ZEC Rises 701.51% Year-to-Date Amid Grayscale's Zcash ETF Filing and Growing Institutional Interest

On NOV 29 2025, ZEC dropped by 0.21% within 24 hours to reach $455.76, ZEC dropped by 13.26% within 7 days, rose by 11.46% within 1 month, and rose by 701.51% within 1 year.

Zcash (ZEC) is gaining increasing institutional attention as Grayscale, a major crypto asset manager, filed a registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to convert its Zcash Trust into the first U.S. spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the privacy-focused cryptocurrency. The move underscores the growing recognition of Zcash as a digital asset with functional utility and privacy-preserving features.

The S-3 registration was filed on Nov. 26, 2025, and follows a year of robust performance for Zcash, which has surged over 1,000% in 2025, outpacing both bitcoin and ether in price gains. Analysts project that the ETF filing could accelerate institutional adoption by making ZEC more accessible to a broader range of investors. The fund would be structured similarly to Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust, which was converted into an ETF in 2024 after regulatory approval.

Zcash’s privacy features, particularly its use of shielded transactions, have seen a notable increase in adoption. Roughly 30% of ZEC transactions now involve shielded pools, and between 20% and 25% of the total supply is held in encrypted addresses. This shift has been interpreted as a sign of growing demand for digital currencies that offer enhanced privacy and transactional anonymity.

The move also reflects a broader industry trend toward institutional-grade products in the crypto space, as privacy coins increasingly find acceptance among investors seeking alternatives to traditional digital assets. Grayscale’s filing comes at a time when the broader crypto market remains volatile, with ZEC showing resilience compared to the larger cryptocurrencies.

While Zcash has seen strong momentum in the past year, the 13.26% decline over the past week highlights the typical volatility seen in the crypto sector. However, the 11.46% gain in the last month reinforces the asset’s strong performance, especially given the broader market environment. Institutional interest, combined with Zcash’s unique positioning as a privacy-focused asset, could provide a solid foundation for further price appreciation.

The approval of the Grayscale Zcash ETF remains pending with the SEC, but its filing is already being seen as a milestone for privacy coins and a potential catalyst for increased liquidity and accessibility in the ZEC market.