What could affect the price of ZEC?

Zcash’s price is caught between growing demand for privacy and increasing regulatory challenges.

1. Sapling Upgrade (Positive) – Faster, more efficient private transactions improve usability
2. DeFi Integration (Mixed) – New opportunities balanced against regulatory risks
3. Privacy Regulation (Negative) – Threats of exchange delistings remain

In-Depth Look

1. Sapling Upgrade & Wallet Improvements (Positive)

What’s happening: The Sapling network upgrade, expected in October 2025, drastically cuts the memory needed for private transactions by 97%. This makes private wallets easier to use on mobile devices. The recent Zcashd 6.3.0 update sets the stage for this improvement.

Why it matters: Better usability could help Zcash grow in privacy-focused areas like decentralized finance (DeFi) and VPN services such as NymVPN, where private Zcash payments increased by 22% in the third quarter of 2025. Past major upgrades, like the original Sapling in 2018, led to an average price increase of 41% over two months.

2. Regulatory Pressure on Privacy Coins (Negative)

What’s happening: Recent attacks on other privacy coins like Monero and Dash have drawn more regulatory attention. In July 2025, the U.S. Treasury labeled shielded transactions as “high-risk,” putting pressure on exchanges.

Why it matters: While Binance still supports Zcash (unlike Monero, which was delisted), about 34% of Zcash’s trading volume comes from U.S.-based exchanges. Proposed 2026 rules from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) could ban privacy coins, potentially causing sell-offs. However, Zcash’s option for transparent transactions might help it comply with regulations better than some competitors.

3. Growing Institutional Interest in Privacy (Positive)

What’s happening: Shielded Zcash holdings have grown 18% this year to 3.12 million coins, about 19% of total supply, according to Zchain. Grayscale’s Zcash trust saw $16.8 million in new investments in August, as companies look to protect their financial privacy from central bank digital currency (CBDC) monitoring.

Why it matters: Unlike previous price surges driven by retail investors, this steady accumulation by institutions needing privacy (including projects like Anoma) suggests more stable demand. Still, Zcash’s daily inflation rate of 0.15% means ongoing buying is needed to balance out coins sold by miners.

Conclusion

Zcash’s future depends on successfully delivering privacy services while managing regulatory risks. The Sapling upgrade and growing enterprise use could push ZEC’s price to $70-$85 if private transaction activity keeps growing at 17% per quarter. Keep an eye on the SEC’s September 30 decision on a Bitcoin ETF — approval might ease crypto regulations, while rejection could lead to broader market sell-offs.

Will ZEC’s mix of privacy and transparency be enough to avoid the regulatory crackdown faced by coins like Monero?

What are people saying about ZEC?

Zcash is gaining momentum thanks to new privacy technology and traders aiming for a $60 price target. Here’s what’s happening:

1. NymVPN now accepts shielded ZEC payments – positive for Zcash
2. Traders targeting $60 after breaking $50 resistance – positive outlook
3. Developers release important upgrades before funding vote – neutral impact

Deep Dive

1. @nymproject: NymVPN adds shielded ZEC payments — positive for Zcash

“Pay with ZEC, get zk-Nym credentials, and use NymVPN without revealing your identity.”
– @nymproject (89K followers · 412K impressions · July 13, 2025)
View original post
What this means: This is good news for Zcash because it increases real-world uses for shielded transactions. It combines Zcash’s financial privacy with NymVPN’s network anonymity, making it more attractive for users who value privacy. This could lead to more people using ZEC in everyday situations.

2. CoinMarketCap Community: Traders eye $60 breakout — positive outlook

“Entry zone $48.80–$50.00, target price $60.00. A 1-hour close above $50.20 confirms momentum.”
– CoinMarketCap trader (May 23, 2025 · 126K ZEC traded at analysis time)
View original post
What this means: Traders are optimistic about Zcash’s price rising past $50, aiming for $60. The $50 level is seen as a key point that could push the price higher. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 74, which suggests the coin might be overbought and due for a short-term pullback.

3. @ElectricCoinCo: Zcashd 6.3.0 mandatory upgrade — neutral impact

“Support for version 6.2.0 ends August 6, 2025 – all users must upgrade.”
– @ElectricCoinCo (212K followers · 287K impressions · August 1, 2025)
View original post
What this means: This update is necessary to keep the Zcash network running smoothly but doesn’t introduce major new features. So, it’s neutral for the price right now. The community’s attention is shifting toward a funding vote in November 2025, which could influence future developments.

Conclusion

Overall, the outlook for Zcash is positive, driven by new privacy-focused partnerships and strong trader interest. However, some caution is warranted due to overbought signals and upcoming governance decisions. Keep an eye on the total shielded value metric (3.06 million ZEC as of May 2025) — an increase here would show growing use of Zcash’s privacy features.

What is the latest news about ZEC?

Zcash is making strides in privacy technology and gaining stability on major exchanges. Here’s what’s new:

1. NymVPN Integration (July 13, 2025) – You can now use shielded ZEC to pay for anonymous VPN services.
2. Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025) – A network upgrade improves security and meets new regulatory standards.
3. Binance Removes Monitoring Tag (July 9, 2025) – This reduces the risk of ZEC being delisted, showing growing regulatory confidence.

Deep Dive

1. NymVPN Integration (July 13, 2025)

Overview: Zcash has teamed up with the privacy-focused network Nym to allow users to pay for VPN subscriptions using shielded ZEC transactions. This uses advanced technology called zk-Nym and the Coconut Protocol to keep user identities and payment details private.
What this means: This partnership adds real-world value to ZEC by combining financial privacy with secure internet access. As people look for stronger privacy solutions, demand for shielded ZEC transactions could increase. (nymproject)

2. Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025)

Overview: The main software that runs the Zcash network, called Zcashd, has been updated to version 6.3.0. Users need to upgrade before August 6, when support for the older version 6.2.0 ends. This update focuses on fixing security issues and aligning with new regulatory rules.
What this means: Keeping the software up to date helps protect the network and ensures it meets legal requirements. Quick adoption by users is important to keep the network running smoothly without splits. (ElectricCoinCo)

3. Binance Removes Monitoring Tag (July 9, 2025)

Overview: Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, removed ZEC from its “Monitoring Tag” list. This list flags coins that might be risky due to price swings or regulatory concerns. Removing ZEC from this list lowers the chance it will be delisted.
What this means: This move shows that Binance has more confidence in Zcash’s compliance with regulations, which can help keep trading stable and encourage more users. After the announcement, ZEC’s trading volume increased by nearly 6%. (Binance)

Conclusion

Zcash is strengthening its privacy features with the NymVPN integration while also addressing regulatory concerns, as seen with the Binance update. The recent software upgrade highlights the network’s flexibility, but its future success depends on how widely shielded transactions are adopted. The big question is whether ZEC’s approach to privacy and compliance will attract more institutional interest compared to competitors like Monero.

What is expected in the development of ZEC?

Zcash’s roadmap centers on governance decisions, technical upgrades, and enhancing privacy features. Key upcoming milestones include:

1. Dev Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025) – The community will decide how ZEC’s development is funded.
2. Zebra Node Adoption (Ongoing) – Moving to a faster, more flexible Rust-based network client.
3. Tachyon Offline Transactions (2026) – Introducing a way to send private payments without internet access.

In-Depth Look

1. Dev Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025)

What’s happening?
Zcash’s development fund, which supports software updates and grants, will expire in November 2025. The community is voting on six different proposals to replace this funding through ZCAP governance (Zcash Foundation). This vote will determine how ZEC continues to support core development, ecosystem growth, and advocacy efforts.

Why it matters:

• Positive: Renewing funding could speed up adoption of shielded (private) transactions and boost innovation.
• Negative: If no agreement is reached, development could slow down and key contributors might leave.

2. Zebra Node Adoption (Ongoing)

What’s happening?
The Electric Coin Company (ECC) is transitioning from the current Zcashd node software to Zebra, a new implementation written in Rust. Zebra is designed to be faster and more modular, improving network stability and making it easier for developers to work with (Zcash Foundation).

Why it matters:

• Neutral: While this upgrade won’t likely impact ZEC’s price immediately, it strengthens the network’s foundation for future improvements.
• Risk: Delays in this transition could temporarily affect network performance.

3. Tachyon Offline Transactions (2026)

What’s happening?
The Tachyon Project plans to enable shielded ZEC transactions without needing internet access, using technologies like Bluetooth and LoRaWAN. This is important for users in areas with limited connectivity, helping maintain private and censorship-resistant payments (Nym Collaboration).

Why it matters:

• Positive: This expands ZEC’s usefulness as a privacy tool, especially in countries with strict controls.
• Risk: Increased adoption might attract more regulatory attention.

Conclusion

Zcash’s main focus right now is securing ongoing funding through the November 2025 governance vote. Meanwhile, technical upgrades like Zebra and Tachyon are designed to strengthen ZEC’s privacy features and network reliability. As shielded transactions become more popular in VPNs (Nym) and online gaming, ZEC’s roadmap aims to balance strong privacy protections with practical use cases. The big question remains: will regulatory challenges slow down these privacy advancements?

What updates are there in the ZEC code base?

Zcash’s software is actively being improved with important updates and new features.

1. Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025) – A required update that fixes wallet bugs and prepares for the upcoming NU6.1 testnet upgrade.
2. Zcashd Deprecation Plan (v6.2.0, April 17, 2025) – Plans to replace Zcashd with Zebrad and Zallet by the end of 2025, including changes to how certain commands work.
3. NymVPN Integration (July 13, 2025) – Allows private payments using shielded ZEC for VPN subscriptions through zk-Nym technology.

Detailed Overview

1. Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025)

What’s new: This mandatory update fixes a bug where the Orchard wallet’s balance wasn’t showing correctly in some commands. It also updates the default transaction format to a newer version and prepares the network for the NU6.1 upgrade on the testnet.

The NU6.1 upgrade will activate at a specific block height on the testnet, with possible changes that might not be backward compatible before it goes live on the main network.

Why it matters: Users will see more accurate wallet balances and the network will be ready for future improvements. This update strengthens Zcash’s privacy features and overall network stability, which is positive for ZEC.
(Source)

2. Zcashd Deprecation Plan (v6.2.0, April 17, 2025)

What’s new: The current Zcashd software is being phased out and replaced by two new tools: Zebrad (a full node implementation) and Zallet (a wallet). Some older commands like createrawtransaction and signrawtransaction will no longer be supported, and others like z_getbalance will be disabled.

To acknowledge this change, users need to add a specific line (i-am-aware-zcashd-will-be-replaced-by-zebrad-and-zallet-in-2025=1) to their configuration files.

Why it matters: This transition aims to modernize and simplify Zcash’s infrastructure. While it may require some adjustments from node operators, it could improve scalability and performance in the long run, which is good for ZEC’s future.
(Source)

3. NymVPN Integration (July 13, 2025)

What’s new: Zcash has partnered with Nym to allow users to pay for VPN subscriptions using shielded ZEC payments. This integration uses advanced privacy technologies (zk-Nym and Coconut protocol) to keep both payment details and user IP addresses anonymous.

Users pay with shielded ZEC, receive secure credentials, and can use NymVPN without revealing their identity. Upcoming wallet updates, like Zashi, will support this privacy-focused network integration.

Why it matters: This expands how ZEC can be used in real life, especially for users who value privacy. It highlights Zcash’s role in providing comprehensive anonymity solutions beyond just financial transactions.
(Source)

Conclusion

Zcash’s recent updates focus on enhancing privacy (NU6.1), modernizing infrastructure (Zebrad and Zallet), and expanding practical uses (NymVPN). These improvements come at a time when privacy is increasingly important amid regulatory challenges. It will be interesting to see how the volume of shielded ZEC transactions changes after NU6.1 goes live.

Why did the price of ZEC go up?

Zcash (ZEC) increased by 1.8% in the last 24 hours, continuing a strong 16% rise over the past week. The main reasons behind this growth are:

1. Growing Use of Privacy Technology – In July 2025, Zcash’s shielded payments were added to NymVPN, making private transactions more practical.
2. Positive Price Movement – ZEC’s price moved above a key $49 level, supported by technical indicators showing upward momentum.
3. Shift Toward Altcoins – The Altcoin Season Index jumped 69% in 30 days, with privacy-focused coins like Zcash gaining attention.

Deep Dive

1. Expansion of Privacy Features (Positive for ZEC)

What happened: On July 13, Zcash’s shielded transactions were integrated with NymVPN, a service that allows users to pay for VPN subscriptions privately. This is important as more people look for ways to keep their online activities confidential amid ongoing regulatory discussions.

Why it matters:

• This integration increases the real-world usefulness of Zcash’s privacy technology, called zk-SNARKs, which helps keep transactions hidden.
• Combining NymVPN’s network-level privacy with Zcash’s financial privacy creates a stronger overall privacy solution (Nym).

What to watch: How many people use shielded ZEC transactions in the last quarter of 2025.

2. Strong Technical Signals (Positive for ZEC)

What happened: ZEC’s price moved above its 7-day average price ($48.65) and a key resistance point at $49.1. Technical indicators show:

• MACD: A bullish crossover, meaning momentum is shifting upward (MACD line at 2.41 is above the signal line at 1.75).
• RSI (14-day): At 66.13, indicating growing buying interest but not yet overbought.
• Price targets based on Fibonacci extensions suggest ZEC could reach around $56.68.

Why it matters: Traders are responding to this breakout, and because ZEC has a low turnover ratio (0.114), even small increases in trading volume can lead to bigger price moves.

What to watch: Whether ZEC can stay above $50 to confirm the upward trend.

3. Altcoin Market Trends (Mixed Impact)

What happened: The Altcoin Season Index, which measures how altcoins are performing compared to Bitcoin, rose to 71, a 69% increase in 30 days. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s market share dropped from 58.8% to 56.8%.

Why it matters:

• Investors are moving money into mid-sized altcoins like Zcash, looking for higher returns.
• However, Zcash’s price gain (+1.8% in August) was less than some other privacy coins like Monero (+6%).

Conclusion

Zcash’s recent price increase is driven by a combination of growing adoption of its privacy technology, positive technical signals, and a broader market shift toward altcoins. However, with relatively low daily trading volume ($91.8 million), ZEC’s price could still be quite volatile.

Key point to watch: Can ZEC maintain its position above the $49.1 level as it faces competition from coins like Monero and increased regulatory attention on privacy-focused cryptocurrencies?