ZEC Price Drops 25.17% in 7 Days Amid Whale Activity and Exchange Listings

On DEC 3 2025, ZEC dropped by 0.15% within 24 hours to reach $338.27, ZEC dropped by 25.17% within 7 days, dropped by 20.97% within 1 month, and rose by 501.03% within 1 year.

Zcash (ZEC) Enters Spot Trading on Bitget as Exchange Broadens Privacy-Centric Offerings

Bitget, the largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has added Zcash (ZEC) to its list of tradable assets for spot trading as of December 3, 2025. The ZEC/USDT trading pair is now live, with withdrawals enabled from December 4. This move reflects the growing demand for privacy-focused digital assets and underscores Bitget’s strategy to offer a diverse array of tokens across major blockchain networks.

Zcash, known for its implementation of zero-knowledge proofs, enables encrypted transactions without compromising blockchain integrity. It is the first cryptocurrency to deploy trustless zero-knowledge proofs for peer-to-peer transactions. The asset operates on a capped supply model—21 million ZEC—with a halving schedule similar to Bitcoin. This combination of privacy and scarcity has positioned Zcash as a key asset for users prioritizing financial confidentiality in both daily transactions and long-term holdings.

Bitget’s Universal Exchange model is designed to streamline access to a vast number of tokens and real-world assets, reducing the traditional barriers associated with listing and trading. The addition of ZEC aligns with Bitget’s vision of providing both broad market access and quality curation, emphasizing projects with strong utility and institutional backing.

Whale Activity Indicates Aggressive ZEC Positioning on HyperLiquid

According to on-chain data, a major whale deposited 4.49 million USDC into HyperLiquid to take a 10x leveraged long position in ZEC. The whale is also holding an open buy order for ZEC at $333.46, suggesting a continued bullish bias. This move comes amid broader volatility in the ZEC market, with the asset posting a 25.17% drop over the past seven days.

Notably, the whale also maintains leveraged positions in other major cryptocurrencies—20x in ETH and 5x in DYDX. However, the account is currently reporting an unrealized loss of $1.29 million and a total account loss of $2.7 million. This illustrates the high-risk nature of leveraged trading, especially in a market where ZEC remains highly sensitive to macroeconomic and regulatory developments.

Institutional and Regulatory Developments Shaped ZEC’s 900% Rally in Q4 2025

Zcash experienced a historic rally in late 2025, surging nearly 900% during the fourth quarter. This was driven by a combination of factors, including regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and infrastructure improvements. The U.S. CLARITY Act, along with the launch of a $137 million Grayscale Zcash ETF, signaled growing institutional interest. A $18 million investment from Cypherpunk Technologies further reinforced confidence in Zcash’s opt-in privacy model.

The November 2025 halving event—another key catalyst—reduced block rewards by 50%, a move historically associated with price increases of approximately 300%. However, Zcash still faces regulatory uncertainty, particularly in the European Union, where debates over privacy versus compliance continue to evolve.

Technological Upgrades Enhance Zcash’s DeFi and Privacy Capabilities

Recent infrastructure upgrades have significantly expanded Zcash’s utility beyond privacy-centric functions. The optimization of the Orchard protocol in October reduced transaction fees by 30%, making Zcash more viable for high-volume DeFi applications. The launch of Ztarknet, a Layer-2 solution, has enabled smart contract functionality while preserving transaction privacy.

Collaborations with major players such as Circle, which now supports Zcash-based USDC transactions, have further increased ZEC’s integration within the broader DeFi landscape. The Zashi wallet, which defaults to shielded transactions, has also contributed to a 20–25% increase in shielded ZEC holdings.

Ongoing Governance and Regulatory Challenges

Despite its recent gains, Zcash faces several challenges, particularly in the regulatory domain. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other international bodies continue to scrutinize privacy coins, raising concerns about potential restrictions. Internally, governance debates have highlighted tensions over how to balance privacy with compliance, especially in light of vocal concerns from prominent crypto figures such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

These uncertainties underscore the need for continuous dialogue between developers, institutional investors, and regulators to ensure that Zcash remains both functional and compliant in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

Zcash’s Growing Influence in the Crypto Ecosystem

Zcash’s trajectory in late 2025 reflects its increasing role in the crypto space, moving from a niche privacy coin to a compliance-ready asset. The convergence of regulatory support, institutional interest, and technological innovation has elevated ZEC’s profile. As exchanges like Bitget continue to offer ZEC for trading and as infrastructure improvements enhance its utility, Zcash is likely to maintain its relevance in the broader digital asset landscape.

For now, the market remains in flux. Zcash’s price performance will depend heavily on the continued evolution of its ecosystem, regulatory clarity, and the broader crypto market environment.