Ethereum News Today: Privacy Coins Climb as Surveillance Fears Drive Altcoin Rally

Zcash (ZEC) surged by 58.81% in the first week of October 2025, emerging as the top-performing altcoin during Uptober. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency, which hit a price of $234.34, saw a market capitalization of $3.8 billion and a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $1.4 billion Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10]. This rally was fueled by renewed interest in privacy-preserving protocols and growing concerns over digital surveillance. Grayscale's launch of a Zcash Trust for accredited investors and endorsements from figures like Naval Ravikant, who labeled ZEC as "insurance against Bitcoin," further amplified demand Why Privacy Coins Are 2025’s Top Crypto Performers^[6]. Technical indicators, including a golden cross on the daily chart, signaled bullish momentum, with analysts projecting potential moves toward $250 if the trend holds These Privacy Coins Kicked Off 'Uptober' With a Bang - CCN.com^[8].

Starknet (STRK), a Layer 2 scalability solution, followed closely with a 18.44% weekly gain, trading at $0.17 Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10]. The project's ZK-rollup technology, which reduces Ethereum's gas fees while enhancing throughput, attracted attention as institutional interest in Ethereum-based scaling solutions intensified. Starknet's ecosystem activity, including new partnerships and developer tools, reinforced its position as a key player in the Layer 2 space Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10].

Bittensor (TAO), a decentralized AI network, rose 16.47% to $377.57 Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10]. The token's performance aligned with broader AI-driven crypto trends, supported by a robust developer community and growing adoption of machine learning applications on blockchain. Mantle (MNT), an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, added 16.64% to its price, reaching $2.25, driven by exchange listings, liquidity incentives, and integration with the BitDAO ecosystem Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10].

Meme coin SPX6900 (SPX) closed the week with a 13.54% gain, trading at $1.45 Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10]. The token, parodying the S&P 500 index, benefited from social media hype and speculative demand, with a market cap of $1.3 billion and daily trading volume of $55 million. SPX's multi-chain deployment across Ethereum, Solana, and Base, coupled with endorsements from influencer Murad, positioned it as a standout in 2025's meme coin supercycle What is SPX6900, and Why is it the Biggest Memecoin …^[12].

The broader altcoin market saw significant inflows during Uptober, with the total crypto market cap stabilizing above $4 trillion after a September correction Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10]. While Bitcoin (BTC) retreated slightly from its $126.5K peak to $121K, institutional and retail capital shifted toward high-utility tokens. Privacy coins, in particular, gained traction as concerns over surveillance and CBDCs intensified, with Zcash's 3.5-year high underscoring the sector's resilience Privacy Tokens Zcash, Dash, Railgun Rip Higher as Market^[7].

Analysts noted that Zcash's rally mirrored historical patterns of privacy coin surges, often occurring near market tops From $180 to $60,000? The Wild Predictions for Zcash’s Future^[2]. However, Zcash's institutional backing and protocol upgrades, such as Zashi wallet integrations, distinguished it from past cycles. Technical indicators like RSI and MACD suggested overbought conditions, but sustained volume and bullish sentiment indicated potential for further gains Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10].

SPX6900's technical outlook remained cautiously optimistic, with RSI at 68.13 and MACD signaling bullish momentum SPX6900 Meme Coin’s Unstoppable Surge : What’s Next^[11]. Despite its viral growth, the token faced risks of short-term corrections and market fatigue. Meanwhile, Mantle and Starknet's performance highlighted the demand for scalable infrastructure solutions, with Mantle's exchange programs and Starknet's ZK-rollup advancements attracting programmatic trading activity Uptober Altcoin Season Lifts Zcash, Mantle, And …^[9].

The Uptober rotation into altcoins underscored a maturing crypto ecosystem, with investors prioritizing projects offering tangible utility, regulatory clarity, and technological differentiation. As the market navigated evolving regulatory frameworks and macroeconomic shifts, privacy, scalability, and meme-driven narratives emerged as dominant themes, setting the stage for continued volatility and innovation in the coming months Top Altcoins That Gained Big in the First Week of Uptober^[10].