Major Mining Pool Joins Zcash Network as ZEC Drops 72% from ATH – What’s Next?

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Major Mining Pool Enters Zcash Network as ZEC Sits 72% Below ATH

Key Takeaways

  • Foundry Digital is launching an institutional-grade Zcash mining pool in April 2026 – its first expansion beyond Bitcoin.
    Former Electric Coin Company developers raised $25M to build a new Zcash wallet under a newly formed entity, ZODL.
    Global regulators are intensifying crackdowns on privacy coins, with the EU set to ban them outright by July 2027.
    ZEC is down roughly 72% from its late-2025 peak, currently trading around $211.

This important launch marks the company’s first expansion beyond Bitcoin infrastructure.

Zcash (ZEC) is currently valued around $211, which is significantly down from its high of approximately $750 in November 2025 – a drop of about 72%. This makes announcements about new institutional infrastructure, like the one recently made, especially important for the future growth of the Zcash network.

This mining pool is built on the same secure and reliable system as Foundry USA Pool, which currently powers around 30% of all Bitcoin mining globally. Miners of any size are welcome, and rewards will be distributed using a transparent and proven payout method (PPLNS) with full tracking and round-the-clock support. It’s designed for institutional and public mining companies in the U.S. who need a regulated and compliant platform – something that hasn’t been readily available until now.

Currently, ViaBTC controls about 31.7% of Zcash mining power, and F2Pool has around 15.8%. These are both companies based outside of the United States. The recent addition of Foundry as a mining pool is important because it brings in a highly regulated and trustworthy operator – something the Zcash network previously lacked. Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox believes this will help distribute mining power more evenly and reduce the risk of a few entities controlling too much. CEO Mike Colyer stated that Zcash is now a mature asset suitable for institutional investment, which is a key factor for companies deciding where to invest their mining resources.

Foundry is challenging the common belief that financial privacy and following regulations can’t coexist. Whether the market will accept this idea remains to be seen, especially considering the increasing global scrutiny of privacy coins like ZEC.

A Development Team in Turmoil

The recent announcement from Foundry comes at a difficult time for Zcash’s development. Earlier this year, all the employees at the Electric Coin Company – the team traditionally in charge of improving the Zcash system – resigned at once. This happened because of disagreements with Bootstrap, the nonprofit that oversees ECC, regarding the Zashi wallet, concerns about potentially selling off parts of the project for funding, and changes to employee contracts.

When the original team left, they quickly formed a new organization called Zcash Open Development Lab, or ZODL. On March 9, 2026, ZODL secured $25 million in initial funding from major investors like Paradigm, a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, and Coinbase Ventures. This significant investment demonstrates strong confidence in the future of Zcash, despite recent internal challenges. The funds will be used to build a new Zcash wallet. It’s still unclear if ZODL can successfully continue development, but the impressive list of investors suggests this project is far from over.

Regulators Are Closing In

Things are getting tougher for privacy coins like Zcash due to changing laws and regulations. Governments worldwide are increasingly limiting or banning cryptocurrencies that offer enhanced privacy, and Zcash is often mentioned alongside Monero and Dash as a key focus of these restrictions.

The European Union has approved new anti-money laundering rules that go into effect on July 10, 2027. These rules will prevent crypto companies operating in the EU – including large exchanges like Binance and Kraken – from offering or dealing with cryptocurrencies focused on privacy. While direct, person-to-person crypto transactions will still be allowed, the services that currently support those transactions will be shut down.

India took quick action against privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. In January 2026, its financial intelligence unit ordered exchanges to stop all trading and transactions involving Monero, Zcash, and Dash, due to concerns about money laundering and funding terrorism. Dubai soon followed suit, with regulators banning the issuance, listing, and trading of these types of cryptocurrencies starting January 12, 2026, and threatening hefty fines and license cancellations for non-compliance. Japan and South Korea have long-standing restrictions on listing these coins and show no signs of changing course. Australia has also consistently urged exchanges to remove these assets to comply with anti-money laundering and customer identification regulations.

Overall, it’s becoming harder to access cryptocurrency – there are fewer places to buy and sell, fewer countries where it’s readily available, and fewer ways for both everyday users and larger companies to get involved. Simply starting a new mining pool won’t fix this underlying problem.

ZEC Technical Analysis

Zcash experienced a significant price increase in 2025, followed by a substantial drop. The price rose almost 600% throughout the year, peaking at around $750 in November. However, a market downturn caused the price to fall sharply. Since then, Zcash has lost approximately 72% of its value, currently trading around $211.

Looking at the 4-hour chart, the price is currently fluctuating between $200 and $220. This same level previously supported the price back in February. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is between 46 and 54, indicating a neutral market condition – it’s neither strongly oversold nor showing significant upward momentum. While the price did bounce back from around $190 in early March, reaching above $210, it couldn’t sustain the rally to $250, which suggests sellers are still present when the price rises.

The chart shows strong support around $210, which has been tested repeatedly. If the price can clearly stay above $220, that would suggest a potential short-term rebound. However, until that happens, it’s best to remain cautious, as the current price action looks like a temporary bounce rather than a lasting change in direction.

The Bottom Line

The launch of Foundry’s Zcash pool is a major step forward for the ZEC ecosystem. While it doesn’t solve existing issues with ECC governance or regulatory challenges in places like the EU, India, and Dubai, it does bring a large, reputable, and U.S.-based operator to the network. This type of infrastructure is exactly what institutional miners and publicly traded companies need before they’ll invest in Zcash.

Zcash (ZEC) is currently trading 72% lower than its highest price. The project is undergoing a complete overhaul of its internal development with the new ZODL system, and it’s facing increasing scrutiny from regulators. These are significant challenges. However, if the overall market improves and investors become more willing to take risks, Foundry’s recent involvement could be a turning point – provided the project can withstand the current difficulties and capitalize on any positive changes.

This article is just for informational purposes and shouldn’t be taken as financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com doesn’t support or suggest any particular investment or cryptocurrency. Always do your own research and talk to a qualified financial advisor before you invest.

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2026-03-12 13:11