ZEC Up 10%, Analysts Watch $650 Level

Zcash traded around $432.48 as of writing, up nearly 8% over the past 24 hours after recording an intraday high above $446 and over 10% in the last 24 hours before retracing to the current market price. 

The move follows a volatile stretch that saw ZEC lose over 15% earlier in the week. Today’s rebound has placed the privacy-focused token back into active discussion. 

Is this just a technical bounce, or does the structure support higher levels?

Technical Structure Points to a Critical Zone

Analysts tracking ZECUSDT report that price continues to appreciate within a well-defined ascending channel. This structure has guided recent recoveries and now brings attention to a major resistance area between $600 and $650. According to the analysis, the $650 level stands as the decisive threshold. 

A sustained move above that mark, supported by strong volume, would confirm a breakout and shift former resistance into support.

Source: TradingView

Until such confirmation appears, analysts frame the outlook as conditionally bullish. Price behavior near the upper boundary of the channel will carry added weight. 

A rejection at this zone could reintroduce downside pressure, while a clean breach would expand the upside path toward the projected range.

Governance Shock Still Shapes the Narrative

This technical setup unfolds against a turbulent backdrop. On January 7, Electric Coin Company, the primary organization behind Zcash development, saw its entire staff resign at once. ECC CEO Josh Swihart described the event as “constructive discharge,” citing governance decisions by the overseeing Bootstrap board that altered employment terms beyond workable limits.

Swihart characterized the dispute as a fundamental clash over Zcash’s mission. He stated that board actions blocked progress toward building a privacy-preserving cryptocurrency resistant to surveillance and censorship. Every core developer exited simultaneously, cutting formal ties with ECC and leaving questions around roadmap coordination and stewardship.

Despite the shock, the Zcash network has continued operating without disruption. Transactions and block production have remained intact. Still, uncertainty around leadership and future development has influenced trader behavior and short-term price dynamics.

Monero Overtakes Zcash Amid Market Rotation

During Zcash’s governance-driven sell-off, capital rotated toward Monero. XMR has now overtaken ZEC as the largest privacy coin by market capitalization, reclaiming what many traders describe as the default privacy narrative. Market commentary has highlighted Monero’s always-on privacy model as a key differentiator during periods of uncertainty.

A previous report on Monero flipping Zcash detailed how governance stability and protocol design have influenced recent flows. That shift has not erased interest in ZEC, but it has reframed comparisons between the two assets as Zcash works through internal restructuring.

Price Predictions Align With the $650 Target

Forward-looking projections echo the technical framework. According to Coincodex data, Zcash could rise by roughly 59.3% over the next three months, reaching near $690 by early April 2026. That forecast aligns closely with the $600–$650 resistance zone identified by analysts. Current indicators reflect bearish sentiment and elevated fear, even as short-term price action improves.

Source: CoinCodex

Zcash recorded 13 green days over the past 30 sessions, alongside volatility near 9.6%. Those figures underline the mixed environment surrounding the asset. As price approaches key resistance levels, market participants will likely focus on volume, structure, and follow-through. 

Will ZEC confirm strength above $600, or will uncertainty continue to define the next chapter?