Zcash Jumps 23% as Bitcoin, Major Tokens Rally
Zcash is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that allows shielded transfers, concealing the sender, recipient and amount while transactions are verified on its blockchain. That design positions ZEC as a potential privacy layer alongside Bitcoin, whose public ledger makes payment flows traceable. The token’s relevance extends beyond price speculation: debates over financial privacy, regulatory scrutiny and developer funding have made Zcash a closely watched test of whether privacy technology can gain broader acceptance in digital assets.
ZEC surged 23% over the 24 hours to Sept. 17, 2026, trading near $1,369 after Paradigm co-founder Matt Huang disclosed that the crypto venture firm owns the token and called Zcash a privacy complement to Bitcoin. The Federal Reserve raised its target rate by 25 basis points on Sept. 16 to 3.75%-4%, its first increase since 2023, but projected limited further tightening. Bitcoin rose less than 1% to about $76,258, Solana gained nearly 3% to just under $100, and BNB advanced more than 2%.
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The history behind this eventZcash Surges Past $830, Lifting Privacy Coins
Zcash, launched in 2016, is one of the longest-running privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, using zero-knowledge proofs to let users shield transaction details. The latest rally has been fueled by Grayscale’s push for a spot Zcash ETF, institutional investment in mining capacity and the Ironwood mainnet upgrade, renewing investor interest in privacy coins as a distinct segment of the digital-asset market.
ZEC gained more than 30% over 24 hours to clear $830, with reports showing it briefly topping $880 for its highest level in eight years. Some gauges put the advance at 48%, while futures trading volume approached $10 billion as speculative positioning nearly doubled. The rally spread to Monero and other privacy tokens, though regulatory scrutiny and the risk of exchange delistings remain significant headwinds.
Zcash Surges Twelvefold in Eight Months as Analysis Points to Bitcoin Cycle and Mining-Pool Activity
Zcash (ZEC), a cryptocurrency focused on private transactions, is influenced not only by its own supply and demand but also by Bitcoin (BTC) cycles and shifts in mining capital. Market analysis has found that ZEC’s previous peaks often occurred near BTC’s medium-term tops, making the latest rally a notable case study in capital rotation and the influence of mining pools.
Since September 2025, ZEC has risen about twelvefold in eight months and returned to the ranks of the 15 largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Analysis has linked the rally to coordinated activity by major Bitcoin mining pools such as Foundry, raising questions about whether they may have concentrated capital to drive prices higher. However, claims of collective market manipulation remain market speculation, with no regulatory investigation or public evidence confirming them.
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