ZIGChain v5 Redenomination
TL;DR: ZIGChain v5 changes the native base unit from uzig (6 decimals) to azig (18 decimals) at 1 uzig = 10¹² azig. One ZIG remains one ZIG. Balances rescale automatically at the upgrade height. You do not need to claim, convert, or migrate anything.
Overview
ZIGChain v5 redenomination updates how the chain stores the smallest unit of native ZIG. The display symbol stays ZIG. Your wallet, staking position, and Hub balances show the same ZIG amount before and after the upgrade.
This is not a token split, not a new asset, and not a supply or economic change. Only the base denomination and precision change on chain. For native ZIG that left ZIGChain over IBC before the upgrade and returns afterward, see Returning ZIG After v5 below.
For the native asset overview see The ZIG Token. For how fees work after the change see Gas Fees on ZIGChain. For wallets and sends see ZIGChain Accounts.
Key Concepts
- ZIG: The human-readable symbol wallets and apps show. It does not change with v5.
- uzig: The pre-v5 base denomination. One ZIG equals 10⁶ uzig (6 decimal places).
- azig: The post-v5 base denomination. One ZIG equals 10¹⁸ azig (18 decimal places).
- Redenomination: An on-chain rescale at the upgrade height. Integer balances multiply by 10¹² so the ZIG value is unchanged.
- Gas price: The fee per gas unit, expressed in the base denom. The ZIG cost of typical transactions stays equivalent; the azig number is larger because each azig is a smaller slice of one ZIG.
What Changes
| Item | Before v5 | After v5 |
|---|---|---|
| Display symbol | ZIG | ZIG |
| Base denom | uzig | azig |
| Decimals | 6 | 18 |
| 1 ZIG in base units | 1,000,000 uzig | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 azig |
| Conversion | — | 1 uzig = 10¹² azig |
Example: A wallet that showed 100 ZIG before the upgrade still shows 100 ZIG after. On chain, 100,000,000 uzig becomes 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 azig.
What You Need to Do
For most holders, nothing:
- Keep using ZIG as usual. Stake, vote, bridge, and send from your wallet or the Hub.
- No claim or migration. The chain rescales your balance, delegations, and unbonding entries at the upgrade height.
- Update apps only if prompted. Wallets and explorers may release a refresh for the new base denom (
azig). Until then, many apps continue to display ZIG correctly. - CLI and scripts: Use
azigin amounts and--gas-pricesafter the upgrade. See ZIGChain Accounts for updated examples.
Gas Fees After v5
Gas still works the same way: fee = gas limit × gas price, paid in native ZIG.
Because azig is 10¹² times smaller than uzig, gas prices in CLI and node config use larger azig numbers for the same ZIG fee. Wallets typically show the fee in ZIG so day-to-day costs look familiar.
For detail see Gas Fees on ZIGChain.
Returning ZIG After v5
This applies only to native ZIG that left ZIGChain over IBC before the v5 upgrade. ZIG already on ZIGChain, ZIG sent after v5, and non-ZIG assets are not affected.
When pre-upgrade ZIG returns over a classic ICS-20 channel, ZIGChain converts escrowed uzig to azig before the transfer completes. Most users see the expected ZIG balance and take no action.
Receive on ZIGChain first. Do not forward pre-upgrade ZIG through ZIGChain in one multi-hop transfer (packet-forward). Complete the return to your ZIGChain address, then send onward in a separate transfer if needed.
If something goes wrong:
- Receive rejected: If conversion cannot complete, the entire receive reverts and tokens stay on the sending chain. Retry with a direct transfer to your ZIGChain address.
- Refund stays as uzig: On a refund path, funds may settle as uzig instead of azig. Do not chain another forward — contact ZIGChain community support.
These rules apply only while escrowed pre-upgrade uzig can still return. Once that escrow is drained, all native ZIG travels as azig. For Hub bridging after v5 see ZIGChain Bridge.
Common Questions
Will I lose ZIG in the upgrade?
No. The redenomination only changes how amounts are expressed in base units. One ZIG before equals one ZIG after.
Do I need to swap or bridge my ZIG?
No. Native ZIG on ZIGChain rescales automatically. Bridged or escrowed ZIG that left the chain before the upgrade follows the rules in Returning ZIG After v5.
Will staked or unbonding ZIG change?
No. Staked and unbonding positions keep the same ZIG value. Only the underlying base-unit integers rescale.
Is this a new token or ticker?
No. The asset is still native ZIG with symbol ZIG. Only the smallest on-chain unit changes from uzig to azig.
Why move to 18 decimals?
Eighteen decimals align native ZIG with common precision used across Cosmos, EVM, and IBC ecosystems, and simplify cross-chain integrations without changing the economic meaning of one ZIG.