Zcash (ZEC) has made a dramatic comeback, entering the top 20 cryptocurrencies after rising over 1,270% year-over-year.
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The price of Zcash recently rose above $650 for the first time since 2018, with a market capitalization of almost $10 billion. According to CoinGecko, daily trading volume exceeded $1.88 billion, with forceful liquidity on Binance, Hyperliquid and Bybit.
This vigorous reflects a growing resurgence of interest in privacy-preserving technologies amid growing concerns about financial oversight. Recent improvements to the Electric Coin Company (ECC), including those under Project Tachyon, and growing exploit of the Zashi wallet have revived investor confidence.
The privacy narrative and technical improvements are driving the momentum
The renewed enthusiasm around privacy coins reflects a broader shift in the market. Protected Zcash transactions powered by zk-SNARKcurrently account for more than 30% of circulating supply, limiting liquidity and contributing to price stability.
Integration with DeFi ecosystems through tokenized versions on Solana and BNB Chain has also expanded ZEC’s reach, with over 16,000 wallets interacting with these assets.
Prominent voices such as Naval Ravikant and Arthur Hayes have defended Zcash’s role in the evolving privacy revolution, calling it “Bitcoin’s missing piece.”
Meanwhile, the Zcash Foundation maintains that the surge reflects real user demand and not speculative hype. Futures data further supports this thesis, with balanced long/miniature ratios of around 1.1, indicating sustained, organic buying interest rather than excessive leverage.
ZEC's price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: ZECUSD on Tradingview
Could Zcash Price Hit $1,000 Next? Analysts weigh in
Current Zcash price the rally sparked debate about the next target. Technical charts indicate solid support around $500-520, while resistance is around $580-600.
Analysts at CoinGlass and Galaxy Digital forecast a conservative range of $650-$750 in the near term, with a best-case scenario heading towards $1,000 if the momentum continues.
The bullish thesis is based on the strength of the privacy narrative, expanding institutional participation, and ZEC’s scarcity model, mirroring Bitcoin’s 21 million coin cap. But traders warn that overbought conditions and potential regulatory hurdles could trigger short-term declines.
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Nevertheless, as privacy becomes an increasingly valuable digital commodity, the rise in Zcash prices could mark not only a comeback, but also a redefinition of how the cryptocurrency balances transparency, utility and financial freedom.
Cover image from ChatGPT, ZECUSD chart from Tradingview
