What could affect the price of ZEC?
Zcash faces a privacy challenge – positive signs for adoption, but concerns over regulation.
- Regulatory Pressure – Global crackdowns may lead to fewer exchange listings
- Shielded Adoption – Integration with NymVPN boosts private payments
- Funding Vote – November 2025 decision on developer funding will shape future plans
Deep Dive
1. Regulatory Pressure (Negative Impact)
Overview:
Since 2023, about 45% of major cryptocurrency exchanges have removed privacy-focused coins like Zcash from their platforms (CoinGecko). The European Union plans to ban these coins by 2027. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a memo in July 2025 targeting cryptocurrencies that enhance user anonymity.
What this means:
When exchanges stop listing Zcash, it becomes harder to buy and sell, reducing trading activity. This year, the number of trading pairs for ZEC dropped by 22%. However, peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, where users trade directly without an exchange, now makes up 37% of ZEC’s volume (Chainalysis Q2 2025). This creates a split market between regulated platforms and underground trading.
2. Shielded Adoption (Positive Impact)
Overview:
The amount of Zcash held in “shielded” (private) transactions increased by 15.5% year-over-year, reaching 3.06 million coins as of May 2025. NymVPN, a privacy-focused virtual private network, now allows users to pay subscriptions using shielded ZEC transactions. Additionally, the BTC Pay Server plugin supports shielded payments for online stores.
What this means:
Growing real-world uses of Zcash’s privacy features—like 569 daily shielded transactions (Zcash Foundation)—could increase demand. Still, only 18% of all ZEC coins are currently shielded, suggesting most holders treat Zcash more as an investment than a privacy tool.
3. Funding Vote (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
By November 2025, the Zcash community will vote on whether to continue allocating 20% of block rewards to developer funding. Proposals include maintaining current funding or switching to a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) model.
What this means:
Past data shows that active development boosts ZEC’s price. For example, after the 2020 halving and the Sapling upgrade, ZEC’s price rose 217% over nine months. If funding stops, important projects like Tachyon (which enables offline transactions) and Orchard pool expansion could be delayed.
Conclusion
Zcash’s future price depends on balancing regulatory challenges with advances in privacy technology. The November funding vote is a key moment—approval could support development to counter regulatory pressures, while rejection might slow progress. Keep an eye on the ratio of shielded to transparent transactions; if shielded transactions surpass transparent ones, it would indicate a major shift in demand.
Will ZEC’s privacy technology stay ahead of surveillance efforts?
What are people saying about ZEC?
Zcash’s privacy technology is generating buzz and reminding some of past regulatory challenges. Here’s what’s trending right now:
- NymVPN now accepts shielded ZEC – a positive partnership for privacy
- Traders are targeting $60 after breaking above $50
- Binance reverses course, removing the risk of ZEC being delisted
- Shielded transactions surpassed $161 million in June
- Long-term holders advise patience during market ups and downs
Deep Dive
1. @nymproject: Privacy features integrated with NymVPN
“You can now pay for NymVPN subscriptions using shielded ZEC, combining financial and network privacy.”
– @nymproject (82K followers · 12.3K impressions · 2025-07-13 08:03 UTC)
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What this means: This is a positive development for Zcash, showing it’s being used for more than just currency. However, it’s important to keep an eye on how much shielded transaction volume grows to understand real adoption.
2. CoinMarketCap Community: $60 price target gaining attention
“Buy between $48.80 and $50.00, with a target price of $60. No major resistance above $51.”
– Anonymous trader (2025-05-23 01:03 UTC)
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What this means: The technical outlook is somewhat positive, but the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 74, which means the price might be overbought and could pull back soon.
3. U.Today: Binance removes ZEC from its watchlist
“Binance lifted the monitoring tag on July 9 after review, reducing the risk of delisting.”
– Exchange announcement (2025-07-09 15:43 UTC)
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What this means: This is a good sign of institutional support. However, ZEC is still not available on some U.S. platforms due to privacy regulations.
4. Finbold: Shielded transactions reach $161 million
“3.12 million ZEC (15% of circulating supply) are now in private pools, up 15% month-over-month in June.”
– Data report (2025-06-01 13:17 UTC)
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What this means: This shows growing use of Zcash’s privacy features, although most transactions are still transparent (12.98 million ZEC). It’s important to watch if shielded transactions continue to increase.
5. @_shadowsols: “Hold through the noise”
“Zcash isn’t just a trade; it’s a bet on the future need for financial privacy.”
– @_shadowsols (14K followers · 8.9K impressions · 2025-08-24 16:54 UTC)
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What this means: The long-term outlook is neutral to positive. The community is debating whether Zcash’s optional privacy features set it apart enough from other coins like Monero (XMR) or Bitcoin (BTC).
Conclusion
Overall, the outlook for Zcash is cautiously optimistic. Positive price movements, increased use of shielded transactions, and reduced risk of exchange delisting support this view. However, past regulatory crackdowns on privacy coins still weigh on sentiment. Keep an eye on the ratio of shielded to transparent transactions (currently about 1 to 4.2) to see if Zcash’s privacy features are being widely used or if trading remains mostly speculative.
What is the latest news about ZEC?
Zcash is making strides in privacy improvements and exchange support while experiencing a quiet but steady price increase.
- Shielded ZEC Powers NymVPN (July 9, 2025) – Zcash is now used for private VPN subscriptions, enhancing user anonymity.
- BTC Pay Adds Zcash Shielded Payments (July 13, 2025) – Merchants can accept private Zcash transactions, making it easier to use ZEC in everyday business.
- Binance Reverses ZEC Delisting Threat (July 9, 2025) – Binance decided to keep Zcash listed after reviewing regulatory risks.
Deep Dive
1. Shielded ZEC Powers NymVPN (July 9, 2025)
Overview:
NymVPN now accepts shielded ZEC payments. This means users can pay for VPN services using Zcash’s privacy features, which hide transaction details and protect user identities through advanced cryptography called zk-SNARKs. This technology ensures payment information stays private without revealing who is paying.
What this means:
This is a positive development for Zcash because it expands its use beyond just sending money to also protecting online privacy. The partnership meets growing demand for tools that keep internet activity anonymous, especially after legal challenges to similar privacy tools like Tornado Cash have eased concerns (Nym).
2. BTC Pay Adds Zcash Shielded Payments (July 13, 2025)
Overview:
BTC Pay Server, a popular payment platform for merchants, now supports Zcash shielded payments through a new plugin. This allows businesses to accept private ZEC transactions that are confirmed on the blockchain. The system works efficiently even on lightweight setups, making it easier for merchants to adopt.
What this means:
This development makes it simpler for businesses to accept Zcash, encouraging wider use in commerce. Although shielded transactions are still less common than transparent ones, this integration helps position Zcash as a practical choice for businesses that want optional privacy with accountability (ZecHub).
3. Binance Reverses ZEC Delisting Threat (July 9, 2025)
Overview:
Binance removed Zcash from its “Monitoring Tag” list, which means the exchange no longer considers delisting ZEC likely after a compliance review. Despite past concerns about Zcash’s privacy features, it continues to have strong trading volume, averaging $8.5 million daily.
What this means:
This is a neutral outcome for Zcash. It avoids sudden drops in liquidity but doesn’t fully clear regulatory uncertainties. Binance’s decision is part of a broader trend of easing restrictions on several cryptocurrencies, indicating a return to more standard policies rather than a specific vote of confidence in Zcash (U.Today).
Conclusion
Zcash’s privacy technology is gaining traction in specialized areas like VPN services and merchant payments, even as regulatory challenges remain. Exchanges like Binance are cautiously supporting ZEC, helping maintain market access. With shielded transactions reaching 3.06 million ZEC in May 2025—a 15.5% increase from the previous month—the question is whether ongoing upgrades can turn this momentum into lasting demand driven by real-world use.
What is expected in the development of ZEC?
Zcash is focusing on improving privacy features and growing its ecosystem.
- NymVPN Shielded Payments (July 2025) – Allows private payments in Zcash (ZEC) for VPN subscriptions using advanced privacy tech.
- Maya Protocol DeFi Integration (May 2025) – Enables swapping ZEC for other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum across different blockchains.
- Development Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025) – The community will decide whether to continue funding Zcash’s development after 2025.
- Zashi Wallet Upgrades (April 2025) – Updates to make the wallet easier to use and support private cross-chain swaps.
Deep Dive
1. NymVPN Shielded Payments (July 2025)
What’s happening: Zcash teamed up with NymVPN to let users pay for VPN services privately using ZEC. This combines two privacy technologies: one that hides transaction details (zk-SNARKs) and another that masks internet traffic (mixnet/IP obfuscation). Payments use special addresses to keep transactions untraceable (Nym).
Why it matters: This partnership could boost real-world use of Zcash’s private transactions. However, privacy-focused tools sometimes face regulatory challenges, which could impact adoption.
2. Maya Protocol DeFi Integration (May 2025)
What’s happening: Zcash connected with Maya Protocol’s decentralized exchange (DEX) to allow users to swap shielded ZEC for other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) across different blockchains. This helps with liquidity while keeping privacy intact (Kanalcoin).
Why it matters: This integration could attract more users by increasing Zcash’s usefulness in decentralized finance (DeFi). However, if users frequently convert between private and public assets, it might reduce overall privacy.
3. Development Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025)
What’s happening: The Zcash community will vote on proposals to continue funding development after the current fund expires. Right now, 20% of mining rewards support the Electric Coin Company (ECC) and the Zcash Foundation. Without renewal, progress on upgrades could slow down (CoinMarketCap).
Why it matters: If funding stops, developer activity—which has grown 37% year-over-year—might decline, potentially hurting Zcash’s future growth. A successful vote would keep development and partnerships moving forward.
4. Zashi Wallet Upgrades (April 2025)
What’s happening: The latest update to the Zashi wallet improved how users manage private addresses and added support for cross-chain swaps through Thorchain, reducing the need for centralized exchanges (Kanalcoin).
Why it matters: Easier-to-use privacy tools can help bring more mainstream users to Zcash. The volume of shielded transactions has already increased by 15.5% year-over-year, showing growing interest.
Conclusion
Zcash is working to balance strong privacy protections with expanding its ecosystem, especially through DeFi and user-friendly tools. Partnerships like those with NymVPN and Maya Protocol help strengthen its position, but regulatory challenges and funding decisions will be key to watch. The big question remains: can Zcash’s private transactions continue to stand out as its main advantage amid growing competition from other privacy-focused solutions?
What updates are there in the ZEC code base?
Zcash is making important updates focused on improving privacy, moving to new software for running the network, and enhancing wallet features.
- NU6.1 Testnet Launch (August 1, 2025) – Testing new network rules and fixing bugs to improve privacy and transaction accuracy.
- Zcashd Phase-Out Plan (April 2025) – Moving from the old Zcashd software to new Zebra nodes and Zallet wallets by the end of 2025.
- Zashi Wallet 2.0.3 Update (April 2025) – Better support for private addresses and easier token swaps across different blockchains.
In-Depth Look
1. NU6.1 Testnet Launch (August 1, 2025)
What’s happening: The Zcash development team released version 6.3.0 of their software on the test network. This update prepares for Network Upgrade 6.1 (NU6.1), which includes new rules for how transactions are processed and fixes bugs related to private transactions using the Orchard protocol.
The upgrade activates at a specific point in the test network and includes improvements like those described in ZIP 1014, which enhance the privacy features of shielded pools (private transaction pools). It also fixes errors that caused incorrect balance displays when spending certain private notes. Additionally, the default transaction format is updated to a newer version (v5), aligning with current standards.
Why it matters: These changes strengthen Zcash’s privacy features and make private transactions more reliable. If you run a node (a computer that helps maintain the network), you’ll need to update your software to stay compatible. (Source)
2. Zcashd Phase-Out Plan (April 2025)
What’s happening: The old Zcashd software, which many nodes currently use, will be retired in 2025. It will be replaced by Zebra (a new full node implementation) and Zallet (a new wallet). The developers have provided guides to help users switch and have updated the software to warn users about this change.
In version 6.2.0, some older commands were removed or disabled, and users must add a special setting (i-am-aware-zcashd-will-be-replaced-by-zebrad-and-zallet-in-2025=1) to their configuration files to acknowledge the transition.
Why it matters: This change is neutral in the short term but important long term. Users and developers should start testing Zebra and Zallet early because some commands and features will change. (Source)
3. Zashi Wallet 2.0.3 Update (April 2025)
What’s happening: The Zashi mobile wallet received a redesign to improve user experience and added better support for swapping tokens across different blockchains through Maya DEX integration.
The update focuses on making shielded (private) addresses easier to use and allows users to swap shielded Zcash (ZEC) for other tokens smoothly. It also optimizes the wallet to use fewer resources on mobile devices.
Why it matters: This update makes it easier for people to use private transactions and could increase the use and liquidity of ZEC by connecting it with other tokens. (Source)
Conclusion
Zcash is focusing on long-term improvements with the NU6.1 privacy upgrade, transitioning to Zebra and Zallet software, and enhancing wallet usability. These updates strengthen Zcash’s position as a leading privacy-focused cryptocurrency but require users and developers to adapt to new tools. The key question is how the community will balance keeping older systems working while embracing new technology as Zebra becomes the standard.
Why did the price of ZEC go up?
Zcash (ZEC) increased by 3.22% in the last 24 hours, reaching $51.79, outperforming the overall crypto market, which saw a slight rise of 0.017%. This growth is driven by positive technical signals, easing concerns about delisting, and renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
- Privacy Adoption Boost – NymVPN now accepts shielded ZEC payments, increasing its practical use.
- Regulatory Relief – Binance removed ZEC from its “Monitoring Tag,” reducing fears of delisting.
- Technical Breakout – The price surpassed key resistance levels, indicating upward momentum.
Deep Dive
1. Privacy Integration Momentum (Positive Impact)
Overview: Zcash’s shielded transactions, which keep sender, receiver, and amount private, gained more attention when NymVPN announced it now accepts these private ZEC payments (Nym Project). This comes after recent security concerns in other cryptocurrencies raised awareness about the importance of privacy on blockchains.
What this means: This development strengthens Zcash’s position as a privacy-focused digital currency. By combining shielded transactions with Nym’s network-layer privacy technology, users can enjoy a higher level of anonymity, appealing to those who value comprehensive financial privacy.
What to watch: Growth in the use of shielded ZEC transactions and how regulators respond to privacy technologies, especially following cases like Tornado Cash.
2. Reduced Delisting Risk (Positive Impact)
Overview: On July 9, 2025, Binance removed ZEC from its “Monitoring Tag” list (U.Today), which had flagged the coin as high-risk due to its privacy features. This move reduces concerns about ZEC being removed from major exchanges.
What this means: This change eases worries about ZEC’s availability on exchanges, which is important for maintaining liquidity. Despite a general drop in crypto trading volume (-24.54%), ZEC’s 24-hour trading volume remains steady at $90.9 million.
What to watch: Ongoing compliance with exchange rules and clearer regulations around privacy coins.
3. Technical Breakout (Mixed Impact)
Overview: ZEC’s price moved above its 7-day simple moving average ($50.45) and the Fibonacci 23.6% retracement level ($51.49). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 58.5 suggests there’s room for further gains. However, the MACD histogram at -0.06 shows some bearish signals still present.
What this means: There is short-term bullish momentum, but resistance near $55 (the 38.2% Fibonacci level) could limit gains. Traders are watching for a price close above $52 to aim for targets between $55 and $60, according to community discussions (CoinMarketCap).
What to watch: Consistent daily trading volume above $100 million and a positive MACD crossover to confirm an upward trend.
Conclusion
Zcash’s recent price increase is supported by strong technical factors, reduced regulatory pressures, and growing real-world use of its privacy features. While the outlook is mostly positive, resistance around $55 and a slow overall market could pose challenges.
Key watch: Will ZEC maintain its price above $50 despite a drop in overall crypto trading volume (-24.54%)? Keep an eye on the growth of shielded transactions and updates from exchanges for clues on future direction.