ZEC Price Slides 25% as Shielded Supply and Mining Difficulty Rise

Zcash (ZEC) has fallen more than 25% this month amid broader market weakness, extending a downtrend that followed a volatile late 2025. The token surged over 440% in October 2025 and closed November and December with modest gains, but 2026 has been tougher: ZEC declined more than 41% in January.

At press time, ZEC was trading at $227.22, down 4.29% over the previous 24 hours. On-chain figures point to continued engagement: more than 5 million ZEC are held in shielded addresses, accounting for roughly 30% of the coin’s circulating supply. “That means real people are sending shielded tx every single day, even when there’s zero profit in it,” an analyst wrote.

The steady increase in shielded supply suggests sustained user activity and confidence in Zcash’s privacy infrastructure despite short-term price pressure.

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