Zcash developers leave Electric Coin Company over governance issues, forming a new firm while the Zcash protocol remains unaffected.
The entire development team behind Zcash has left the Electric Coin Company (ECC) to form a new firm. This decision came after disagreements with the nonprofit board that oversees the Zcash protocol.
Despite the separation, the Zcash network will continue to function normally, as it is decentralized and open-source.
Reasons for Departure and Governance Disagreements
Josh Swihart, CEO of ECC, explained that the departure was a result of growing misalignments with the majority of the Bootstrap board.
He said key board members, including Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai, no longer aligned with Zcash’s original mission.
This led to changes in the team’s employment terms, making it difficult for them to continue their work effectively.
Swihart clarified that these changes in governance actions would have compromised the team’s ability to fulfill their duties with integrity. As a result, the team decided to leave ECC and form a new company.
The team will continue to work on the same mission of building private, unstoppable money for the future.
Zcash Protocol and Operations Remain Unaffected
Despite the ECC team’s departure, the Zcash protocol itself remains unaffected. As an open-source and decentralized project, Zcash does not rely on a single entity to operate.
The network continues to be sustained by miners, validators, and users who keep the blockchain active and secure.
Swihart reassured the community that the Zcash network would continue to run smoothly.
He emphasized that the team’s new company would focus on advancing Zcash’s development while staying true to its original goals.
The open-source nature of the network ensures that anyone can contribute, run a node, or maintain a fork.
While the departure marks a shift in leadership, the core mission of Zcash remains unchanged.
Swihart and his team are committed to developing a privacy-focused digital currency that cannot be controlled or censored by any central authority.
Related Reading: Expert Shares Zcash (ZEC) Price Update: Here’s His Outlook
Market Reaction and Zcash Price Movement
Following the announcement of the ECC team’s departure, Zcash saw a slight decline in price.
In the 24 hours after the news broke, Zcash fell by around 7%, trading at approximately $461. The price fluctuated between $452 and $497 during this period, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
The price dip came after a strong rally in November 2025, when Zcash reached a high of $723. This surge was driven by growing interest in privacy coins, particularly within the context of increasing regulatory concerns surrounding other cryptocurrencies.
However, the recent price decline is consistent with the broader market volatility, which is typical for cryptocurrencies.
Despite this short-term setback, many analysts remain optimistic about Zcash’s long-term potential.
With the team forming a new company, there is hope that this move will lead to new developments and further growth in the future. The decision may help strengthen Zcash’s position in the market over time.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/zcash-developers-split-from-electric-coin-company-to-form-new-firm/
