Privacy is the only major crypto sector trading above its level when bitcoin peaked in October 2025, rising 213% while every other sector remains underwater. Zcash has led the move with a 2,496% gain, though the rally's scale is reviving questions about whether fundamentals justify its new top-10 status.
Zcash price traded near $1,150 on Sep. 8 after a sharp six-day rally carried ZEC from about $814 to a multi-year high of $1,249, with derivatives liquidations and a major technical breakout supporting the move.
Privacy has emerged as the strongest-performing crypto sector since the October 2025 market peak.
Nasdaq-listed Cypherpunk Holdings distanced itself from a stock token bearing the Zcash ticker on Robinhood's blockchain and clarifying it only holds the privacy coin.
Zcash (ZEC) has made a stunning jump into crypto's top 10, reaching a $19.48 billion market cap after its price surged above $1,250. ZEC is up more than 2,200% in a year and 125% in 30 days.
Zcash leads a privacy coin rally as the sector outpaces Bitcoin and the broader crypto market
Zcash surged above $1,200 as ETF demand, privacy interest, short squeezes and tighter supply combined to fuel ZEC's explosive rally.
Although Zcash has continued to soar above $1,200, two technical indicators point to a growing likelihood of a significant correction. ZEC is still structurally bullish, but after its most recent increase, the extreme divergence from its moving averages and waning momentum merit consideration.
Zcash's speculative surge highlights the risks of market narratives overshadowing fundamental utility, potentially leading to volatile corrections. F2Pool co-founder says Zcash rally is narrative, not fundamentals.
Zcash's rally drew criticism from F2Pool co-founder Chun Wang, reopening debate over its funding, governance, privacy and Orchard flaw.
Privacy sector hits $33.6B, up 213% since Bitcoin's peak, as ZEC leaps from rank 82 to 7
Kamino's ZEC-backed borrowing on Solana could enhance DeFi's appeal by integrating privacy-focused assets, potentially reshaping market dynamics. Kamino launches ZEC-backed borrowing on Solana, letting users borrow USDC against Zcash.