ZCash surges on funding news, but ZEC traders shouldn’t buy yet – Here’s why!

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-03-10Last updated on 2026-03-10

Abstract

ZCash (ZEC) surged 8.17% with a 43% increase in daily trading volume following the announcement that ZCash Open Developmental Lab (ZODL) secured over $25 million in seed funding from major investors including Paradigm and a16z crypto. Despite the short-term price boost, the longer-term outlook remains cautious. The higher timeframe trend is bullish, but swing traders should note that ZEC's structure is still bearish. A key resistance level lies at $251.4, which needs to be reclaimed to shift momentum bullishly. Traders are advised to wait for a stronger bullish setup before entering positions.

ZCash [ZEC] was one of the big winners in the past 24 hours, rallying 8.17% with a 43% uptick in daily trading volume.

The gains came after the ZCash Open Developmental Lab (ZODL) announced that it had secured over $25 million in seed funding to continue building the privacy-focused ecosystem.

The funding round drew support from Paradigm, a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase Ventures, among other leading angels in crypto and technology.

ZODL was founded by Josh Swihart, former CEO of Electronic Coin Company. The ECC engineering and product teams had quit ZCash in January following a governance dispute over Bootstrap.

This conflict had made it difficult to work “effectively and with integrity“, Swihart had said. After joining ZODL, the team continued to build the primary user interface for ZCash.

The Zodl wallet was one of the points of focus for the team. The self-custodial mobile wallet app allows users to hold ZEC and execute shielded transactions. According to the project, the wallet has expanded ZCash’s shielded pool by more than 400% since its launch in 2024 (then named Zashi).

Funding news sends ZCash higher

Coinalyze stats showed that the ZEC Open Interest had soared by 9% in 24 hours. This corroborated the spike in spot trading volume, showing that speculators and spot buyers were interested in ZCash.

The news release has catalyzed short-term price gains for the privacy token, but in the longer-term outlook, the retracement phase has not ended yet.

The higher timeframe trend was bullish, and the retracement from $750 to $187, though seemingly extreme, was part of the higher timeframe retracement. However, this is for investors with a multi-year horizon.

For swing traders and short-term holders, ZCash remained bearishly biased for now. The triggers for a bullish recovery have not fired yet.

What is this trigger, and how should traders prepare?

The H4 timeframe’s swing structure remained bearish after the recent lower high at $203.5 (orange) was breached.

To flip the swing structure bullishly, the $251.4 high must be reclaimed.

This was where the $250 bearish order block was also located. The sizeable supply zone overhead was a threat in the short-term, even though prices bounced nearly 10% in a day.

Buyers can wait for this area to be flipped to demand before buying.

Their patience would be rewarded with a much stronger bullish setup than what is currently seen.


Final Summary

  • The $25 million ZCash Open Development Lab seed funding news drove ZEC prices higher by nearly 10% for the day.
  • Multi-timeframe analysis gave ZEC traders and investors differing signals. The $250 and $187 levels were the pivotal ones nearby.

Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

Trending Cryptos

Related Reads

How Does Codex Use a Computer? Three Entry Points and Permission Boundaries

This article explains the three primary methods for Codex to interact with a computer, each with distinct use cases, permission boundaries, and trust levels. **1. Computer Use:** This offers the broadest access, allowing Codex to visually control and interact with the graphical user interface of authorized macOS/Windows apps, system settings, and even iOS simulators. It's ideal for tasks lacking APIs or structured tools, such as operating legacy software or multi-app workflows. However, it's the slowest method and has the widest permission scope, requiring careful supervision for sensitive actions. **2. Chrome Extension:** This grants Codex access to the user's logged-in Chrome browser state, including cookies, profiles, and open tabs. It's best for tasks requiring user identity across websites like Gmail, LinkedIn, Salesforce, or internal dashboards. Its key advantage is multi-tab control for complex workflows. While more powerful for browser-based tasks than Computer Use, it carries higher sensitivity as actions are performed under the user's identity. **3. In-App Browser:** This is a browser isolated within the Codex thread, separate from the user's personal browsing data. It excels in web development and debugging scenarios—previewing local servers, testing responsive layouts, or annotating designs directly on the page. Its isolation is a strength for development but a limitation for tasks requiring login sessions. The core principle is to choose the narrowest, safest, and most structured interface for the task. Use plugins or MCPs first, resort to visual control (Computer Use) only for GUI-dependent tasks, employ the Chrome extension for identity-reliant browser work, and prefer the In-App Browser for isolated development. **Appshots** are clarified as a fourth, complementary tool for *inputting* context—capturing a screenshot of a window to point Codex to something—rather than a method for Codex to *act*. Together, this layered approach highlights a key to AI agent productization: not granting unlimited permissions, but constraining them within clear boundaries for specific tasks while preserving user oversight.

marsbit42m ago

How Does Codex Use a Computer? Three Entry Points and Permission Boundaries

marsbit42m ago

The "Iron Rule" of Chip Equipment Is Being Broken

For years, the semiconductor equipment industry followed an unwritten "iron rule": suppliers offered steep discounts for new tool introductions (Design-in) and faced consistent price pressure during repeat orders, especially during market downturns. This long-standing buyer's market dynamic is now being upended. Recently, SK Hynix's primary equipment suppliers have reportedly requested a 3-4% price *increase*, a nearly unprecedented move. This shift is driven by a severe supply-demand imbalance fueled by the AI compute boom. Securing equipment has become an urgent arms race as chipmakers' expansion speed dictates their ability to fulfill massive AI chip orders. Key areas feeling the strain include: **TCB (Thermal Compression Bonding) Equipment:** Demand is exploding, driven by the simultaneous needs of HBM4 memory stacking, AI chip Chip-on-Substrate (C2S), and logic Chiplet Chip-on-Wafer (C2W) packaging. Players like Hanmi Semiconductor, Hanwha Semitech, and ASMPT are receiving major orders. While hybrid bonding is seen as the future, TCB remains the pragmatic choice for HBM4 mass production, with its lifecycle extended by relaxed specifications and ongoing technological upgrades. **Test Equipment Bottlenecks:** Ironically, AI-driven shortages are now crippling test equipment manufacturing. Critical components like FPGAs, Driver ICs, and CPUs face severe shortages and extended lead times (up to 52 weeks for FPGAs), as AI data center and server vendors prioritize supply. This creates a paradoxical cycle: AI chip shortages drive fab expansion, which requires more test equipment, whose production is delayed because its key parts are diverted to make AI chips. The industry is entering a broad, AI-powered upcycle. SEMI forecasts global semiconductor equipment sales to hit a record $156 billion by 2027, fueled by investment in advanced logic/foundry, HBM-driven DRAM, and advanced packaging (like CoWoS). Major players like TSMC, SK Hynix, and Micron are aggressively ramping capital expenditure. In conclusion, leading equipment vendors are no longer just selling tools; they are selling the critical capability to deliver AI-era capacity. Pricing power is shifting decisively to those with indispensable technology in key process nodes like advanced logic, HBM, and advanced packaging, rewriting the industry's traditional power structure.

marsbit55m ago

The "Iron Rule" of Chip Equipment Is Being Broken

marsbit55m ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

How to Buy ZEC

Welcome to HTX.com! We've made purchasing Zcash (ZEC) simple and convenient. Follow our step-by-step guide to embark on your crypto journey.Step 1: Create Your HTX AccountUse your email or phone number to sign up for a free account on HTX. Experience a hassle-free registration journey and unlock all features.Get My AccountStep 2: Go to Buy Crypto and Choose Your Payment MethodCredit/Debit Card: Use your Visa or Mastercard to buy Zcash (ZEC) instantly.Balance: Use funds from your HTX account balance to trade seamlessly.Third Parties: We've added popular payment methods such as Google Pay and Apple Pay to enhance convenience.P2P: Trade directly with other users on HTX.Over-the-Counter (OTC): We offer tailor-made services and competitive exchange rates for traders.Step 3: Store Your Zcash (ZEC)After purchasing your Zcash (ZEC), store it in your HTX account. Alternatively, you can send it elsewhere via blockchain transfer or use it to trade other cryptocurrencies.Step 4: Trade Zcash (ZEC)Easily trade Zcash (ZEC) on HTX's spot market. Simply access your account, select your trading pair, execute your trades, and monitor in real-time. We offer a user-friendly experience for both beginners and seasoned traders.

3.4k Total ViewsPublished 2024.03.29Updated 2026.06.02

How to Buy ZEC

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of ZEC (ZEC) are presented below.

活动图片