For several weeks now, Zcash’s ZEC has been on an upward trend that seems completely disconnected from market realities. What’s happening with this privacy-focused cryptocurrency?
Is Zcash (ZEC) Gaining New Appeal?
The massive influx of traditional finance into the cryptocurrency sector is reshuffling the deck of this ecosystem, which was historically developed to evade it. This reality now positions Bitcoin as a stock market asset accumulated by corporations and governments, to the obvious detriment of retail investors.
At the same time, increased regulatory scrutiny of the sector is driving some of its long-time users to seek options with enhanced privacy. All of this without forgetting the quantum risk, whose previously highly theoretical nature could very well become a reality in the near future.
A perspective that some embrace in its entirety, or only in part. In any case, these factors seem to have recently sparked a renewed interest in the long-standing Zcash project and its privacy-focused cryptocurrency, ZEC.
This visibility has recently been reignited by crypto investor Arthur Hayes, whose posts all too often give the impression that he’s trying to inflate his personal portfolios, with a simple “mood check for a $10,000 ZEC” accompanied by a chart. Need we point out that this implies a rise of over 2,600%?
Vibe check $ZEC to $10k pic.twitter.com/tBc0WaxzZ1
— Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) October 26, 2025
A surge between a Bitcoin alternative and a pump-and-dump scheme
Following this publication, the price of ZEC rose by approximately 30%. A strong performance that seems almost insignificant compared to the 550% gain recorded over the last 30 days. By comparison, Bitcoin rose by just 5% over this period, and the comparison doesn’t stop there.
Indeed, some currently view Zcash as “a true competitor to Bitcoin in terms of privacy” that is significantly undervalued, particularly due to its ability—which remains to be proven—to establish itself as an alternative if BTC fails the quantum test.
A view shared on the X network by Bitcoin Jack, who explains how “when a narrative emerges that truly sparks enthusiasm among Bitcoin veterans (…) you hear them say it’s fake and coordinated.”
For while some see a resurgence of enthusiasm for Zcash, others—such as investment specialist Lyn Alden—recently warned against “becoming the exit liquidity for coordinated token pumps.” A statement that is sure to spark a reaction… the best solution being to form one’s own opinion.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is riding the trend by reopening ZEC trading, despite the fact that it had been delisted for several years—like many anonymous cryptocurrencies that fell victim to their own privacy in a regulatory environment that seeks to monitor everything.
