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🚨 Tough Times for $ZEC: Core Development Team Walks Away, Market Reacts Hard One of the biggest shocks in Zcash history unfolded in early January 2026 when the entire team behind Electric Coin Company (ECC) — the original core developer of Zcash — reportedly stepped down following a dispute with the Bootstrap Foundation. ⚠️ The conflict centered around governance, nonprofit strategy, compliance, and legal direction. Former ECC leadership has expressed intentions to continue development through a new organization, but investors remain skeptical about what comes next. 📉 The market reaction was immediate: • ZEC plunged from roughly $480–$520 to around $380 within 24 hours • Nearly $1.6B in market value was wiped out • Price later fell as low as the $300 area and remains significantly below its November highs • Many analysts now view the $200–$250 range as a potential downside target if key support levels fail 🔍 Critical levels to watch: 🛑 Major support: $297–$311 A breakdown below that zone could open the door toward $256 and potentially $200. ⚠️ If $200 fails, attention may shift toward the previous cycle bottom near $124. 📈 For a meaningful recovery, ZEC would likely need to reclaim the $426 region first, with higher resistance levels becoming important for any longer-term trend reversal. Is there any positive angle? ✅ The Zcash protocol itself remains operational and unaffected. ✅ Network infrastructure continues to function normally. ✅ Former ECC leadership has suggested a new development effort could emerge. ✅ Panic selling has slowed, and price has shown signs of stabilization after the initial shock. 🧠 Bottom line: The biggest challenge facing ZEC right now isn't the technology—it's confidence. The protocol survives, but the departure of its core builders has created a major uncertainty event. Near term, sentiment remains fragile and downside risks remain elevated. Long term, much will depend on whether a credible development team can restore trust and continue advancing the ecosystem. #ZEC #Zcash #CryptoNews #MarketUpdate #DailyOrbit