Electric Coin Co. has released its fourth-quarter development priorities for the Zcash network, focusing on enhanced privacy features and wallet improvements. The announcement comes as ZEC trades around $420, marking a significant recovery from $50 in mid-September.
Zashi Wallet Platform Enhancements
The roadmap outlines four primary objectives for the Zashi wallet platform. ECC plans to implement ephemeral addresses for every swap transaction using the NEAR Intents protocol, automatically generate fresh transparent addresses after funds are received, enable Keystone hardware wallet resynchronization, and introduce Pay-to-Script-Hash multisig wallet support for Keystone devices.
ECC emphasized that its quarterly focus centers on reducing technical debt while improving privacy and usability for Zashi users. The company stated it will adjust its approach based on revenue fluctuations and market conditions, maintaining flexibility in execution.
Recent Feature Releases and Market Performance
These developments build upon recent feature releases, including the decentralized off-ramp launched in August and the Swaps on-ramp introduced in October. ECC temporarily suspended the Coinbase on-ramp after the exchange implemented a session-token requirement that the company deemed unfriendly to user privacy.
The privacy token's market capitalization recently surpassed that of competitor Monero, reaching approximately $6.86 billion. ZEC now trades at an eight-year high, benefiting from renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and zero-knowledge proof technology.
Orchard Privacy Protocol Growth
Zcash's Orchard privacy protocol has seen its shielded supply exceed 4.1 million tokens, according to ZecHub data. The Orchard version represents the latest iteration of Zcash's zero-knowledge infrastructure while maintaining backward compatibility with earlier Sprout and Sapling versions. Most supply growth since mid-September has occurred within the Orchard protocol.
Driving Factors for ZEC's Momentum
Analysts attribute ZEC's momentum to on-chain activity increases, protocol upgrades, and speculative investment tied to the broader zero-knowledge narrative. The token's optional transparency feature appeals to institutions seeking privacy capabilities alongside audit and regulatory compliance options.
Roadmap Adaptability and Fund Security
ECC described the roadmap as directive rather than fixed, designed to adapt as new information emerges. The company plans to optimize the Zcash Development Fund with robust security measures and will use a multisig wallet to secure the management of developer funds.