Bitcoin Miners' Collective Control Behind ZEC's 12-Fold Surge

The cryptocurrency market has witnessed numerous instances of price surges and crashes, but the recent 12-fold increase in ZEC's value stands out as a remarkable phenomenon. At first glance, it may seem like an accidental narrative hype, but a closer examination reveals a more intricate story.

The key to understanding this surge lies in the distribution of computing power among ZEC's mining pools. The top four BTC mining pools - ViaBTC, Foundry, F2Pool, and Antpool - collectively control nearly 82% of ZEC's network computing power. This concentration of power is a testament to the influence of Bitcoin miners in shaping the market.

Foundry, a subsidiary of DCG (Digital Currency Group), has been instrumental in this development. Its entry into the ZEC mining pool on March 11, 2026, marked a significant turning point, with its computing power share skyrocketing from 0 to 27.74% in just one month. This takeover of core infrastructure by North American institutional capital further solidified the miners' grip on ZEC's market.

The connection between ZEC and BTC is not merely coincidental; it appears to be a deliberate strategy employed by the miners. As BTC approaches its mid-term top, the price of ZEC tends to surge, allowing the miners to achieve profit hedging through chip appreciation and diverting market funds. This 'cycle scheduling' approach enables them to navigate market fluctuations with greater ease.

The miner layout behind ZEC is a closed loop that spans mining, chips, and compliance infrastructure. Grayscale holds significant positions in ZEC, while Bitmain monopolizes the supply of mining machines using the Equihash algorithm. This level of control ensures that the miners can manipulate market trends to their advantage.

Investors should take note of this intricate web of relationships, as understanding the miner layout behind ZEC is crucial for assessing its true potential. The cryptocurrency industry's most secretive capital game has been revealed, and it may change the way investors approach ZEC in the future.