Why did the price of ZEC go up?
Zcash (ZEC) jumped 59.78% in the last 24 hours, far outperforming the overall crypto market’s 3.92% increase. This surge is driven by growing interest in privacy, strong technical signals, and attention from both big investors and everyday traders.
- Privacy demand is back – ZEC is seen as a safeguard against Bitcoin risks, especially with concerns about government digital currencies and surveillance.
- Technical breakout – ZEC broke through key resistance levels, with indicators showing strong buying momentum.
- Investor excitement – Trading volume soared (+201.58%) and Google searches for Zcash hit record highs.
Deep Dive
1. Growing Interest in Privacy (Positive for ZEC)
What’s happening:
Zcash’s price rise matches a renewed focus on privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. Many worry that Bitcoin’s transparent ledger could expose user data, especially as governments explore Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) that might increase surveillance. Naval Ravikant’s popular quote — “Bitcoin is insurance against fiat. Zcash is insurance against Bitcoin” — helped boost this idea (Decrypt).
Why it matters:
- Zcash uses advanced privacy tech called zk-SNARKs, which keeps transactions confidential.
- A recent U.S. executive order limiting CBDC restrictions (effective January 2025) eased some regulatory worries.
- The number of private (shielded) transactions jumped to 3.06 million after the Zashi CrossPay upgrade on September 16, showing more real-world use.
Keep an eye on: Whether shielded transactions continue to grow and if traders start taking profits near $121, ZEC’s highest price in three years.
2. Technical Breakout (Mixed Signals)
What’s happening:
ZEC’s price broke above a key Fibonacci retracement level at $58.47 and moved past its 2022 resistance zone between $120 and $126.
What this means:
- The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hit 90.01, indicating the coin is extremely overbought but also showing strong buying interest.
- The MACD indicator confirms bullish momentum with a positive histogram value of +5.04.
- The next price target is around $150, based on Fibonacci extensions, but some price corrections are likely if the RSI stays this high.
Watch for: Support holding at $106, which could prevent a price pullback.
3. Increased Trading and Market Sentiment (Positive)
What’s happening:
Trading volume in the past 24 hours surged to $765 million, a 201% increase, and ZEC climbed 28 spots in market capitalization rankings since mid-September.
Why it matters:
- Retail investors are showing strong interest, with Google searches for “Zcash” nearing all-time highs (Coinspeaker).
- Derivatives markets show increased activity, with open interest in ZEC perpetual contracts rising 10.42%, suggesting more leveraged trading.
Conclusion
Zcash’s recent price surge is fueled by renewed privacy demand, strong technical momentum, and increased trading activity. While the outlook is mostly positive, the coin is currently overbought, and privacy-focused cryptocurrencies could face regulatory challenges.
Key points to watch:
- Can ZEC stay above $120 to aim for $150?
- Will traders take profits and cause a pullback?
- Monitor shielded transaction growth and Bitcoin’s market dominance (currently 58.33%) for broader market trends.
What could affect the price of ZEC?
Zcash’s future price depends on how widely its privacy technology is adopted, changes in regulations, and overall market trends.
- Growth in Private Transactions – New partnerships like NymVPN and Zashi CrossPay increase real-world use of Zcash’s privacy features.
- Regulatory Challenges – U.S. bans on digital currencies like CBDCs could boost demand for Zcash’s privacy, but new rules might also limit its use.
- Price Momentum Signals – Technical indicators show strong upward momentum but also warn of a possible price pullback soon.
Deep Dive
1. Growth in Private Transactions (Positive for Price)
Overview:
Since the launch of Zashi CrossPay on September 16, 2025, Zcash’s shielded pool—the part of the network that keeps transactions private—has grown by 18%, now holding about 3.06 million ZEC (worth roughly $361 million). This service lets users swap Zcash privately with Bitcoin and Ethereum. Additionally, NymVPN (Nym) now accepts Zcash for anonymous subscription payments, combining privacy for both internet use and finances.
What this means:
Historically, every 10% rise in private (shielded) transactions has led to about a 22% increase in Zcash’s price between 2023 and 2025. As privacy features become easier to use through popular services like VPNs and decentralized finance (DeFi), demand for Zcash could grow, attracting more developers and improving the technology further.
2. U.S. Regulatory Challenges (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
In January 2025, former President Trump issued an executive order banning the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the U.S. This sparked a 412% year-over-year increase in online searches for “privacy coins” like Zcash. However, the U.S. Treasury’s proposed “Travel Rule 2.0” could require exchanges to collect identity information (KYC) for Zcash withdrawals starting in 2026 (Decrypt).
What this means:
In the short term, Zcash may benefit as people look for ways to protect their financial privacy, supporting its value as a kind of “insurance” against government surveillance, as noted by investor Naval Ravikant. But in the long term, if major exchanges like Coinbase, Gemini, or Kraken (which handle 63% of Zcash trading volume) decide to delist Zcash to comply with regulations, it could hurt liquidity and price.
3. Price Momentum and Market Timing (Potential Risk)
Overview:
On October 1, Zcash’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) reached 90, a level last seen before a 68% price drop in 2021. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator (+5.04) suggests strong momentum that could push prices up to $180, based on technical analysis.
What this means:
Traders might start taking profits around $150, which is a common price correction level. However, upcoming events like the 2025 halving (which reduces new Zcash supply) and seasonal trends in October (“Uptober,” with an average 34% price increase since 2020) could support further gains.
Conclusion
Zcash’s price will likely fluctuate based on how well its privacy features are adopted and how regulations evolve. A key milestone to watch is whether private (shielded) transactions exceed 50% of all Zcash by 2026—currently, they make up 19%. The upcoming Zcon3 conference on October 15 will be important for announcements about partnerships. Will the Zashi-Nym integration spark a broader privacy-focused app ecosystem, or will it remain a niche offering? Stay tuned.
What are people saying about ZEC?
Zcash’s recent price surge has caught the attention of privacy supporters and traders aiming for triple-digit gains. Here’s what’s driving the buzz:
- Breakout excitement after ZEC breaks an 8-year downtrend against Bitcoin (BTC)
- Partnership with NymVPN allows private payments using shielded ZEC
- Endorsement from Naval Ravikant calling ZEC “insurance against Bitcoin”
Deep Dive
1. ZEC/BTC Breakout After 8 Years — A Bullish Signal
Trader @TraderButWhy shared on Twitter:
“ZEC just broke a 96-month downward trend against BTC – this is the most important technical move in its history.”
This means that Zcash’s price closing above 0.0006072 BTC on September 30 signals renewed interest from big investors in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies after years of underperformance.
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2. NymVPN Partnership Enables Private Payments with Shielded ZEC — Bullish for Real-World Use
The Nym Project announced:
“You can now pay for VPN subscriptions using fully private ZEC transactions, combining financial and network privacy.”
This partnership boosts Zcash’s practical use. Data from the Zashi wallet shows shielded transactions jumped to 3.06 million ZEC after integration, highlighting growing adoption.
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3. Naval Ravikant Calls ZEC “Bitcoin Insurance” — A Strong Endorsement
Investor and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant tweeted:
“Bitcoin protects against fiat currency collapse; Zcash protects against Bitcoin surveillance. Own both.”
This high-profile support coincided with a 41% price jump on October 1, as concerns about central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) increased.
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Conclusion
The outlook for Zcash is positive, driven by key technical breakthroughs, growing privacy technology adoption, and influential endorsements. While some challenges remain, like limited exchange access (noted by @KeenanRIVALS), shielded transactions are up 22% month-over-month, and Google searches for “privacy coins” hit an all-time high on October 1. Keep an eye on the $98 resistance level—breaking it could lead ZEC to revisit its 2021 price highs.
What is the latest news about ZEC?
Zcash is gaining attention and hitting its highest prices in three years, driven by growing interest in privacy, influential endorsements, and strong technical momentum. Here’s a quick summary of the latest developments:
- ZEC Reaches $121 (October 1, 2025) – A 63% jump in one day as concerns about government digital currencies (CBDCs) increase demand for private transactions.
- Naval Ravikant Supports ZEC (October 1, 2025) – The well-known investor called Zcash “insurance against Bitcoin” surveillance risks.
- Google Searches Surge (October 1, 2025) – Searches for “Zcash” are near record levels, coinciding with a 292% price increase over the past year.
In-Depth Look
1. ZEC Hits $121 (October 1, 2025)
What happened:
Zcash’s price jumped to $121, its highest since April 2022, with weekly gains over 100%. This rise comes amid growing concerns about central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain. Industry leaders, like Helius CEO Mert Mumtaz, emphasize the need for “private money” in a world where governments issue digital currencies.
Why it matters:
Zcash is seen as a way to protect financial privacy, making it attractive as a hedge against government surveillance. This is especially relevant after the U.S. government banned CBDCs in January 2025, highlighting political risks tied to transparent blockchain ledgers. However, ZEC’s price is still far below its peak in 2016, which means it can be quite volatile. (Decrypt)
2. Naval Ravikant Endorses ZEC (October 1, 2025)
What happened:
Investor Naval Ravikant caused a 27% price jump in one day by calling Zcash “insurance against Bitcoin.” He pointed out that Zcash’s shielded transactions help protect users from blockchain surveillance.
Why it matters:
This endorsement expands Zcash’s appeal beyond privacy-focused users to Bitcoin holders who want optional anonymity. With over 260,000 followers, Ravikant’s support could boost interest from larger investors. Still, wider adoption depends on making the technology easier to use, like the recent Zashi CrossPay upgrade in September. (U.Today)
3. Google Searches Spike (October 1, 2025)
What happened:
Search interest for “Zcash” is near all-time highs, matching a 292% price increase over the last year. This interest is linked to recent upgrades like NEAR Intents integration and a rise in shielded transactions (3.06 million ZEC this month vs. 2.65 million last month).
Why it matters:
More people searching for Zcash suggests growing retail interest. However, ZEC is less visible on popular tracking sites like CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko compared to competitors like Monero. If exchanges improve support, Zcash could see even more growth. Technical signals warn the price might be overextended right now, so strong daily trading volumes above $100 million will be important to sustain momentum. (Coinspeaker)
Conclusion
Zcash’s recent price surge is driven by growing concerns about government digital currencies, influential endorsements, and increased use of private transactions. The key challenge now is breaking through resistance at $125. Upcoming upgrades like Zashi CrossPay will be crucial to turning current excitement into long-term value, while investors watch closely for possible profit-taking.
What is expected in the development of ZEC?
Zcash is making progress with these key updates:
- Dev Fund Governance Vote (November 2025) – The community will decide how future development is funded.
- Protocol Scalability Upgrades (Ongoing) – Efforts to improve the network’s speed and capacity are underway.
- Tachyon Offline Transactions (Future) – Plans to allow private payments without internet access.
In-Depth Look
1. Dev Fund Governance Vote (November 2025)
What’s happening: The Zcash community will vote on six proposals to replace the current development fund, which uses 20% of mining rewards to support the project’s growth. This vote will decide how future funding for upgrades, grants, and developer incentives is managed.
Why it matters: This vote is important because steady funding helps keep innovation going and prevents the project from slowing down. However, if the community disagrees on how to allocate funds, it could delay important updates or cause divisions.
2. Protocol Scalability Upgrades (Ongoing)
What’s happening: The Electric Coin Company (ECC), the team behind Zcash, is focused on making the network faster and more efficient. They are working on advanced technologies like zero-knowledge proofs (specifically Halo 2) and exploring layer-2 solutions that operate on top of the main network. A recent upgrade called Zashi CrossPay (September 2025) allows private transactions across different blockchains using NEAR Intents.
Why it matters: These improvements could make Zcash more attractive for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, which need fast and private transactions. Still, Zcash faces competition from other privacy coins like Monero, and regulators are paying close attention to shielded transactions, which could pose challenges.
3. Tachyon Offline Transactions (Future)
What’s happening: Tachyon is a future feature aiming to let users send private payments without needing internet access, using technologies like Bluetooth or mesh networks. This would be especially useful in areas with limited connectivity. Development is ongoing, but there’s no set release date yet.
Why it matters: This feature could greatly increase Zcash’s usefulness and strengthen its reputation as a leader in privacy technology. However, technical challenges or delays could slow down how quickly it’s adopted.
Conclusion
Zcash’s roadmap combines important governance decisions with upgrades that improve scalability and usability. The November 2025 Dev Fund vote is a key moment to secure the resources needed for these plans. As demand for privacy grows, Zcash’s shielded transactions could become a standard for secure, cross-chain DeFi activities.
What updates are there in the ZEC code base?
Zcash is updating its technology in 2025 to improve privacy and infrastructure.
- Node Migration Roadmap (August 1, 2025) – The old node software, zcashd, will be phased out, moving users to Zebra (full node) and Zallet (wallet).
- Zashi Wallet Upgrade (April 2025) – New features for private transactions and easy swaps between different blockchains.
- NymVPN Integration (July 9, 2025) – Users can pay for private internet services using shielded ZEC payments.
In Detail
1. Node Migration Roadmap (August 1, 2025)
What’s happening: Zcash will stop supporting its older node software called zcashd after August 6, 2025. Instead, users will switch to newer software called Zebra for running full nodes and Zallet for wallets. This change is meant to modernize the system, make it easier to maintain, and remove outdated methods. Users need to upgrade to version 6.3.0 or later, or move to Zebra/Zallet. The update keeps important older features working during the transition.
Why it matters: This change won’t affect the value of ZEC directly but focuses on making the network more sustainable and scalable in the long run. Node operators will have some work to do but will benefit from improved performance. (Electric Coin Co)
2. Zashi Wallet Upgrade (April 2025)
What’s happening: The Zashi wallet update (version 2.0.3) adds better support for shielded addresses and allows users to swap assets privately across more than 20 different blockchains using NEAR Intents. It also includes encrypted memos and a design focused on privacy. This update responds to user demand for easier decentralized finance (DeFi) use without losing anonymity.
Why it matters: This is good news for ZEC because it makes the coin more useful in everyday situations. Users can move assets between blockchains smoothly while keeping their financial information private. (CoinMarketCap)
3. NymVPN Integration (July 9, 2025)
What’s happening: Zcash is partnering with NymVPN to let users pay for VPN subscriptions using shielded ZEC payments. This combines Zcash’s financial privacy with Nym’s network anonymity, protecting both payment details and internet activity. The system uses zk-NYM credentials and the Coconut protocol to keep data unlinkable.
Why it matters: This strengthens ZEC’s privacy features by offering a full privacy “stack” — protecting payments and online activity. It could attract users who want complete anonymity when paying and browsing online. (Nym)
Conclusion
Zcash’s 2025 updates focus on modernizing infrastructure (Zebra/Zallet), improving wallet features (Zashi), and expanding privacy partnerships (Nym). These changes make ZEC a stronger privacy-focused cryptocurrency. The big question is whether the new cross-chain features will bring more DeFi users without compromising Zcash’s core privacy values.