Bioactive hydrogels have garnered considerable attention for endogenous tissue regeneration owing to their affordability, minimal regulatory barriers, and ability to harness the body's intrinsic healing potential. Recently, inorganic-ion-releasing hydrogels have been developed as bioactive matrices, promoting wound healing and tissue repair through external cellular stimulation. Among various therapeutic inorganic ions, zinc ions (Zn(2+)), in particular, play essential roles in wound healing by modulating cell proliferation and angiogenesis and facilitating tissue remodeling. Numerous strategies have been developed to fabricate Zn(2+)-releasing biomaterials; however, these methods often encounter challenges, including complex fabrication processes, rapid ion release, and limited mechanical stability. To address these challenges, we developed a novel Zn(2+)-releasing bioactive hydrogel (Zn-Gel) as a bioactive matrix that supported wound healing via a zinc peroxide (ZnO(2))-mediated cross-linking reaction. Zn-Gel was fabricated by combining thiolated gelatin with ZnO(2) solutions, forming a hydrogel with controllable Zn(2+) release kinetics that depended on ZnO(2) concentration and enabled sustained release of Zn(2+) for up to 14 d. Zn-Gel demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and tissue compatibility in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Interestingly, Zn-Gel accelerated wound healing by promoting cell proliferation, blood vessel formation, hair follicle formation, and collagen deposition. Therefore, Zn-Gel holds great potential as an advanced bioactive material for wound healing and tissue regeneration.