Zcash Soars 25% as Privacy Upgrade Fuels Breakout

Zcash (ZEC) has witnessed a sharp 25% surge in just 24 hours, rising to $68.73. The privacy-focused token saw gains as many other cryptocurrencies struggled to gain traction ahead of Monday volatility.

According to CoinMarketCap, trading activity on ZEC picked up significantly, with 24‑hour volume reaching $162.8 million. Meanwhile, the global crypto market cap increased 2.47% to $3.86 trillion, and total trading volume jumped 52.38% to $140 billion.

Crypto analyst Javon Marks noted ZEC’s breakout above $60 as a major shift. He wrote, “$ZEC (ZCash) SURGING above the $60 mark and prices still look to be FAR FROM DONE!” His chart analysis highlights a long‑term downtrend that lasted nearly 194 weeks.

Since mid‑2024, ZEC has been on an upward trend, hitting higher highs and higher lows. Marks is eyeing a breakout target around $308.46, which could mean a potential 370% increase if the momentum keeps up.

However, Santiment data shows that the total open interest in ZEC has increased drastically, which suggests that traders are positioning themselves. Additionally, the data shows an increase in whale stablecoin ownership. Hence, big investors might be getting ready to get more involved in the market.

Zashi CrossPay upgrade boosts adoption

Beyond technicals, on September 16, 2025, the Electric Coin Company (ECC) launched Zashi CrossPay. According to the protocol on X, the update, shielded ZEC can use Near Intents to traverse external blockchains. Users can also transmit confidential cross‑chain transactions without disclosing metadata.

Zashi, ECC’s self‑custodial wallet, anchors this feature while supporting encrypted memos and privacy‑first architecture. Hence, Zcash now shifts from being a niche privacy coin to a versatile payment layer. Notably, shielded transaction volume jumped immediately after the launch, showing strong user adoption.

Zcash’s sudden jump shows how new privacy features and strong price moves can spark interest, even when the market struggles.