risks of a 51% attack threaten blockchain security and integrity. As a technical service platform dedicated to PoW pools, we have neither the motivation nor the ability to gather hashrates and launch a 51% attack.
 
Finally, as one of the earliest pools to support Zcash, ViaBTC Pool is deeply indebted to the Zcash miners who have supported and trusted us even amidst hashrate swings. User experience will continue to be our top priority. We aim to offer global miners more abundant supporting tools, stabler and more efficient mining services, and better product experiences.
 
Going forward, ViaBTC will stay loyal to its “Via Blockchain, Making the World a Better Place” mission, as we strive to safeguard blockchain security with the PoW community. We pledge zero tolerance towards any malicious acts. This is not just our responsibility as an industry player, but also our commitment to our valued users and the broader blockchain community.
 
We welcome the media and the community to monitor our actions and stay open to dialogues on any concerns. Let us jointly advance blockchain progress. Once again, we thank you for your attention and support of Zcash and ViaBTC.