ZEC Price Slides 25%: Why Are Miners and Privacy Users Doubling Down?

Core Insights - Zcash (ZEC) has experienced significant price pressure, dropping over 25% this month amid a broader market downturn, but on-chain and mining indicators suggest structural confidence in the network [1][3]. Market Performance - ZEC initially defied the sector-wide downturn in October 2025, surging more than 440% during that month. However, the subsequent months of November and December saw heightened volatility, with ZEC still managing modest gains [2]. - In January, ZEC declined more than 41%, continuing its downward trend into the current month, trading at $227.22, down 4.29% over the previous 24 hours [3]. On-Chain Data - Despite price weakness, on-chain data indicates positive trends, with the amount of ZEC held in shielded pools rising again after a dip in early January. Over 5 million ZEC are currently held in shielded addresses, representing approximately 30% of the circulating supply [4][5]. - The increase in shielded supply suggests sustained user engagement and confidence in Zcash's privacy infrastructure, even amid short-term market pressures [5]. Mining Dynamics - Zcash mining difficulty reached an all-time high in early February, indicating heightened competition among miners and a stronger security profile for the network. This increase in difficulty suggests that additional hash power has joined the network, which may come from new participants or more efficient hardware [5][6]. - The rise in mining difficulty, despite broader market weakness, indicates that mining economics remain viable for some operators, reflecting competitive electricity costs and operational efficiency [8].