The crypto markets were rocked by a major short squeeze on Zcash (ZEC), as bearish traders saw nearly $710 million in positions liquidated within an hour. This came after the ZEC market cap surged $400 million, moving from $6.3 billion to $6.7 billion in a sudden rally.
Short squeezes are nothing new in crypto, but the scale of this ZEC move caught even seasoned traders off guard. Liquidations of this size in such a short time are rare and typically signal massive buying pressure or whale-driven momentum.
What Triggered the ZEC Short Squeeze?
While the exact cause is still being speculated, analysts believe a mix of aggressive spot buying, low liquidity, and over-leveraged shorts created the perfect storm. When ZEC’s price started to climb quickly, short sellers were forced to cover, pushing the price even higher.
This is a classic case of a short squeeze, where traders betting against a coin are forced to exit their positions rapidly, driving up prices even more. ZEC’s low daily trading volume compared to major altcoins likely amplified the volatility.
$710 MILLION ZEC SHORTS LIQUIDATED!
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) December 5, 2025
A fast $400M $ZEC market cap jump from $6.3B to $6.7B squeezed shorts into a $709.5 MILLION liquidation within an hour. pic.twitter.com/VbYxTcmY7v
What’s Next for Zcash (ZEC)?
The liquidation of $709.5 million in short positions has drawn significant attention back to Zcash. Traders are now watching closely to see if the coin can hold its gains or if this was a temporary pump.
Market sentiment around ZEC may shift in the short term, with bulls encouraged by the strength of the squeeze. However, as always in crypto, extreme moves can go both ways.
Investors should remain cautious and watch for signs of consolidation or further volatility in ZEC before making large moves.