Zcash Foundation confirms SEC inquiry closure as ZEC price stabilizes

The Zcash Foundation has confirmed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] has concluded its inquiry into the organization. 

The Foundation stated that no enforcement action was recommended, bringing regulatory closure to a review that began in 2023.

Zcash SEC inquiry ends without enforcement action

In a statement shared this week, the Foundation said the SEC had formally ended its investigation related to an inquiry titled “In the Matter of Certain Crypto Asset Offerings [SF-04569]”, which was initiated following a subpoena issued on 31 August 2023.

According to the Foundation, the SEC has informed it that no enforcement action or further changes will be pursued in connection with the matter.

The inquiry centred on crypto asset offerings and was part of a broader regulatory review conducted by the SEC during a period of heightened scrutiny across the digital asset sector.

The SEC has not issued a public statement regarding the conclusion of the inquiry.

Regulatory clarity follows period of internal uncertainty

The closure of the SEC inquiry comes shortly after reports earlier this month that several developers associated with the Zcash ecosystem had stepped away from active roles. 

While the Foundation has not characterized these departures as coordinated or systemic, the developments raised questions among market participants about governance stability and long-term development continuity.

Against that backdrop, confirmation that the SEC does not intend to pursue enforcement action removes a significant source of regulatory overhang for the Foundation and the broader Zcash ecosystem.

Zcash development activity shows volatility, recent stabilization

On-chain development data for Zcash [ZEC] shows that activity has remained uneven over the past year. Development metrics declined sharply toward the end of 2025, dropping to 0.5 in early January. 

However, it has rebounded and is around 2.9 as of this writing.

Source: Santiment

While current development levels remain below prior peaks seen earlier in the cycle, the recent flattening suggests that core maintenance and protocol work have continued despite organizational changes.

ZEC price steadies after prolonged decline

ZEC’s price action has mirrored the broader uncertainty surrounding the project. After a sustained downtrend through late 2025 and earlier in the year, the token has recently seen a bounce. 

As of this writing, it was trading around $437, with an over 6% increase,  according to TradingView data.

Source: TradingView

While the move does not yet indicate a broader trend reversal, the price has held above recent local lows. The positive trend coincides with the announcement of regulatory clarity from the Foundation.

Regulatory resolution reshapes near-term narrative

With the SEC inquiry formally closed and no enforcement action forthcoming, Zcash enters 2026 with greater regulatory certainty than it has had in recent years.

While challenges remain, including rebuilding developer momentum and restoring market confidence, the removal of regulatory ambiguity marks a clear shift in the project’s near-term outlook. 

Final Thoughts

• The SEC’s decision not to pursue enforcement removes a major regulatory uncertainty that has weighed on the Zcash Foundation since 2023.
• While development activity and price remain subdued, regulatory resolution provides a clearer baseline for assessing Zcash’s next phase.