Zcash (ZEC) surged over 100% in October 2025 as privacy coin demand spiked during the Uptober rally, resulting in heightened trading volumes and interest.
The surge highlights a growing demand for privacy in crypto transactions, impacting the market with record trading volumes and interest in privacy coins like Monero and Dash.
In early October 2025, Zcash (ZEC) surged over 100% as the cryptocurrency community noted a significant spike in demand for privacy coins. Influential factors like the launch of Grayscale's Zcash Trust contributed to this remarkable price trend.
The Zcash project, led by the Electric Coin Company and CEO Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn, saw heightened interest without any major protocol changes or comments from key figures. The project's Zcash Foundation also plays a pivotal role in governance.
Impact of the Surge
The surge impacted trading volumes, which increased by 1,150% to $292 million, highlighting the intensified market interest. Core privacy features, like shielded transactions, observed a substantial 15.5% monthly rise, continuing to drive user engagement. “The increased activity surrounding Zcash’s shielded transactions demonstrates a growing recognition of the need for privacy in financial transactions,” noted Josh Swihart, Executive Director, Zcash Foundation.
Financial markets reacted with Zcash's price soaring from $50 to a peak of $135.54. Institutional involvement via Grayscale effectively amplified this growth, positioning Zcash as the best-performing major asset of the week.
Competitors and Broader Trends
Competitors like Monero (XMR) and Dash (DASH) also gained attention during this period but lacked the parabolic increase of ZEC. Broader trends in BTC and ETH highlighted the diversity and interest in the privacy coin sector.
Historically, privacy coins have surged following regulatory announcements. The absence of immediate regulatory responses could encourage further speculative interest. The ECC's transparency initiatives underscore their commitment to secure and private transactions.