PGPZ Files to Lobby on CLARITY Act and Tax Proposals

The privacy-focused Zcash ecosystem has taken a formal step into US policy corridors. Pretty Good Policy for Zcash (PGPZ), an advocacy organization dedicated to representing the cryptocurrency in Washington, submitted a lobbying registration that took effect on October 1. The filing names Divij Pandya, the group's executive director, as its sole registered lobbyist.

Among the legislative matters PGPZ lists as current or anticipated areas of engagement are the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act—commonly referred to as the CLARITY Act—alongside two separate digital asset tax proposals. By targeting both market-structure and taxation frameworks, the group signals an intent to influence the broader regulatory architecture rather than a single bill.

Origins, Funding, and Institutional Backing

PGPZ was established in June of this year as a spin-off from Pretty Good Policy for Crypto, an earlier initiative launched in 2022 by Electric Coin Co., the company behind Zcash. The predecessor program had already built a track record in the capital, hosting policy roundtables in Washington and organizing a congressional briefing on encryption technologies in 2023.

In August, the Zcash Community Grants program approved a $750,000 award to cover PGPZ's first year of operations, providing the financial foundation for its lobbying activities.

Brigner: Ensuring Zcash Is Represented in Policy Debates

Paul Brigner, who founded PGPZ and serves as chief policy and regulatory officer at ZODL, framed the organization's mission in terms of securing a credible voice for the project in legislative deliberations. He stated that the aim is to ensure Zcash benefits from serious, organized, and credible policy engagement in Washington.

Brigner also emphasized the stakes involved, noting that lawmakers are currently shaping rules that will determine whether privacy-preserving digital cash can continue to exist, be used lawfully, and serve the public interest. According to him, PGPZ exists to make sure Zcash is properly understood, represented, and defended within those policy conversations.