Zcash News Today: Cypherpunk's ZEC Treasury Pivot Fuels Zcash's Privacy-Driven Bull Run

Zcash (ZEC) has surged 10.72% in 24 hours, hitting $683.14 as of Nov. 15, 2025, driven by a $50 million treasury initiative led by Cypherpunk Technologies. The company, formerly Leap Therapeutics, acquired 1.25% of ZEC's total supply, signaling institutional confidence in the privacy-focused cryptocurrency. This move, coupled with Winklevoss Capital's $58.88 million private placement in October, has positioned Zcash as a "privacy-centric alternative to Bitcoin", according to Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini's co-founder.

The rally has been further fueled by Zcash's new Zashi Wallet feature, which enables shielded swaps of other cryptocurrencies into private ZEC using the NEAR protocol. Electric Coin Capital, the project's lead developer, said the upgrade aligns with growing demand for privacy assets amid EU regulatory shifts that restrict cash transactions and mandate identity verification for crypto trades. . Backtest data from the Bitget report showed ZEC's price exhibited a 22.6% average excess return 30 days after large price jumps, outperforming benchmarks.

Zcash's price trajectory has been volatile, surging from a 2025 low of $420 to $750 in early November before settling near $673. Traders are now eyeing $875 as a potential target, contingent on breaking above $750 resistance. Market analytics indicate aggressive buying in spot and futures markets, with derivatives volume surging 104.92% to $9.4 billion and open interest rising 43.93% to $1.28 billion. The Long Short Ratio of 1.04 suggests most participants are bullish, though a pullback to $495 is seen as a key support level.

Cypherpunk Technologies plans to increase its ZEC holdings to 5% of the total supply, reflecting a strategic pivot from biotech to digital assets. CEO Douglas Onsi emphasized the treasury's role in "delivering sustained value to shareholders" while preparing for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker CYPH. Winklevoss's endorsement of Zcash as "encrypted bitcoin" underscores its potential to capture a share of Bitcoin's market cap, particularly as Bitcoin's price is expected to rise sharply over the next five to ten years.

Analysts at Intellectia.ai note that the $875 target is community-driven, lacking formal validation from Zcash's leadership or institutional backing. However, the ZEC/USD pair's Stochastic Momentum Index (SMI) has crossed into bullish territory, signaling strong upward momentum. If the rally continues, Zcash could challenge its all-time high of $9,450, though critics warn of risks tied to transparent address leakage during shielded transactions.

As the crypto market grapples with regulatory uncertainty, Zcash's focus on privacy is attracting investors seeking alternatives to Bitcoin's transparent ledger. With Cypherpunk's treasury strategy and institutional support, ZEC's 1,175% year-to-date surge highlights a broader shift toward privacy-centric assets.