Zcash (ZEC) Plunges 60%: Is This the Ultimate Privacy Coin Buying Opportunity?

Zcash just got cheaper—a lot cheaper. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency has shed 60% of its value, leaving traders to wonder if this is a classic crypto capitulation or just another Tuesday.

Decoding the Drop

Market-wide jitters? Regulatory whispers targeting privacy tech? Or simply profit-taking after a parabolic run? The exact catalyst is murky, but the 60% figure isn't up for debate—it's stamped right there in the blockchain ledger.

Why Bulls Are Circling

For believers, this isn't a disaster; it's a discount. A 60% pullback in a volatile asset class can signal a potential bottom-forming zone, especially for a project with Zcash's established tech and use case. The narrative flips from fear to opportunity faster than a high-frequency trading algorithm.

The Risk Remains Real

Let's not sugarcoat it. A 60% crash can easily become 80%. Privacy coins face persistent regulatory headwinds that could turn a technical bounce into a dead cat's—well, you know. Buying here isn't investing; it's a calculated speculation that the market has overcorrected. It's the financial equivalent of catching a falling knife, but sometimes that's where the gains are made.

Bottom Line: Volatility is the price of admission in crypto. This Zcash pullback presents a high-risk, high-reward scenario for those with strong convictions and stronger stomachs. Just remember, on Wall Street they call it 'value investing'—here, we call it not panicking when the charts bleed red.

TLDR

• Zcash (ZEC) is trading at $374.66, down 7% in the last 24 hours with trading volume of $670.78 million
• Analysts maintain a bearish outlook as long as ZEC stays below the $440 resistance level
• Key support sits at $301, with a breakdown potentially triggering further declines toward $280
• The $404 level is crucial for any recovery, with targets reaching $520 if reclaimed
• Long-term projections suggest ZEC could reach $437-$438 once it clears immediate resistance hurdles

Zcash is trading at $374.66 following a 7% decline over the past 24 hours. Trading volume reached approximately $670.78 million during this period, showing a 12.26% fluctuation compared to previous sessions.

Over the past seven days, ZEC closed at $374.52, reflecting a weekly loss of 7.09%. The price has remained mostly stable during this timeframe despite the recent downturn.

The current price action shows Zcash giving back nearly 43% over the past month. This follows a strong three-month rally where the token gained more than 650%. The recent pullback has created questions about whether this represents a temporary pause or a trend reversal.

Crypto analyst CryptoPulse points to a bearish bias on the daily timeframe. According to their assessment, Zcash needs to reclaim the former support-turned-resistance NEAR $440 to reverse current downward pressure.

$ZEC Outlook — Bearish Bias Still Intact

On the daily timeframe, $ZEC remains bearish as long as price fails to reclaim the former support-turned-resistance around the $440 region.

On the lower timeframe, price is currently compressing into a consolidation pattern.

If this… pic.twitter.com/IHRX1YnRZq

— CryptoPulse (@CryptoPulse_CRU) December 17, 2025

On lower timeframes, ZEC appears to be consolidating within a narrow price range. This consolidation phase indicates indecision in the market as investors balance between profit-taking and potential entry opportunities.

Technical Indicators Show Mixed Signals

The Chaikin Money FLOW indicator has shown a small bullish divergence between December 11 and December 17. During this period, Zcash made a lower high while the CMF printed a slightly higher high. This pattern typically suggests buying pressure is slowly returning.

However, the CMF remains below the zero line. A value below zero indicates that net capital Flow remains negative overall. While buyers are present, they appear cautious rather than aggressive.

The On-Balance Volume continues to MOVE in line with price and has not broken above its descending trend line. There is no bullish divergence visible in the OBV data. This suggests that volume is not yet confirming any bullish price moves.

CryptoPulse warns that a breakdown from the current consolidation structure could trigger further declines. The next major support is projected around $280 if selling pressure intensifies.

Critical Price Levels and Leverage Data

The most important support level currently sits at $301. This level has held multiple tests and marks the lower boundary of the current structure. As long as Zcash stays above $301, the broader uptrend remains intact.

The near-term challenge is the $404 level. Zcash has failed to hold above this zone and continues to trade below it. A daily close above $404 WOULD signal that buyers are gaining confidence.

From there, the next major test sits near $520. This level has capped upside movement since late November.

Leverage positioning data reveals a split between short-term and long-term traders. On the seven-day liquidation map, short positions total roughly $44 million while longs sit near $14 million. This shows short-term traders are positioned for downside.

The 30-day view shows more balance. Long and short leverage both stand near $38 million, suggesting longer-term traders are not heavily bearish.

According to DigitalCoinPrice, ZEC may reach the $437-$438 range once it clears immediate resistance hurdles. The previous all-time peak at $5,941.80 serves as a reference point for longer-term bullish scenarios.

Market experts indicate that recovery toward the projected range could occur gradually. They caution that short-term volatility may continue to impact price movements for both retail and institutional participants.