Bitcoin News Today: Privacy Fears and Institutional Bet Fuel Zcash's Record Surge

Zcash (ZEC) has surged more than 20% in 24 hours, breaking above $269 on October 10-the highest level since 2022-amid renewed interest in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. The rally, which has pushed ZEC's year-to-date gains to over 500%, reflects growing concerns about data surveillance and regulatory pressures in Europe, where investors are increasingly turning to assets that prioritize anonymity. Zcash's use of zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) to enable shielded transactions has positioned it as a leading contender in the privacy coin space, with shielded address activity rising steadily.

The momentum has been fueled by institutional interest, particularly the launch of Grayscale's Zcash Trust (ZCSH), which allows accredited investors to gain exposure to ZEC without directly holding the token. The trust, which has attracted $46 million in assets under management, has amplified demand, with derivatives open interest surging 200% to $120 million in a single day. Analysts argue this marks a shift from speculative trading to institutional validation, with Zcash increasingly seen as a hedge against both fiat and Bitcoin. Prominent figures like venture capitalist Naval Ravikant have echoed this sentiment, stating, "Zcash is insurance against Bitcoin itself".

Technical indicators underscore the bullish trend. ZEC has broken above key resistance levels, with its price surging from a July low of $15 to multi-year highs. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has entered overbought territory at 90, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) shows expanding bullish momentum. However, traders caution that a short-term correction may follow, with critical support levels at $196 and $150 acting as potential buffers. On-chain data also reveals a 15% monthly increase in shielded transactions, signaling growing adoption beyond speculative trading.

Zcash's resurgence has outpaced broader market trends, even as the crypto sector lost $200 billion in market capitalization during the same week. Privacy coins overall have outperformed other crypto sectors in 2025, rising 71.6% year-to-date, with ZEC leading the charge. Monero (XMR), another major privacy coin, has also gained 27.5% in 30 days, though ZEC's flexible privacy model-allowing optional transparent transactions-has given it regulatory flexibility.

Despite optimism, risks persist. Market analyst Maartunn notes historical ZEC rallies often coincide with broader market tops. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny looms, with the U.S. Treasury proposing restrictions on anonymity-enhanced cryptocurrencies. While Zcash's optional transparency may offer compliance advantages over Monero's mandatory privacy, any crackdown could disrupt momentum.

Price predictions vary. Thor Torrens, a Zcash advisor, posits a $62,893 target if 10% of offshore wealth flows into ZEC, though such a scenario is deemed unrealistic in the near term. More conservative forecasts suggest a 34% upside to $270–$300 if ZEC breaks its descending triangle pattern. Conversely, pessimists warn of a potential 40% drop to $150 if overbought conditions trigger a sell-off.

The rally has also drawn attention to alternatives like Pepenode (PEPENODE), a meme coin with a "mine-to-earn" model, as investors seek high-growth opportunities. However, Zcash's established technology and institutional backing continue to anchor its position as a cornerstone of the privacy narrative.

[1] Zcash Price Prediction: Why ZEC Is Surging And What ... (https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2025/10/11/zcash-price-prediction-why-zec-is-surging-and-what-to-expect-next/)

[2] Zcash price prediction as ZEC surges and why it may ... (https://invezz.com/news/2025/10/10/zcash-price-prediction-as-zec-surges-and-why-it-may-crash-soon/)

[3] Zcash (ZEC) Makes Historic Comeback with 220% Surge in ... (https://www.btcc.com/en-US/square/C0inX/1058977)

[5] Why Privacy Coins Are 2025's Top Crypto Performers (https://beincrypto.com/privacy-coins-outperform-crypto-2025/)

[7] ZEC vs XMR: Comparing Top Privacy Cryptos in 2025 - Phemex (https://phemex.com/blogs/zec-zcash-vs-xmr-monero-crypto-privacy)

[8] ZCash (ZEC) price is up 140%, but why is the privacy coin ... (https://invezz.com/news/2025/10/02/zcash-zec-price-is-up-140-but-why-is-the-privacy-coin-outperforming-bitcoin/)

[9] Zcash Defies Gravity with RSI Over 90 and Expanding MACD ... (https://ecoinimist.com/2025/10/05/zcash-defies-gravity-rsi-macd/)