Zcash has entered one of its strongest rallies in years. After spending much of 2024 below $50, the privacy-focused cryptocurrency exploded to more than $620 in early November — a staggering 1,487% rise over three months. The move has lifted its market capitalization beyond $10 billion, solidifying ZEC’s comeback among the top altcoins by size.
According to CoinCodex’s Zcash price data, the rally began quietly in mid-August before accelerating sharply in October. Momentum has since gone parabolic, with daily trading volumes surpassing $5 billion as traders pile into what many see as the most compelling privacy-coin resurgence since 2021.
ZEC Leads the Privacy-Coin Resurgence
Analysts attribute Zcash’s sudden rise to a mix of renewed institutional attention and a broader revival in privacy-oriented crypto projects. Comments from industry figures like Arthur Hayes, who recently described privacy coins as “the next major rotation”, have reignited interest in legacy projects such as ZEC and Monero.
The timing aligns with a growing market narrative around user sovereignty and financial privacy. With regulatory debates heating up, investors appear to be hedging exposure to assets that can function outside centralized oversight. ZEC’s unique shielded-transaction model gives it an edge in that narrative.
Technical Momentum and On-Chain Strength
From a market-structure perspective, ZEC has completed what analysts call a “compressed accumulation breakout.” The daily chart shows a clean parabolic pattern, with higher highs forming consistently since early September. Trading volumes have spiked across major exchanges, confirming strong participation behind the move.
On-chain data adds another layer of confirmation: active addresses and wallet inflows have risen sharply, while supply on exchanges has declined — typically a sign of long-term accumulation.
Forecast: Room for More Upside, But Volatility Ahead
The Zcash price prediction model from CoinCodex projects that ZEC could extend its rally into early 2026. By February 5, 2026, the forecast places ZEC between $621 and $1,016, with an average target near $986 — roughly a 63.5% upside from current levels.
Breaking down the next few months:
- •November 2025: Average price near $713, with highs up to $878.
- •December 2025: Gradual climb toward $946 average and $979 peak.
- •January 2026: Predicted range of $940 to $1,018 as ZEC approaches four-figure territory.
Despite these bullish projections, traders caution that the speed of the ascent leaves ZEC vulnerable to sharp retracements. A sustained move below $500 could trigger profit-taking, while maintaining support above $600 would strengthen the case for a continued rally.
Market Sentiment and Long-Term Outlook
Sentiment across crypto communities remains broadly optimistic. Zcash’s fundamentals — low circulating supply, a proven privacy framework, and historical resilience — are fueling renewed conviction that the coin could reclaim a permanent spot among major Layer-1 assets.
Institutional products such as the Grayscale Zcash Trust are also seeing renewed activity, a signal that larger investors may be rotating back into niche, undervalued sectors. Should this trend hold, ZEC’s market cap could challenge mid-tier players like Avalanche or Tron within the next year.
The Bottom Line
Zcash’s 10× rally from $50 to $600 marks one of 2025’s most dramatic price surges. With its market cap now above $10 billion and forecasts calling for further upside into 2026, the project’s comeback underscores growing confidence in privacy-focused crypto.
While short-term volatility is likely, the broader trend points toward a re-rating of ZEC’s long-term value — signaling that one of crypto’s original privacy coins is not just back in the conversation, but leading it once again.