Why did the price of ZEC go up?

Zcash (ZEC) jumped 16.44% in the last 24 hours, outperforming the overall crypto market, which dropped 0.41% over the past week. Here’s why:

1. Privacy Coin Interest – More attention on private transactions as regulators and surveillance concerns grow.
2. Big Investors Buying – One wallet added 32,000 ZEC (worth $16.3 million) in just three days, showing strong institutional interest.
3. Technical Breakout – ZEC broke through a key price barrier at $500 and is now aiming for $550.

Deep Dive

1. Privacy Coins Are Back in Focus (Positive for ZEC)

Privacy-focused coins like Zcash, DASH (+13.9%), and PIVX (+9.43%) have gained as traders look for ways to protect their financial privacy amid growing government oversight. Over 4.5 million ZEC (about 27.5% of all coins) are now held in “shielded” addresses, which limits how many coins are freely traded (CoinMetrics).

Why it matters: As central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) roll out and data collection by AI increases, more people want privacy in their transactions. Zcash uses a technology called zk-SNARKs that lets users choose privacy while still following regulations—a key advantage over other privacy coins like Monero.

What to watch: On November 10, Strive will close a $160 million stock offering linked to Bitcoin and ZEC, which could impact liquidity and show growing institutional demand for privacy-focused assets.

2. Large Buyers and Futures Market Activity (Mixed Signals)

ZEC futures open interest reached $863.58 million, up 30% in 24 hours, but the funding rate is slightly negative, indicating more short positions than longs. Meanwhile, a single wallet bought 32,000 ZEC ($16.3 million) through over-the-counter (OTC) style trades (Binance News).

What this means: Big investors are betting on privacy coins for the last quarter of the year, but some traders expect a price pullback. Retail investors are showing strong interest, with 24-hour trading volume hitting $1.76 billion—about 20% of ZEC’s total market value.

3. Price Action and Technical Indicators (Bullish but Cautious)

ZEC broke above the important $500 price level. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 81.78, which means the coin is overbought, and the MACD indicator is rising, signaling strong momentum. The next resistance level is around $550, based on Fibonacci analysis.

What this means: The price rally is strong but may be due for a pause or correction since it hasn’t consolidated much. Still, the 50-day moving average is trending upward, and other indicators don’t yet show signs of a reversal.

Conclusion

Zcash’s recent price jump is driven by increased use of shielded transactions, big investor interest, and a shift toward privacy coins. While the momentum looks strong, overbought conditions and short positions could lead to some near-term price swings.

Key point to watch: Can ZEC stay above $500 and handle profit-taking? If it falls below this level, a correction toward $460 is possible, based on technical retracement levels.

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What could affect the price of ZEC?

Zcash’s privacy technology is facing challenges from regulators but gaining support from institutional investors.

1. Growing Use of Private Transactions – About 30% of Zcash (ZEC) transactions are now private, increasing demand (CoinDesk).
2. Regulatory Challenges – New EU rules (MiCA) could lead to ZEC being removed from some exchanges, but Zcash’s design may help it avoid outright bans (Cointelegraph).
3. Upcoming Halving Event – In November 2025, miner rewards will be cut in half to 1.56 ZEC, which should reduce the amount of ZEC being sold by miners (Bitrue).

Deep Dive

1. Privacy Adoption vs. Regulatory Scrutiny (Mixed Impact)

Overview:
As of November 2025, 30% of ZEC transactions are “shielded,” meaning they are private and encrypted. Around 4.9 million ZEC (about 25% of all coins) are held in these private addresses. Wallets like Zashi default to private transfers, and upgrades like Tachyon aim to handle over 1,000 private transactions per second. However, new rules like the FATF’s “Travel Rule” and the EU’s AMLR6 (starting in 2027) are pushing exchanges to limit or remove privacy coins. Currently, 45% of European exchanges already restrict ZEC trading (Crypto Times).

What this means:
If more people use Zcash’s privacy features faster than regulators can act, ZEC could attract users looking for censorship-resistant privacy, especially offshore. But if exchanges start delisting ZEC early, it could hurt demand. Zcash’s optional transparency gives it an advantage over coins like Monero, which are fully private and less flexible for compliance.

2. Institutional Interest & Halving Effects (Positive Outlook)

Overview:
Grayscale’s Zcash Trust held $139 million in assets as of October 2025. Meanwhile, leveraged ZEC trading products like Hyperliquid’s perpetual contracts have $863 million in open interest. The upcoming halving in November 2025 will cut miner rewards by 50%, reducing the daily amount of ZEC miners sell by about $8.7 million at current prices (Yahoo Finance).

What this means:
With fewer new coins entering the market and growing institutional demand—especially from investors looking to protect privacy against central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)—ZEC’s supply-demand balance looks favorable. After the halving, ZEC will need daily inflows of $17.4 million to absorb miner sales, compared to $159 million in average daily trading volume in October.

3. Technical Signals: Strong Momentum but Watch for Pullbacks (Be Cautious)

Overview:
On November 6, ZEC’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) reached 88.6, indicating it’s very overbought—the highest since 2017. However, the MACD indicator (+10.84) shows continued upward momentum. Technical analysis suggests a price target of $847 if ZEC breaks above $594 (Technical Analysis Data).

What this means:
Short-term price drops to around $384 are possible, but the strong year-to-date rally (up 1,236%) points to solid underlying demand. Watch the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $421—if prices stay above this, it signals ongoing accumulation by investors.

Conclusion

Zcash’s future depends on whether its private transaction growth can outpace regulatory restrictions, while the halving reduces supply. The $500 to $600 price range is a key level—breaking above it could confirm a “privacy supercycle,” while failure to hold it might lead to a 30% price correction.

Will Zcash’s shielded transactions reach 35% before regulators step in? Track monthly growth here.

What are people saying about ZEC?

Zcash is gaining attention for its privacy features—some predict it could reach $5 million per coin, while others expect a price correction. Here’s a quick summary:

1. Bold price predictions – One analyst suggests ZEC might hit $5 million, while others expect it to reach around $1,000 in the short term.
2. Institutional interest – Grayscale’s Zcash Trust holds $137 million worth of ZEC, sparking talks about potential ETFs.
3. Technical caution – Indicators show ZEC might be overbought (RSI at 84), with $21 million in leveraged positions at risk of liquidation.
4. Growing adoption – About 30% of ZEC supply is now in shielded (private) transactions, which reduces liquidity.

Deep Dive

1. @ThorTorrens: "$5M per ZEC" bullish

“The true price of Zcash should be $5,301,240 per coin”
– @ThorTorrens (25.3K followers · 12.1K impressions · 2025-10-03 10:33 UTC)
View original post
What this means: This very optimistic prediction is based on Zcash’s limited supply (21 million coins) and its strong privacy features. While it’s unlikely to happen soon, it creates excitement among retail investors.

2. @LazybearOFC: Grayscale accumulation bullish

“Grayscale’s Zcash Trust bought $46M ZEC… targeting $300-$400”
– @LazybearOFC (20.5K followers · 8.2K impressions · 2025-10-08 16:40 UTC)
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What this means: Institutional investors are buying ZEC through regulated funds like Grayscale’s Trust, which now holds 400,000 ZEC (worth about $132 million at $330 per coin). This steady demand could help reduce price swings.

3. @criptofacil: Resistance breakout mixed

“Zcash could rally 40% if it breaks $500 resistance”
– @criptofacil (103.3K followers · 3.8K impressions · 2025-10-08 21:12 UTC)
View original post
What this means: Traders see potential for a 40% price increase if ZEC can stay above $500. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 84 suggests the coin might be overbought, so watch closely for either a breakout or a pullback in the $500-$550 range.

4. @crypto.news: Leverage risk bearish

“$21M longs face liquidation below $450”
– crypto.news (5 Nov 2025 analysis)
View article
What this means: Many traders have borrowed money to bet on ZEC’s price rising. If the price falls below $450, these leveraged positions could be forced to sell quickly, causing a sharp price drop. Still, actual demand for ZEC remains strong between $470 and $490.

Conclusion

Overall, the outlook for Zcash is positive but cautious. The coin benefits from growing use of its privacy features (30% of supply is shielded), but the recent 1,314% price increase over 90 days suggests some investors may take profits soon. Keep an eye on the $500 price level—if ZEC stays above it, excitement could push it toward $600. If it falls below, support around $470 will be tested. The balance between institutional buying and retail traders using leverage will shape what happens next.

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What is the latest news about ZEC?

Zcash is making waves by boosting privacy features while dealing with regulatory challenges. Here’s the latest:

1. Top 20 Ranking (Nov 6, 2025) – ZEC has jumped 1,236% this year, now ranking as the 17th largest cryptocurrency by market value.
2. Price Surge (Nov 6, 2025) – The price hit $544, with big investors buying more and retail selling dropping sharply.
3. Institutional Interest (Nov 6, 2025) – Products like the Grayscale Zcash Trust and leveraged trading options are driving excitement.

In-Depth Look

1. Top 20 Ranking (Nov 6, 2025)

What happened: Zcash’s total market value grew to $8.53 billion, surpassing coins like SUI and HBAR after a 700% price increase since September. Interest in privacy coins has surged, with Google searches up 650%, and major investment firms highlighting privacy as a key trend for 2025.

Why it matters: This growth shows that big investors see Zcash’s privacy technology, called zk-SNARKs, as a way to protect against financial tracking. Still, about 75% of ZEC coins are held in public addresses, meaning many users haven’t switched to the more private “shielded” transactions yet. (U.Today)

2. Price Surge (Nov 6, 2025)

What happened: ZEC’s price rose 19% in one day, even as Bitcoin fell below $100,000. Key indicators show strong buying pressure:

• Chaikin Money Flow at +0.21, the highest since October
• Exchange outflows dropped from $41.79 million to $3.66 million in two days

Why it matters: With fewer retail sellers, large investors (“whales”) can push prices higher more easily. The 50-day moving average suggests the upward trend could continue, but the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 82 warns the price might be overbought soon. Analysts are watching $594 as the next key resistance level. (Yahoo Finance)

3. Institutional Interest (Nov 6, 2025)

What happened: Grayscale’s Zcash Trust holds about 400,000 ZEC (worth $208 million), and Hyperliquid introduced 5x leveraged ZEC perpetual contracts. Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, predicts ZEC could reach $1,000, calling it essential “privacy infrastructure.”

Why it matters: These institutional products show growing confidence in Zcash but also add volatility risks. Negative funding rates on exchanges (-0.002%) suggest some traders are betting on short-term price drops despite the overall rally. (TokenPost)

Conclusion

Zcash’s recent gains come from a mix of growing interest in privacy, strong price momentum, and increasing institutional support. While only 20-25% of coins are currently used in private transactions and DeFi tools like Zashi CrossPay are expanding its use, upcoming EU regulations banning privacy coins in 2027 could pose challenges. The big question is whether Zcash’s option for transparent transactions will satisfy regulators’ concerns about anonymity.

What is expected in the development of ZEC?

Zcash is speeding up its development with these key goals:

1. Ephemeral Addresses (Q4 2025) – Automatically create temporary addresses for swaps to boost privacy.
2. ZEC Halving (November 2025) – Miner rewards will be cut in half, from 1.5625 ZEC to 0.78125 ZEC per block.
3. Keystone Wallet Upgrades (Q4 2025) – Make hardware wallet syncing easier and add multisignature (multisig) support.
4. Shielded UX Improvements (Q4 2025) – Make privacy features in the Zashi wallet simpler and more user-friendly.

Deep Dive

1. Ephemeral Addresses (Q4 2025)

Overview: Zcash plans to add ephemeral addresses using NEAR Protocol’s Intents network. These are unique, one-time-use addresses created for each swap, which helps prevent address reuse and makes it harder to trace transactions. This is a big step forward for privacy (Electric Coin Co.).
What this means: This is good news for ZEC users who value privacy, as it strengthens Zcash’s main feature. However, it might attract more attention from regulators.

2. ZEC Halving (November 2025)

Overview: The third halving event for Zcash will cut miner rewards by 50%, similar to Bitcoin’s approach to controlling supply. Historically, halvings have led to price increases but also short-term ups and downs (Bitrue).
What this means: In the long run, this could be positive because fewer new coins are created, which may increase value. But mining could become less profitable, possibly concentrating mining power among the most efficient miners.

3. Keystone Wallet Upgrades (Q4 2025)

Overview: Users of the Zashi wallet will benefit from P2SH multisig support and easier syncing for Keystone hardware wallets. The Electric Coin Company (ECC) plans to use multisig for managing developer funds, which adds transparency (MEXC).
What this means: This upgrade is positive for larger investors and institutions because multisig wallets improve security. However, there could be delays in rolling out these features.

4. Shielded UX Improvements (Q4 2025)

Overview: Updates to the Zashi wallet will make shielded transactions (which hide transaction details) the default option. Features like automatic shielding and a unified address format will make privacy easier for everyday users (CoinDesk).
What this means: This should encourage more people to use Zcash’s privacy features, increasing its usefulness. Success depends on other wallets adopting these improvements too.

Conclusion

Zcash’s roadmap focuses on enhancing privacy right away (with ephemeral addresses and halving) while also improving core tools like wallets and governance. While growing interest from institutions and easier privacy features are positive signs, challenges remain from regulatory pressures and the risk of mining becoming too centralized. The big question: Can Zcash keep its strong privacy focus while meeting global compliance requirements?

What updates are there in the ZEC code base?

Zcash’s development is focused on improving network upgrades, updating wallets, and enhancing privacy features.

1. NU6.1 Testnet Launch (Oct 2025) – Final rules set for the upcoming network upgrade.
2. zcashd Phase-Out Plan (Aug 2025) – Moving from the old zcashd software to new Zebra nodes and the Zallet wallet.
3. Orchard Wallet Bug Fix (Oct 2025) – Fixed errors in how shielded balances were reported in wallet APIs.

In-Depth Look

1. NU6.1 Testnet Launch (Oct 2025)

What’s happening:
Zcash version 6.3.0 has finalized the code for Network Upgrade 6.1 (NU6.1) on the test network. This upgrade aims to improve privacy and scalability. It will activate at testnet block number 3,536,500.

The upgrade includes changes to the consensus rules that are not backward compatible, meaning older software won’t work with the new rules. These changes help make shielded transactions more efficient. Developers warn that testnet rules might still change before the upgrade goes live on the main network, which could require resetting the testnet blockchain.

Why it matters:
This is a positive development for Zcash (ZEC) because it strengthens the privacy features that make Zcash unique. However, node operators need to stay updated on any last-minute changes to avoid issues. (Source)

2. zcashd Phase-Out Plan (Aug 2025)

What’s happening:
Zcash version 6.2.0 announced that the old C++ node software called zcashd will be phased out. The network will fully switch to new Rust-based Zebrad nodes and the Zallet wallet during 2025.

Some important commands used by developers and services, like createrawtransaction and signrawtransaction, are now deprecated but still temporarily available. 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 this change.

Why it matters:
This update is neutral for ZEC’s value but important for the network’s future. Developers and services that rely on the old software need to update quickly to avoid disruptions. (Source)

3. Orchard Wallet Bug Fix (Oct 2025)

What’s happening:
Version 6.3.0 fixed a serious bug affecting Orchard notes, which are Zcash’s most private transaction type. The bug caused wallets to show incorrect balances when using transparent wallet commands like getbalance.

The fix automatically rescans affected wallets to correct the balance display and restore accurate visibility of shielded funds.

Why it matters:
This is good news for ZEC users because it improves trust in the accuracy of shielded transactions, a key feature of Zcash, while reducing confusing errors for wallet users. (Source)

Conclusion

Zcash is moving toward a more sustainable future by adopting Zebra nodes and the Zallet wallet. At the same time, upgrades like NU6.1 and important bug fixes reinforce its commitment to privacy. With shielded transactions now making up about 28% of ZEC’s circulating supply, the ecosystem will need to keep evolving its tools to ensure privacy remains seamless and reliable.