The privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) experienced a massive surge, climbing nearly 33% in a matter of hours on Friday, reaching a peak of nearly $735 before settling around $666.
Key Highlights:
- Market Action: The rapid price jump liquidated over $51 million in short positions, making Zcash-related trades the third-most liquidated in crypto, behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Sustained Rally: This explosive move extends a month-long streak where Zcash, which had hovered around $40 for years, has ballooned in price by a factor of 10. Friday's peak was the highest since January 2018.
- "Cypherpunk Principles": Analysts attribute the rally largely to increasing concerns over Bitcoin's privacy and decentralization, as the top cryptocurrency sees unprecedented corporate and political adoption. Galaxy Digital noted that Zcash, which uses zero-knowledge proofs for anonymous transactions, is gaining recognition as a spiritual successor to Bitcoin's foundational code and principles.
- Regulatory Context: The timing of the Friday surge may have been influenced by the outcome of a key US trial. On Thursday, Keonne Rodriguez, a developer of the privacy-focused Bitcoin app Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitter, a decision that was widely criticized by crypto and privacy advocates.
The article suggests that the combination of growing demand for financial privacy and a high-profile legal crackdown on privacy-enhancing tools has fueled Zcash's dramatic increase.
November 2025, Cryptoniteuae