Why did the price of ZEC go up?
Zcash (ZEC) jumped 8.46% in the past 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market’s modest 0.19% gain. Here’s why:
- Renewed interest in privacy – The launch of Zcash’s Zashi CrossPay for private cross-chain transfers and security concerns with Monero increased demand for ZEC.
- Strong technical signals – The price broke through the $55 resistance level, supported by positive momentum indicators like MACD and RSI.
- Influencer support – Prominent crypto figures, including Helius CEO Mert, helped boost positive sentiment around ZEC.
Deep Dive
1. Privacy Technology Adoption (Positive for ZEC)
What happened: On September 16, Zcash introduced Zashi CrossPay, a feature that allows private transfers of over 100 different assets across blockchains using NEAR Intents. This led to a 15% increase in shielded ZEC holdings this month, now totaling 3.06 million ZEC (Electric Coin Company).
Why it matters: This new functionality attracts investors focused on privacy, especially since Monero recently faced security challenges from selfish mining attacks. ZEC’s shielded transactions now handle about $160 million daily, a 63% increase in the third quarter of 2025.
What to watch: The SEC is holding a privacy-focused roundtable on October 17. Clearer regulations could encourage wider adoption of privacy coins like Zcash.
2. Technical Momentum (Positive for ZEC)
What happened: On September 25, ZEC’s price broke above the $55 resistance level, sparking a 7% price increase. Technical indicators show bullish signs: the MACD histogram is positive (+0.28), and the 7-day RSI is at 59.8, indicating healthy momentum without being overbought.
Why it matters: Traders reacted to this breakout, with open interest in ZEC futures rising 38% to $19.3 million. The $55.85 level, corresponding to the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement, is now acting as a support level.
3. Social and Market Dynamics (Mixed Signals)
What happened: Influencers with over 387,000 combined followers, including Mert, Looposhi, and Vik Sharma, promoted ZEC as an “asymmetric opportunity.” However, data shows that 74% of liquidations in derivatives trading happened above $60, suggesting this price area could be a strong resistance.
Why it matters: There’s clear retail investor excitement (ZEC’s social media presence grew 22% this week), but many traders are using leverage, which increases the risk of a price squeeze if momentum slows.
Conclusion
Zcash’s recent price surge is driven by advancements in privacy technology, strong technical signals, and increased attention from crypto influencers. While indicators suggest potential to reach $61.13 (the high from September 24), investors should watch if the growth in shielded transactions continues to support demand after this rally.
Key point to watch: Will ZEC stay above the 7-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $54.58 during the next shift in Bitcoin’s market dominance?
What could affect the price of ZEC?
Zcash balances privacy innovation with growing regulatory challenges.
- Growing Use of Shielded Transactions – More people want privacy tools (Yahoo Finance, Sep 25, 2025)
- EU Privacy Coin Ban Coming in 2027 – Regulations vs. decentralized resistance (AMBCrypto, Sep 17, 2025)
- Monero’s Security Issues – Zcash (ZEC) may gain market share from Monero (XMR) (CoinJournal, Sep 24, 2025)
Deep Dive
1. Shielded Cross-Chain Utility (Positive Outlook)
Overview: Zcash’s new Zashi CrossPay feature, launched on September 16, 2025, works with NEAR Intents to allow private payments across more than 20 different blockchains. According to Electric Coin Company, the use of shielded transactions (which keep details private) grew 15% in the third quarter of 2025.
What this means: This improved functionality could attract users in decentralized finance (DeFi) who want to keep their transactions private, potentially increasing demand for ZEC. However, for wider adoption, the user experience of shielded wallets needs to be simpler and more user-friendly.
2. EU Privacy Crackdown (Potential Risk)
Overview: Starting in 2027, the European Union’s Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) will ban anonymous cryptocurrency transactions, directly affecting privacy coins like Zcash and Monero. France’s financial regulator (AMF) has even threatened to block licenses for privacy-focused crypto platforms across the EU.
What this means: This could lead to ZEC being removed from major exchanges, reducing liquidity and making it harder to trade. However, decentralized exchanges (like Maya DEX) might help keep trading alive. For example, Monero saw increased peer-to-peer trading after similar delistings in 2024.
3. Competition with Monero (Mixed Impact)
Overview: Monero faced security problems in August 2025 due to attacks on its blockchain, which hurt user confidence. Meanwhile, Zcash’s zk-SNARKs technology now supports 3.1 million shielded ZEC transactions (worth $161 million), compared to Monero’s 1.2 million active users.
What this means: Zcash’s advanced technology could attract privacy-focused users. However, ZEC’s privacy is optional (“opt-in”), while Monero enforces privacy by default, which might keep some users loyal to Monero.
Conclusion
Zcash’s future depends on how well it can innovate to stay ahead of regulatory hurdles while convincing institutions of its value. The upcoming EU ban in 2027 is a major challenge, but new cross-chain features and Monero’s recent issues could help ZEC gain ground. Keep an eye on the October 28, 2025 ZCAP governance vote—if funding for development is cut, progress could slow.
Will Zcash’s focus on privacy overcome regulatory obstacles?
What are people saying about ZEC?
Zcash is gaining attention again as privacy becomes a hot topic. It’s showing promise with new technology upgrades, but some traders remain cautious. Here’s the latest:
- Shielded ZEC payments now accepted by NymVPN – a positive step combining financial privacy with secure internet use
- Concerns about slow adoption – some community members want faster growth and wider use
- Challenges with centralized exchanges (CEX) – ongoing discussions about how easy it is to access ZEC
In-Depth Look
1. @nymproject: Boosting Privacy with NymVPN Integration — Positive News
"NymVPN subscriptions now accept shielded ZEC – credentials randomized for unlinkability, storing only proof of payment."
– @nymproject (32K followers · 18K impressions · 2025-07-13 08:03 UTC)
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What this means: This is good news for Zcash. By allowing users to pay for NymVPN subscriptions with shielded ZEC, it combines Zcash’s strong transaction privacy with NymVPN’s network anonymity. This could encourage more people to use shielded transactions, which keep payments private and untraceable.
2. @PrivahSee: Frustration Over Slow Adoption — Negative Sentiment
"Zcash desperately needs more testosterone."
– @PrivahSee (4.2K followers · 2.1K impressions · 2025-09-21 16:19 UTC)
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What this means: This comment reflects some frustration in the Zcash community. Despite strong privacy features, Zcash isn’t growing as fast as some competitors like Monero. This suggests Zcash may need better marketing or easier-to-use tools to attract more users.
3. @KeenanRIVALS: Issues with Centralized Exchanges — Neutral Discussion
"My issue with Zcash is not wanting to constantly replenish via CEX."
– @KeenanRIVALS (8.7K followers · 5.3K impressions · 2025-09-22 18:30 UTC)
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What this means: This highlights a common challenge: many users rely on centralized exchanges (CEX) to buy or sell ZEC, which can be inconvenient or risky. However, this also points to opportunities for new solutions like decentralized exchanges (DEX) or improved wallets that don’t require middlemen.
Conclusion
Overall, the outlook for Zcash is mostly positive. Privacy-focused partnerships like the one with NymVPN and a strong price increase of 92% over the past year (Yahoo Finance) support optimism. However, concerns about slow adoption and technical indicators showing the price might be overextended (RSI 74 as of May 2025) suggest caution. Keep an eye on the shielded transaction volume, currently at 3.06 million ZEC, as a key sign of whether demand for privacy is driving real network use.
What is the latest news about ZEC?
Zcash is gaining momentum in privacy-focused cryptocurrency with new cross-chain features and strong support from industry influencers. However, technical indicators suggest potential price swings ahead. Here’s a quick summary:
- NEAR Integration & Zashi CrossPay (September 16, 2025) – Zcash now supports private payments across more than 100 digital assets using shielded ZEC.
- 92% Annual Price Increase (September 25, 2025) – ZEC’s price doubled year-to-date, helped by endorsements and issues faced by competitor Monero.
- 11% Price Jump with Caution (September 25, 2025) – Recent gains driven by derivatives trading, but some technical signs warn of possible volatility.
In-Depth Look
1. NEAR Integration & Zashi CrossPay (September 16, 2025)
What happened: The Electric Coin Company introduced Zashi CrossPay through NEAR Intents, enabling users holding shielded ZEC to make private transactions across 20 different blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Since the launch, the volume of shielded transactions has increased, and the Zashi wallet now supports encrypted messages for added privacy.
Why it matters: This development expands Zcash’s use beyond just a privacy coin, making it a versatile payment option across multiple blockchain networks. Growing cross-chain use could boost the number of private transactions, which is a key advantage of ZEC. (CoinJournal)
2. 92% Annual Price Increase (September 25, 2025)
What happened: ZEC’s price rose 92% compared to last year, reaching $56.29. This surge was supported by endorsements from crypto influencers like Helius CEO Mert, Cake Wallet’s Vik Sharma, and Placeholder VC’s Chris Burniske. The rally also followed security issues with Monero’s mining pools, which shifted attention to Zcash’s privacy technology called zk-SNARKs.
Why it matters: The price boost shows growing interest in Zcash, but it still ranks 84th by market value at $954 million. This suggests there’s potential for further growth if more people start using it. (Coinspeaker)
3. 11% Price Jump with Caution (September 25, 2025)
What happened: ZEC’s price jumped 11% in one day, with open interest in derivatives rising 38% to $19.3 million. However, technical indicators like the Money Flow Index (47.5) and Aroon Down (85%) point to bearish momentum. Also, clusters of liquidations around $54 suggest the price could be unstable.
Why it matters: While traders are betting on higher prices, some signals warn that the market might experience ups and downs soon. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) near 74 indicates the coin might be overbought, so caution is advised. (AMBCrypto)
Conclusion
Zcash is making strides with privacy technology and gaining support from the crypto community. However, technical signs and upcoming regulations—like the EU’s planned ban on privacy coins by 2027—pose challenges. The key question is whether Zcash’s growth in private transactions can outpace these risks as the market evolves.
What is expected in the development of ZEC?
Zcash is moving forward with some important updates:
- Dev Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025) – The community will decide whether to continue funding Zcash’s growth and development.
- Shielded Payment Integrations (2025–2026) – Expanding privacy-focused partnerships like NymVPN and BTC Pay Server to make private transactions easier.
- Protocol Scalability Upgrades (Ongoing) – Improving the network to make transactions faster and more efficient.
Deep Dive
1. Dev Fund Renewal Vote (November 2025)
What’s happening:
Zcash currently funds its development by taking 20% of block rewards and using that money for upgrades, security checks, and grants. This funding ends in November 2025. The community will vote on six different proposals to decide how to fund Zcash moving forward.
Why it matters:
Until the vote is settled, there’s some uncertainty which could slow down progress. If the community votes “yes” to renew funding, it will support ongoing innovation. If “no,” important projects might not get enough money.
2. Shielded Payment Integrations (2025–2026)
What’s happening:
Zcash is working to increase the use of shielded transactions, which keep payments private. For example, in July 2025, Zcash plans to integrate with NymVPN, a privacy-focused VPN service, and add a plugin for BTC Pay Server, making it easier for merchants to accept private payments. Support for Orchard addresses (a type of private address) is also coming to these tools.
Why it matters:
More people using shielded transactions is a positive sign for Zcash because it shows growing demand for privacy. In the past, increases in shielded transaction use have been linked to price gains. However, privacy tools sometimes face extra regulatory attention, which could be a challenge.
3. Protocol Scalability Upgrades (Ongoing)
What’s happening:
The Electric Coin Company (ECC) engineering team is working on making the Zcash network faster and more efficient. Projects like Tachyon aim to enable offline transactions, and Zebra node improvements will help reduce delays and make it easier for lightweight wallets to operate.
Why it matters:
Faster and cheaper transactions could attract more users and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects to Zcash. But Zcash faces competition from other privacy coins like Monero, and regulatory issues could slow adoption.
Conclusion
Zcash’s roadmap focuses on key governance decisions, like the Dev Fund vote, alongside technical improvements that enhance privacy and usability. While expanding shielded payments and improving scalability could boost demand, the November 2025 vote will be a critical moment for the project’s future funding and community support. Additionally, how global privacy laws evolve will play a big role in shaping Zcash’s growth and adoption.
What updates are there in the ZEC code base?
In the third quarter of 2025, Zcash made important upgrades to its node software and privacy features.
- Node Migration Plan (April 2025) – Phasing out the old zcashd software in favor of Zebra nodes and Zallet wallets.
- Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025) – Fixed bugs in the Orchard wallet and prepared for the NU6.1 testnet launch.
- RPC Method Update (v6.2.0) – Disabled outdated commands to simplify node operations.
In-Depth Look
1. Node Migration Plan (April 2025)
What happened: Zcash started moving away from its original node software, zcashd, and introduced Zebra, a new node written in Rust, along with the Zallet wallet. This change is designed to modernize the network and make it more scalable.
Node operators are now required to add a configuration setting to acknowledge this migration. Older commands, like z_getbalance, were turned off to encourage users to switch to Zebra’s new API (Source).
Why it matters: In the short term, this change won’t affect ZEC’s value much. But in the long run, updating to modern software could improve network speed and attract more developers. There might be some temporary challenges as tools adjust to the new system.
2. Zcashd 6.3.0 Release (August 1, 2025)
What happened: This update fixed important bugs in the Orchard wallet, which handles private transactions, and got the network ready for the NU6.1 testnet launch.
One bug caused the getbalance command to incorrectly report balances for certain private transactions. This was fixed by improving how the system checks transaction ownership (Source). NU6.1 also brings improvements like standardized fees and better shielded pool performance, scheduled to activate on the testnet at block 3,536,500.
Why it matters: This is a positive development for ZEC. Accurate balance reporting builds user confidence, and the NU6.1 upgrade shows ongoing improvements to Zcash’s privacy and efficiency.
3. RPC Method Update (v6.2.0)
What happened: Version 6.2.0 removed some risky and outdated commands, such as createrawtransaction, and turned off wallet-dependent features by default.
Support for Ubuntu 20.04 was dropped due to technical limitations with GitHub’s continuous integration tools, encouraging users to upgrade their operating systems. Intel-based macOS was officially classified as a Tier 3 platform, meaning it’s supported but not a priority.
Why it matters: This update is neutral for ZEC’s price. Simplifying commands reduces security risks but might cause issues for older tools that depend on the removed features.
Conclusion
Zcash’s 2025 updates focus on modernizing the network with Zebra and Zallet, fixing critical bugs, and preparing for the NU6.1 upgrade. While node operators may face some challenges during this transition, these changes support Zcash’s commitment to privacy and secure, efficient transactions. The big question now is how well ecosystem tools will adapt to Zebra’s new API before the 2025 deadline.