In the last month, Zcash, a privacy-centric cryptocurrency, has climbed over 340%, bringing its year-to-date gains to more than 500%. On October 10, ZEC hit $269, marking its highest price since 2022.
The renewed interest in privacy-focused crypto comes amid growing concerns about regulation and data surveillance in Europe. As authorities push for greater transparency, many investors are turning to digital assets that prioritize anonymity and decentralization, a niche Zcash has long led.
Founded on the principle of privacy-first blockchain transactions, Zcash utilizes zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) to enable secure, private payments without revealing transaction details.
This makes it stand out as a Bitcoin-like asset with a crucial extra layer of privacy, positioning it as a potential leader in the next wave of decentralized finance. Sentiment around privacy coins has turned more optimistic, with analysts suggesting the current bullish phase may just be the start of a longer uptrend.
This article covers Zcash price predictions from crypto analyst and trader Jacob Crypto Bury, along with his insights on the Pepenode presale as a leading alternative to ZEC. His complete analysis is available on his YouTube channel and in the video linked below.
Zcash Rally Heats Up: Why Privacy Coins Are Back in the Spotlight
The bullish case for Zcash gained momentum when Grayscale, one of the world’s largest crypto investment firms, actively promoted its Zcash Trust (ZCSH). In October, discussions around ZEC intensified as investors expressed expectations for even higher price targets beyond the recent rally.
Supporters of ZEC emphasize that privacy is more than a passing trend; it is a fundamental principle of the crypto movement. Many view the rise in $ZEC’s price not as the driving force but as a reflection of renewed interest in crypto’s original values.
Prominent figures, including venture capitalist Naval Ravikant, have remarked that while Bitcoin serves as insurance against fiat, Zcash acts as insurance against Bitcoin itself.
Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, ZEC enables fully private transactions through shielded addresses that hide the sender, recipient, and transaction amount.
Additional endorsements came from industry experts such as Solana Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz, who noted that tools like ZEC enhance the privacy of cryptocurrency systems and projected the asset could reach $1,000.
However, not everyone shares this optimism. Market analyst Maartunn offered a more cautious view, pointing out that historical ZEC rallies often coincide with broader market tops. Despite differing opinions, Zcash remains at the center of the privacy coin conversation, attracting both strong advocates and cautious observers.
Zcash Price Prediction
When it comes to price predictions, analyst opinions vary widely, though most agree that Zcash’s recent breakout still has room to grow. The current price is around $218, with a market capitalization of approximately $3.5 billion.
Thor Torrens, a Zcash advisor and former US presidential staffer, suggested an ambitious scenario in which just 10% of offshore wealth flows into Zcash, potentially valuing each ZEC at $62,893.
However, such extreme forecasts, which would imply a valuation of over $100 billion, are considered unrealistic in the near term. Technical indicators show that Zcash is in overbought territory, with an RSI of 90, signaling potential volatility ahead.
Despite short-term corrections, key support levels around $196 have held, indicating strong buying pressure. If bullish momentum continues and $ZEC breaks out of the descending triangle pattern, analysts predict a potential 34% upside, which could push the price closer to the $270–$300 range.
The conditions for a new all-time high are very different now compared to 2016, when Zcash had a market capitalization of just $5.5 million. Today, ZEC has a circulating supply of 16.25 million coins.
To reach $5,000 per coin, its market value would need to hit around $81 billion, and surpassing its previous all-time high would require a market cap of $96.5 billion. Given these numbers, such targets seem highly unrealistic, relying solely on community hype and the backing of the Grayscale investment product.
Exploring the Next High-Potential Crypto Investors Should Watch Closely
Zcash would require significantly more adoption and engagement from both retail and institutional investors to reach a new all-time high, often leaving holders with their capital tied up for extended periods. For those seeking the next high-growth crypto opportunity, Pepenode (PEPENODE) has emerged as a promising alternative.
Pepenode is quickly gaining traction as one of the most promising new meme coins in the crypto space, drawing attention for its innovative “mine-to-earn” system. Currently in its pre-sale phase, the token is priced at just $0.00109, with nearly $1.8 million already raised.
Each node functions as a unique digital asset with its own properties, allowing users to activate yields, combine nodes, and earn bonuses in various meme tokens such as Pepe and Fartcoin. The platform emphasizes engagement and virality, creating a system that keeps users actively involved while incentivizing growth.
Price predictions for Pepenode suggest substantial potential, with targets ranging from 5x by 2025 to over 12x by 2030, assuming smooth adoption and viral loops. Compared to other meme coin presales this month, Pepenode stands out for its novelty, fun, supply-limiting tokenomics, and gaming-like mechanics.
Its ability to blend meme appeal with real-world blockchain utility positions it as one of the most promising early-stage crypto projects. To take part in the $PEPENODE token presale, visit pepenode.io.
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