- Zcash remains above $500 as users shift shielded supply from Orchard to the new Ironwood pool.
- However, weaker futures demand and resistance near $532 could limit ZEC’s near-term gains.
Zcash (ZEC) is holding above $500 as traders weigh weaker demand against growing adoption of the new Ironwood pool. ZEC remains above key moving averages, but buyers have yet to take control.
ZEC trades above its 50-day EMA at $490 and its 100-day EMA at $469. However, declining futures activity could limit further gains in the near term.
Zcash Users Shift From Orchard to Ironwood
The recent rise in Ironwood adoption is one of the main developments affecting Zcash. Users are moving shielded ZEC from the older Orchard pool to the new Ironwood pool.
The shift follows a security issue discovered by Zcash developers in late May. The four-year-old vulnerability could have allowed counterfeit ZEC to be created.
Developers responded with an emergency hard fork on June 3. The network then introduced the major Ironwood upgrade in late July 2026.
Data from Zkp.baby shows a sharp change in shielded supply between the two pools. The Orchard pool fell by nearly 17% in 24 hours to 1.49 million ZEC.
Meanwhile, the Ironwood pool increased by 15% to 2.30 million ZEC. Total shielded supply stands at around 4.36 million ZEC.
The figure has recovered from an August 1 low of 3.65 million ZEC. This suggests that shielded ZEC usage is starting to recover following the network upgrades.
ZEC Futures Demand Weakens
Zcash is also facing weaker speculative demand in the futures market.
CoinGlass data shows that ZEC futures Open Interest (OI) declined by nearly 2% in 24 hours to $874.29 million. The drop suggests that traders are reducing their positions.
The funding rate also fell to 0.0075% from 0.0098% a day earlier. Despite the decline, the rate remains positive, showing that long positions still have a slight advantage.
The lower OI and funding rate point to reduced buying interest. This could make it harder for ZEC to sustain a strong move above $500.
Zcash Price Forecast
ZEC remains above its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs at $490, $469 and $414. This keeps the broader technical structure constructive.
However, RSI sits around 53. The reading is slightly above the midpoint but does not show strong buying pressure. The MACD line also remains flat above its signal line.
The first major resistance sits near $532. This level represents the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement from the move between $368 and $589. Another resistance level appears around $548. A sustained move above this area could put ZEC on course to retest the recent high near $589.
On the downside, $490 is the first key support. A break below this level could expose the $469 area, followed by support near $465.
For now, the Zcash price forecast remains mixed. Ironwood adoption provides a positive network development, but weaker futures demand could keep ZEC under pressure above $500.
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