Bitcoin News Today: Zcash Challenges Litecoin's Market Cap Hurdle as Altseason Gains Momentum

Zcash (ZEC) has surged to a 1,000% gain in two months, trading at $383 per coin and surpassing market cap ranks of Monero (XMR) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) to claim 21st place on CoinMarketCap, according to Yahoo Finance. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency, which previously traded at $34.59 on August 19, now commands an all-time high market capitalization of $6.24 billion, the Yahoo Finance report notes. This meteoric rise has drawn comparisons to Bitcoin's historical price points, with some analysts suggesting that buying ZEC at current levels is akin to purchasing Bitcoin at $432—a reference to BTC's 2013 price before its subsequent multi-year rally, the Yahoo Finance piece adds.

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, has amplified the bullish narrative, predicting ZEC could reach $10,000 per coin during the anticipated 2025 altseason, according to CryptoRank. Hayes cited the network's unique features, including a fixed supply of 21 million coins and growing institutional adoption, as catalysts for a 27x price increase from its current $358 level, the CryptoRank article explains. His forecast gained traction after Grayscale launched a Zcash Trust, signaling renewed interest from institutional investors, and Hyperliquid's recent futures listing along with ZEC's outperformance against privacy rivals like Monero have further bolstered optimism, the CryptoRank coverage notes.

The broader crypto market, however, remains mixed. Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $110,000 as of October 30, 2025, but ETFs tracking the asset saw $488 million in outflows, led by BlackRock's IBIT ETF, according to TradingView. Despite these outflows, Bitcoin's price has held above key support levels, including $106,000 and $102,000, the TradingView report observes. The divergent performance of Bitcoin and altcoins highlights a shifting risk appetite, with investors increasingly allocating capital to smaller-cap assets like ZEC amid expectations of favorable regulatory developments, TradingView commentary suggests.

Institutional participation in Bitcoin itself has also surged. Hyperscale Data, a public company holding Bitcoin in its treasury, reported a 30% weekly increase in Bitcoin holdings to $68.8 million, representing 50% of its market capitalization, according to Seeking Alpha. The firm's shares rose 24% premarket following the update, reflecting growing confidence in crypto-backed equities, the Seeking Alpha piece adds. Such moves underscore a broader trend of corporate treasuries adopting Bitcoin as a strategic asset, a dynamic that could indirectly benefit altcoins like ZEC by normalizing crypto ownership.

Zcash's next hurdle is Litecoin (LTC), which currently holds the 20th market cap position with $7.17 billion, the Yahoo Finance article previously noted. Analysts debate whether ZEC's technical advantages and institutional backing will propel it past LTC, but its recent trajectory suggests a continued re-rating of privacy-centric assets, a point emphasized in the CryptoRank commentary. As the crypto market braces for potential regulatory clarity in the coming months, ZEC's performance could serve as a barometer for risk-on sentiment in the sector.