Zcash Price Slides as Developer Activity Hits Multi-Year Low

Zcash price is down 4% in the last 24 hours, trading at $423, after developer activity for Zcash falls to its lowest level since November 2021, as ongoing governance tensions and a sharp price decline weigh on the ecosystem.

Data from Santiment shows that Zcash development activity has dropped to its lowest level since November 2021, coinciding with a roughly 40% price decline over the past two months. Santiment noted that altcoins tend to thrive when development efforts are strong, while reduced activity can contribute to stagnation and market underperformance.

The slowdown comes amid a dispute between the Electric Coin Company (ECC), Zcash’s main development team, and Bootstrap, the non-profit supporting the protocol. ECC recently announced plans to separate from Bootstrap and form a new company, citing what it called “malicious governance actions.”

📊 Unless you lived under a crypto rock, you likely watched the headlines pour in about Zcash in late 2025. The decade-old privacy coin multiplied its market cap by ~15x between September 22nd and November 16th.

🧑‍💻 However, we have been watching $ZEC‘s development activity… pic.twitter.com/MORo1sD7ix

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) January 8, 2026

Bootstrap responded that board members had discussed external investments and alternative structures to privatize Zashi, Zcash’s self-custodial wallet for private transactions. In response, ECC announced it is developing a new wallet, cashZ, set to launch in the coming weeks.

Despite the conflict, the Zcash Foundation reassured investors that the protocol’s open-source design ensures continuity and resilience, preventing any single organization from controlling the blockchain. However, the market has reacted negatively, with ZEC losing 14% over the past week and trading near $433 at the time of reporting.

Institutional investors and whales, however, remain active. Nansen data shows whales added $1.17 million in ZEC last week, while new wallets accumulated $2.14 million. Meanwhile, Zcash competitor Monero surpassed ZEC in market capitalization, reclaiming its position as the leading privacy-focused cryptocurrency. The combination of governance tensions, declining development, and competitive pressures highlights ongoing challenges for Zcash’s ecosystem.

Zcash Eyes Bullish Recovery as Parabolic Bottom Forms

Zcash has been recovering after a strong price surge that started around September 2025. The coin reached a high of $750–$800 before dropping to around $400, where it is now trading. The chart shows a parabolic bullish reversal pattern forming, which looks like a cup or curved bottom.

There is a key resistance zone between $500 and $550. The price needs to break above this level to confirm the next bullish move. If Zcash clears this resistance, the next target could be its previous high around $750–$800. The parabolic shape on the chart indicates that the upward move could accelerate once the resistance is broken, which would signal a stronger rally.

ZECUSD Chart Analysis. Source: Tradingview

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is around 40, which is near oversold territory. This shows that the coin has been sold heavily recently, and buyers may step in soon. If the RSI rises above 50–55, it would indicate growing buying momentum and increase the chances of the bullish reversal succeeding.

Support is currently near $400, making it an important level to watch. If the price holds above this support, it could provide a good entry point for traders looking to ride the next upward move. Breaking the resistance around $500–$550 is the main condition for the next rally.

The parabolic bottom pattern and oversold RSI support the possibility of a price recovery. Traders should watch for a breakout above $500–$550 as confirmation, which could open the way for a rally toward $750–$800. Until then, $400 remains a key support level to monitor.

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