Zcash News Today: Cypherpunk's $100M Zcash Bet Fuels Privacy-Driven Altcoin Rivalry

Zcash (ZEC) is surging amid a bold institutional bet and high-profile predictions, with former Bitcoin advocate Arthur Hayes suggesting the privacy-focused cryptocurrency could surpass XRP in market prominence. The asset's recent 43% rally has drawn comparisons to rival altcoins, as institutional players and regulators signal growing acceptance of privacy-centric digital assets.

The catalyst for Zcash's resurgence came with the November 12 announcement by Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, that his newly rebranded firm Cypherpunk Technologies-formerly Nasdaq-listed biotech company Leap Therapeutics-would amass a $100 million Zcash treasury. Backed by a $58.9 million investment from Winklevoss Capital, Cypherpunk has already purchased 203,775 ZEC (1.25% of total supply) at an average price of $245, with plans to accumulate at least 5% of Zcash's 21 million maximum supply. This move has positioned Zcash as a "privacy hedge" to Bitcoin, with Winklevoss arguing that encrypted transactions could make ZEC a significant portion of Bitcoin's market capitalization.

Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, amplified the narrative, tweeting that Zcash's future price could swing between $10,000 or $10, framing it as a "buy and shield" asset rather than a tradable security. His comments clashed with Thor Torrens, a former U.S. advisor and Zcash proponent, who emphasized the token's role in long-term privacy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Zcash's price surged to a seven-year high above $720 in late October before retracting to $498, fueled by demand for privacy tools and institutional adoption of shielded transactions.

XRP, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle despite its own rally. The token traded near $2.42, defending key support levels as Ethereum ETF outflows spurred speculative capital rotation as analysts like Steven McClurg of Canary Capital predict XRP could outperform Solana in ETF inflows once regulated products launch, though XRP's institutional traction remains overshadowed by Zcash's strategic treasury backing with some analysts maintaining a $30 price target.

Regulatory developments further contextualize the altcoin rivalry. Japan's Financial Services Agency announced a joint stablecoin experiment with its three largest banks, highlighting growing TradFi interest in digital assets. While stablecoins dominate near-term discourse, privacy coins like Zcash are gaining traction as enterprises prioritize data sovereignty. Electric Coin Company, Zcash's developer, recently partnered with Gemini to enable shielded transactions, reinforcing the coin's utility.

The crypto market now watches whether Cypherpunk's accumulation strategy-and Hayes' audacious price forecasts-can propel Zcash beyond XRP's institutional hurdles. With privacy tokens facing regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions, Zcash's success may hinge on balancing innovation with compliance, a challenge both it and XRP must navigate in 2025 according to market analysts.