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Zcash Developer Team Quits ECC After Bootstrap Rift, Plans New Company

The open-source network continues operating, with ZEC sliding on governance uncertainty.

Overview

  • CEO Josh Swihart said board-imposed employment changes made normal work impossible and called the exit a constructive discharge.
  • He identified Bootstrap directors Zaki Manian, Christina Garman, Alan Fairless, and Michelle Lai as the majority he says misaligned with Zcash’s mission.
  • The departing developers plan a new venture focused on “unstoppable private money” to continue privacy-first work.
  • Zooko Wilcox defended the Bootstrap board and asserted Zcash remains permissionless, secure, and safe to use.
  • Market data showed ZEC down about 10% to roughly $443 on the news, reflecting investor uncertainty about governance and continuity.