Entering 2026, there is a clear differentiation in the privacy cryptocurrency sector. Following the sudden collective resignation of the Zcash core development team, market confidence quickly wavered, and funds began to concentrate into more mature privacy assets, allowing Monero (XMR) to reclaim its position as the highest market cap privacy cryptocurrency.
As of recent, Monero’s price has remained around $460, approaching the $490 peak reached in December 2025. XMR has been strengthening for several consecutive weeks, outperforming most other privacy-focused digital assets. This trend stands in stark contrast to the generally optimistic market outlook for ZEC in the latter half of 2025.
The direct trigger for this shift in the landscape stems from Electric Coin Company (ECC), the core development organization behind Zcash. On Thursday, ECC announced the collective resignation of its entire team. CEO Josh Swihart described this event as a “constructive dismissal” at the board level, stating that the new governance arrangements had weakened the team’s independence. Subsequently, former developers chose to start anew, establishing a new company to continue advancing related technologies.
Following the announcement, ZEC’s price dropped by about 15% on the same day. Although there was a slight rebound afterward, the overall trend continued the correction since the November high. On-chain data also reflected market tension. Nansen data shows that within 24 hours of the announcement, ZEC inflows to exchanges increased significantly, with exchange balances growing by about 7%, typically seen as a sign of potential selling pressure.
Meanwhile, funds did not exit the privacy sector entirely but experienced a clear internal rotation. Zcash’s Chaikin fund flow indicator turned negative, indicating continued net outflows; in contrast, Monero’s similar indicator rapidly increased, reflecting funds moving toward XMR. During the period when ZEC fell about 16%, XMR instead rose approximately 5%, widening the market cap gap between the two.
From a technical and market structure perspective, Monero’s advantages are being amplified again. Its higher degree of decentralization, more mature privacy mechanisms, and the absence of a core development governance crisis over the long term all contribute to its strength. The Money Flow Index (MFI) has also risen sharply, indicating increasing buying sentiment.
Currently, Monero’s price is still about 13% below its all-time high of $518.99, but against the backdrop of renewed privacy narratives, market recognition of its positioning is rebounding. Multiple perspectives, including the crypto research team under Andreessen Horowitz, believe that privacy will become a key differentiator in blockchain competition in 2026.
As Zcash needs time to repair governance and development uncertainties, Monero’s dominant position in the privacy cryptocurrency field is becoming more solid in the short term.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
XRP Reclaims $1.40 Mark as Price Jumps 6%, Where Is Price Heading? - U.Today
XRP recently surpassed the $1.40 resistance level, driven by a 12.92% spike in trading volume to $2.63 billion. Renewed interest, notably due to a partnership with Mastercard, may help sustain upward momentum, with potential targets of $1.50 and $2. However, a drop below $1.39 could negate this breakout.
UToday21m ago
PI Jumps 16% After V20.2 Upgrade and AI Node Plans
Pi Network completed the V20.2 upgrade, ensuring node alignment and network stability for all operators.
AI node experiments tested decentralized computing, using spare node capacity to handle real AI tasks.
PI price jumped 16%, breaking resistance at $0.23, eyeing $0.28 as key target.
P
CryptoNewsLand1h ago
"Seeking a Sword by Marking a Boat" style coin price predictions go viral: the practical logic and flaws of mystical prophecies
Author: Frank, PANews
Whenever the market enters a confusing phase of stagnation, someone attempts to predict the next trend using a "cutting the cord at the boat" style of historical retrospection method. In such circumstances, people often see from these theories and charts that history is repeating itself, and seem to automatically overlap and verify future market movements with a certain period in the past.
This coincidence appears to have a magical effect and is often verified. Some bloggers claim that the accuracy rate of this type of prediction can reach 75%~80%.
Does this "cutting the cord at the boat" style price prediction that repeatedly goes viral on social media actually help the market identify phases, or is it packaging noise as prophecy?
From "Tick Fractals" to "History Rhymes"
The peak operation regarding the prediction of a market top in October 2025 comes from an analyst named CryptoBullet, who created a method called "tick
PANews1h ago
Bitcoin Holds Strong at $70,000! On-Chain Data Reveals "Collective Selling Wave," Retail Investors Emerge as Biggest Selling Pressure
Under Middle East geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin faced widespread selling pressure, particularly from retail holders. According to Glassnode data, the market is experiencing heavy selling pressure, with the accumulated trend score declining to 0.04, indicating that retail and small-to-medium investors are reducing their positions significantly. Despite this, Bitcoin's resilience against the decline has surprised market observers.
区块客1h ago
Bitcoin Early Warning of Stock Market Risk? Global Stock Market Turbulence Intensifies After BTC Drops to $60,000
Recently, analysts have pointed out that Bitcoin's price movements often lead traditional risk assets, reflecting the weakness in global stock markets. After experiencing volatility, Bitcoin is currently stabilizing around $70,000, with market sentiment being affected by geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices. Historical data shows that Bitcoin often exhibits signs of peaking before stock market corrections, and investors are beginning to regard it as an important indicator for monitoring risk asset sentiment.
GateNews1h ago
Analyst: Bitcoin Has Transitioned from Distribution Phase to Accumulation Phase, Selling Pressure Drops to One-Sixth of Cycle Average
CryptoQuant analysts indicate that the market is currently in a neutral accumulation phase, with selling pressure dropping to historic lows, but may face long-term consolidation risks, requiring attention to the lack of price catalysts.
GateNews1h ago
