What’s Next for Zcash After Electric Coin Company Exodus and New CEO?
Zcash, a leading privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has experienced steep declines in recent weeks, falling by double digits month-on-month in the wake of upheaval at its founding nonprofit. The Electric Coin Company (ECC), which created Zcash, lost its entire core team after board disagreements over the nonprofit's direction. Former CEO Josh Swihart and his colleagues plan to launch cashZ, focusing on Zcash development and privacy, while ECC appointed Steve Smith, formerly of Worldcoin developer Tools for Humanity, as interim CEO—a move that has faced community criticism due to privacy concerns. Despite recent declines, Zcash remains up over 600% year-on-year, though on-chain activity has dropped sharply since its November 2025 peak, with transparent transactions down 79% and shielded transactions down 60%. Zcash’s future depends on new leadership’s ability to balance growth and privacy. Prediction markets are bearish, with a 61% chance Zcash will fall to $250 next. Broader market trends, including regulatory uncertainty, are also impacting Zcash and other privacy coins.
