Circle reduces workforce by 5% even as third-quarter profit climbs
Circle cut roughly 5% of its workforce in Q3 2026, a move disclosed despite a reported rise in net income and revenue.
Zcash rebounded after an initial drop on the Democratic sweep; the NU7 network upgrade goes live tomorrow.
Zcash and a range of other digital assets experienced volatile trading on Wednesday as Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress, a development that initially dragged crypto prices down before a sharp recovery took hold.
The rationale behind the rebound remains unclear, given that a Democratic Congress points toward tighter fiscal policy. It does not, however, constrain President Trump's ability to impose tariffs or sustain military action in Iran.
That backdrop should weigh on the growth outlook and by extension on risk appetite, unless the US-Iran conflict reaches a resolution.
Zcash nonetheless benefits from a near-term positive event: the NU7 network upgrade, which goes live tomorrow. Block times will shrink from 75 seconds to 25 seconds, speeding up transactions and boosting overall network effectiveness. That could lend support to ZEC, though it leaves the broader macroeconomic picture unchanged and may already be discounted by the market.
Falling Treasury yields and a weaker US dollar may also be driving price action, but this largely reflects the unwinding of crowded trades as the fiscal outlook becomes less expansionary.
Going forward, the spotlight stays on US-Iran talks. A diplomatic resolution would lift Zcash by improving growth prospects and risk appetite, while a smooth network upgrade might act as a ZEC-specific tailwind. An escalation of hostilities would probably provoke another selloff as growth worries and safe-haven demand weigh on risky assets.
On the daily chart, Zcash is nearing a significant resistance zone in the vicinity of 1,380. Should the price reach that area, sellers are expected to enter with a defined risk above resistance, positioning for a decline toward the 1,031 support. Buyers, conversely, want a breakout higher to build bullish bets toward the 1,692 level.
The 4-hour chart offers little clarity given the erratic price swings. Sellers will find a favourable risk-reward setup near the resistance, while buyers need a breakout to open the path to fresh highs.
On the 1-hour chart, a minor upward trendline defines the current bullish momentum. If a pullback occurs, buyers are likely to defend the trendline with risk below it, aiming for further gains. Sellers will instead seek a break below the trendline to build bearish positions targeting new lows. The red lines mark today's average daily range.
Today's economic calendar features the US ADP employment report and the US ISM Services PMI. Tomorrow brings weekly US Jobless Claims data. The week wraps up on Friday with the US NFP report and the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey.
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Disclaimer: this article comes from third-party media and is provided for reference only. It does not constitute investment advice. Crypto and other financial products carry significant price volatility risk, so please make your own decisions carefully.
Circle cut roughly 5% of its workforce in Q3 2026, a move disclosed despite a reported rise in net income and revenue.
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