Which node now runs ZEC mainnet?

Zcash (ZEC) now runs its main network (mainnet) on Zebra, a full-node software written in Rust that the community actively maintains and improves. The recent Zebra 3.1 upgrade, highlighted in a market update from The Block, shows ongoing support and development (see the Zebra 3.1 upgrade).

1. Zebra is the official full node for Zcash, marking the project’s shift to Rust-based software.
2. Updates like Zebra 3.1 demonstrate continued maintenance and support for the mainnet.

Deep Dive

1. Zebra as the Mainnet Node

Zebra is the current full-node software running Zcash’s mainnet and is actively developed by the community. A recent year-end privacy report confirms the rollout of Zebra 3.1, reinforcing that Zebra is the main client used to operate the network (see the Zebra 3.1 upgrade).

What this means: If you run Zcash infrastructure or need to sync with the network, you should use Zebra to stay compatible with the mainnet.

2. Why Zebra and Why Now

The move to Zebra reflects a choice to use Rust, a modern programming language known for safety and performance, for Zcash’s core software. Public updates about Zebra 3.1 highlight that this client is where all mainnet upgrades and fixes happen (see the Zebra 3.1 upgrade).

• Rust helps prevent many common software bugs and supports fast network operations.
• Focusing on one modern client makes it easier to roll out network updates smoothly.
• Regular releases show active work to keep the network secure and compatible.

What this means: Future Zcash network improvements will target Zebra first, so operators should follow Zebra’s updates closely.

Conclusion

Zebra is the official full node for Zcash’s mainnet today. The recent Zebra 3.1 release confirms ongoing maintenance and improvements. For anyone running or integrating with Zcash, keeping up with Zebra releases is the best way to stay in sync with the network.

What are people saying about ZEC?

Zcash conversations are swinging between excitement about privacy features and debates over technical challenges. Here’s what’s trending right now:

1. $10K price prediction – A community paper suggests that Zcash’s private transactions could justify a price above $10,000 🚀
2. Key price levels tested – Traders are watching to see if Zcash breaks through $550 resistance or falls back to $400 📉
3. Whale activity – Over $91 million worth of ZEC was moved off Binance, signaling big investors are buying 🐋
4. Regulation concerns – Opinions vary on whether Zcash’s selective privacy features will hold up under regulatory scrutiny 🛡️

Deep Dive

1. @Kitnikit: “ZEC at $10K via shielded adoption”

“Bitcoin’s transparency is a flaw, while Zcash’s optional privacy is its strength... institutions want privacy that still meets compliance.”
– @Kitnikit (1.4K followers · 9.4K impressions · 2025-12-29 09:01 UTC)
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What this means: This is a positive long-term outlook. As more institutions look for ways to keep transactions private but still follow regulations, Zcash’s “shielded” transactions (which hide details) are becoming an important growth indicator. About 29% of ZEC supply is shielded now.

2. @earlyadopterz: “$454 breakout or $400 retest”

“If ZEC breaks above $454, it could climb higher. If it falls below $434, expect a dip to $420. The daily momentum indicators suggest more price swings ahead.”
– @earlyadopterz (7K followers · 18K impressions · 2025-12-20 14:23 UTC)
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What this means: The short-term outlook is neutral. Currently priced at $532, ZEC needs to stay above $520 support (which was a previous resistance level) to avoid profit-taking that could push it down to the $480-$500 range.

3. @EyeOnChain: “Whales pull $91M ZEC off exchanges”

“Two large holders moved 202,000 ZEC off Binance – the biggest over-the-counter trades since November.”
– @EyeOnChain (5.4K followers · 23.8K impressions · 2025-12-20 13:33 UTC)
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What this means: This is a bullish sign for the mid-term. When big investors move coins off exchanges, it usually means they’re holding rather than selling. Combined with Grayscale’s ZEC Trust managing $2.1 billion in assets, this points to growing institutional interest.

4. @cryptodotnews: “Regulatory sword of Damocles”

“Zcash is gaining merchant adoption (886 vendors), but the SEC is closely watching privacy coins.”
– @cryptodotnews (111K followers · 12K impressions · 2025-12-20 07:01 UTC)
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What this means: This is a potential risk. Zcash’s option to reveal transaction details helps it avoid being delisted from exchanges, but new rules like the Travel Rule could limit its growth.

Conclusion

The overall view on Zcash is cautiously optimistic. Its strong privacy technology is attractive, but regulatory uncertainties remain. Whale activity and institutional interest support confidence in ZEC holding above $500, but technical indicators warn the price might be stretched (weekly RSI at 80). Watch the $550-$580 resistance zone closely—a clear breakout could spark renewed excitement about privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, while a rejection might push prices back toward $480. For more detailed data, track shielded transaction growth on Zchain Explorer.

What is the latest news about ZEC?

Zcash is gaining attention thanks to increased privacy demand and big institutional buys, with optimistic price targets. However, technical signals suggest some potential ups and downs ahead.
Latest updates as of December 30, 2025:

1. Cypherpunk’s $29M ZEC Purchase (Dec 30, 2025) – The Nasdaq-listed company boosted its holdings to 1.76% of ZEC’s total supply.
2. Grayscale’s Q4 Privacy Coin Report (Dec 30, 2025) – ZEC stood out as the top performer, with 30% of its coins used in private (shielded) transactions.
3. Arthur Hayes’ $1,000 Price Prediction (Dec 30, 2025) – The former BitMEX CEO remains bullish despite warnings of possible price pullbacks.

In-Depth Look

1. Cypherpunk’s $29M ZEC Purchase (Dec 30, 2025)

What happened:
Cypherpunk Technologies bought 56,418 ZEC for $29 million at about $514 per coin. This brings their total to 290,063 ZEC, or 1.76% of all ZEC coins currently available. The company plans to increase this to 5%, citing a shift in how society values privacy (CoinMarketCap).

Why it matters:
This shows strong institutional confidence in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Zcash. It also means fewer coins are available for trading, which can push prices up. But if Cypherpunk slows down buying, the market could see more price swings.

2. Grayscale’s Q4 Privacy Coin Report (Dec 30, 2025)

What happened:
Grayscale’s quarterly report highlighted Zcash’s 28% price gain in a tough market. This growth is linked to more users adopting shielded addresses, which keep transactions private—now at 30% of ZEC’s supply. Zcash outperformed other sectors like AI and decentralized finance (DeFi), which dropped over 15% in the last quarter (CoinMarketCap).

Why it matters:
Zcash is becoming a popular choice for investors looking to protect their assets during uncertain economic times. However, since only 30% of transactions are shielded, there’s still room for growth—and some critics say the privacy features aren’t fully utilized yet.

3. Arthur Hayes’ $1,000 Price Prediction (Dec 30, 2025)

What happened:
Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, reiterated his prediction that ZEC could reach $1,000. He connects this to Federal Reserve policies and growing demand for shielded transactions. However, recent data shows $8.5 million in short position liquidations and a 13% rise in open interest, indicating a lot of leveraged trading activity (CryptoNewsLand).

Why it matters:
Hayes’ bullish outlook helps build positive momentum, but the $400-$500 price range is a critical support level. If prices fall below this, it could trigger a wave of forced sell-offs, increasing volatility, according to analyst Eric Van Tassel.

Conclusion

Zcash’s comeback in 2025 is driven by growing institutional interest, a strong privacy narrative, and ongoing technical improvements. Still, it faces challenges from market volatility and heavy speculative trading. The big question: Will ZEC’s shielded transactions reach 50% before regulators step in to limit privacy coins? Keep an eye on exchange withdrawals moving to shielded wallets and Grayscale’s ZEC Trust activity for important clues.

What could affect the price of ZEC?

Zcash benefits from growing interest in privacy but faces challenges from regulators.

1. Institutional buying – Cypherpunk’s $29 million purchase shows confidence in Zcash’s private transactions (Cypherpunk)
2. Technology improvements – The Sapling upgrade improves mobile privacy, and the upcoming Zashi 2.0 wallet (due Oct 2025) aims to increase user adoption
3. Regulatory challenges – The SEC’s hesitation on approving a Zcash ETF and the EU’s ban on privacy coins could limit liquidity

Deep Dive

1. Growing Institutional Interest (Positive for Zcash)

Overview:
In December 2025, Cypherpunk Technologies, a Nasdaq-listed company, bought 56,418 ZEC (worth $29 million), aiming to hold about 5% of all Zcash in circulation. Meanwhile, Grayscale’s Zcash Trust assets under management grew by 228% to $136 million since November. Also, over 4.9 million ZEC (about 30% of all coins) are now held in shielded addresses, which protect user privacy—a 25% increase this year.

What this means:
Big investors buying large amounts of ZEC reduces the number of coins available for trading and shows confidence in Zcash’s privacy features. This could push prices higher if demand grows faster than new coins are created (Zcash’s current inflation rate is about 4% per year). However, if these large holders decide to sell suddenly, it could cause price swings.

2. Advances in Privacy Technology (Mixed Outlook)

Overview:
The Sapling upgrade in October 2025 lowered fees for shielded transactions by 30%, and the Zashi wallet now makes privacy the default setting. However, other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are also improving privacy features—Bitcoin with Async Payjoin and Ethereum adopting zk-SNARK technology (Vitalik).

What this means:
These improvements could attract around 2 million new users to Zcash’s shielded transactions by 2026, according to the Zcash Foundation. But competition from other privacy solutions on Layer 2 networks might reduce Zcash’s market share. Staying ahead in zero-knowledge proof technology will be key to maintaining its edge.

3. Regulatory Pressure (Potential Risk)

Overview:
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) postponed its decision on Grayscale’s Zcash ETF until September 2026. Meanwhile, the European Union’s MiCA regulations have banned privacy coins from major exchanges. Despite this, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) now handle 47% of Zcash trading volume, up from 12% in 2024.

What this means:
Regulatory restrictions could limit the number of investors able to buy Zcash, but they might also increase its use for private, off-exchange transactions. Approval of a Zcash ETF would be a major positive development. However, past events like the 65% price drop in Monero (XMR) after Kraken delisted it in 2023 show that regulatory risks remain significant.

Conclusion

Zcash’s goal of reaching $1,000 depends on turning its privacy technology advances into widespread use of shielded transactions while managing regulatory challenges. The recent 357% price increase over 90 days shows strong investor interest, but the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 78 suggests the price may be overextended. For traders, the key question is: Can Zcash’s shielded transaction volume reach 40% before regulators impose stricter controls on privacy features?

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What is expected in the development of ZEC?

Zcash’s roadmap for 2026 focuses on improving privacy features, making the system easier to use, and growing its community and ecosystem.

1. Zashi Wallet 2.0 (Q1 2026) – Enhanced privacy settings by default and the ability to swap coins across different blockchains using NEAR Intents.
2. Ephemeral Address Rollout (Q1 2026) – One-time use addresses for swaps to make transactions harder to trace.
3. Keystone Multisig Support (Q1 2026) – A secure, multi-signature system to manage the developer fund safely.
4. Tachyon Scaling (2026) – A Layer-2 solution to increase transaction speed while keeping privacy intact.

Deep Dive

1. Zashi Wallet 2.0 (Q1 2026)

Overview: The updated Zashi wallet will automatically use shielded transactions, which hide transaction details, and generate temporary addresses for swaps through NEAR Intents (Bitrue). It will also improve the ability to move Zcash across different blockchains smoothly. Currently, over 30% of Zcash (ZEC) is already held in these shielded pools.
What this means: This update is positive for wider adoption because it makes private transactions easier for both everyday users and institutions. However, since exchanges may take time to integrate these features, the immediate impact might be limited.

2. Ephemeral Address Rollout (Q1 2026)

Overview: Every ZEC swap will use a unique transparent address that is only used once. This reduces the chance that transactions can be linked together. This is part of a push to increase the use of shielded transactions, which grew by 20% in 2025 (Coindesk).
What this means: This is generally positive for privacy, but some critics point out that refunds sent to transparent addresses might still reveal some transaction details.

3. Keystone Multisig Support (Q1 2026)

Overview: The introduction of Pay-to-Script-Hash (P2SH) multisignature support will help secure the $18 million developer fund. This fund is managed by the Electric Coin Company (ECC) and community members (MEXC).
What this means: This is a positive step toward transparent and secure governance. However, its success depends on timely implementation. Any delays could raise concerns about centralized control of funds.

4. Tachyon Scaling (2026)

Overview: Project Tachyon aims to increase the number of shielded transactions to thousands per second using a technology called “Oblivious Synchronization.” A test network is already live, with the full launch expected by late 2026 (Bitget).
What this means: This is promising for the long term because it could enable private, programmable contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. However, Zcash faces competition from other privacy coins like Monero and potential regulatory challenges.

Conclusion

Zcash’s 2026 goals focus on making privacy easy to use (Zashi Wallet), trustworthy (multisig fund management), and scalable (Tachyon). The project’s success will depend on balancing regulatory requirements with users’ desire for privacy. A key question is whether shielded transactions will exceed 50% of all ZEC by mid-2026 or if regulatory hurdles will slow progress.

What updates are there in the ZEC code base?

Zcash’s latest updates focus on improving privacy, scaling the network, making nodes more efficient, and enhancing governance.

1. Zebra 3.1.0 Release (December 19, 2025) – Better Docker support and new filters to block spam transactions for node operators.
2. NU6.1 Network Upgrade (November 24, 2025) – Introduces a new funding system that splits grants between the community and coinholders.
3. Ztarknet L2 Rollup Launch (November 14, 2025) – Adds privacy-focused smart contracts using advanced cryptographic proofs.
4. Orchard Protocol Upgrade (October 2025) – Cuts shielded transaction fees by 30%.

Deep Dive

1. Zebra 3.1.0 Release (December 19, 2025)

Overview: This update to Zcash’s node software, written in Rust, improves compatibility with Docker on ARM devices like Apple Silicon. It also adds a filter to block spam transactions that use tiny amounts of coins to clog the network.

What this means: This is good news for Zcash (ZEC) because it helps protect the network from spam attacks and makes it easier for developers to run nodes. This supports a more decentralized and secure network. (Source)

2. NU6.1 Network Upgrade (November 24, 2025)

Overview: This upgrade changes how Zcash funds development. Now, 8% of block rewards go to community grants, and 12% go to a treasury controlled by coinholders for development projects.

What this means: This change gives coinholders more say in how funds are used, which could speed up improvements if their goals match the community’s. However, it also adds some complexity to governance. Overall, this is a neutral update for ZEC. (Source)

3. Ztarknet L2 Rollup Launch (November 14, 2025)

Overview: Ztarknet is a new Layer-2 solution inspired by Starknet technology. It allows for programmable smart contracts that keep transactions private by settling proofs on Zcash’s main blockchain.

What this means: This is a positive development for ZEC because it opens up new decentralized finance (DeFi) possibilities, like private token swaps, without sacrificing Zcash’s strong privacy features. This could attract more developers and users. (Source)

4. Orchard Protocol Upgrade (October 2025)

Overview: The Orchard protocol upgrade makes shielded transactions more efficient, reducing fees by 30% and improving the network’s ability to handle many private transactions.

What this means: Lower fees encourage more people to use shielded transactions, which increases liquidity in Zcash’s privacy pools. This is a positive step for ZEC adoption. (Source)

Conclusion

Zcash’s upgrades in late 2025 focus on making privacy scalable (Ztarknet), improving node performance (Zebra 3.1.0), and involving the community in governance (NU6.1). With 4.5 million ZEC already held in private pools, these improvements strengthen Zcash’s position as a leader in privacy-focused blockchain technology. The big question is whether Layer-2 solutions like Ztarknet will help ZEC become a key player in mainstream decentralized finance.

Why did the price of ZEC fall?

Zcash (ZEC) dropped 3.06% in the last 24 hours, even though it gained 26% over the past week and 23% over the past month. This recent dip matches the overall cautious mood in the crypto market (Fear Index at 29/100) and some technical resistance levels. The main reasons behind this movement are:

1. Profit-Taking by Traders – Many short-term investors are cashing out after ZEC’s impressive 809% increase over the past year.
2. Technical Resistance Levels – The price hit a key Fibonacci level around $521, causing a pullback.
3. Market-Wide Risk-Off Sentiment – Bitcoin’s dominance rose to 59.08%, pulling liquidity away from altcoins like ZEC.

Deep Dive

1. Profit-Taking After a Historic Rally (Bearish Impact)

Overview: ZEC has surged 809% year-over-year and 350% in the last 90 days, reaching a high of $526.03 in 2025. The recent 3.06% drop happened alongside an increase in shielded addresses holding ZEC (about 30% of the total supply), indicating that long-term holders are staying put while short-term traders are taking profits.

What this means: When a coin experiences such a big rally, it’s common to see some pullback as traders lock in gains. ZEC’s 24-hour trading volume shows active selling, with more sellers than buyers. Similar patterns happened before, like in November when ZEC dropped 26% after hitting $742.

What to watch: If ZEC can stay above the $494 support level (based on Fibonacci retracement), it may stabilize and avoid a deeper drop.

2. Technical Rejection at a Key Level (Mixed Impact)

Overview: ZEC faced resistance near $521.87, close to the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $494.84. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 78.34, signaling the coin is overbought, while the MACD indicator shows that bullish momentum is slowing down.

What this means: Traders often sell when the RSI indicates overbought conditions. The failed attempt to break above $520 triggered stop-loss orders and liquidations, with $8.5 million in short positions closed during the rally (as of December 30).

Key level: If ZEC closes below $494, it could lead to a deeper correction toward $458, the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level.

3. Altcoin Weakness Amid Rising Bitcoin Dominance (Bearish Impact)

Overview: Bitcoin’s market dominance increased to 59.08%, up 0.15% in one day, showing that investors are moving money from altcoins like ZEC back into Bitcoin. ZEC’s 3.06% drop was sharper than the overall crypto market’s 1.1% decline.

What this means: Privacy-focused coins like ZEC tend to be more volatile during times when investors prefer safer assets. Although Grayscale’s Q4 report highlighted ZEC’s appeal as a defensive asset, the broader market sentiment, reflected by the “Bitcoin Season” index at 20/100, limits potential gains.

Conclusion

Zcash’s recent price drop is a natural part of the market cycle after a strong rally, influenced by technical resistance and cautious market sentiment. Still, institutional interest—such as Cypherpunk’s $29 million purchase—and growing use of shielded addresses point to underlying strength.

Key watch: Will ZEC hold the $494 support level, or will Bitcoin’s rising dominance push it down to $458? Keep an eye on today’s U.S. trading session for shifts in liquidity.