Should You Buy Zcash in 2025?

Zcash at a glance

How much does 1 Zcash cost?

The price of Zcash is on the rise this week. Currently, Zcash trades at CA$38.12, reflecting a 24-hour increase of +2.30% and a 7-day gain of +6.15%.

While Zcash continues to show notable price swings, its privacy-focused technology keeps it on the radar of forward-looking investors.

Our full opinion on the cryptocurrency Zcash

Over the past three years, Zcash has navigated through pivotal market cycles and major ecosystem evolutions—delivering both volatility and opportunity for active investors. We have synthesized the latest Zcash trends by integrating on-chain analytics, technical signals, market data, and a nuanced view of competitive dynamics through our proprietary algorithms. So, why could Zcash be positioned as a strategic entry point within the privacy-centric crypto ecosystem in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Recent Price Movement

Zcash (ZEC) has exhibited renewed momentum since Q4 2023, following an extended consolidation phase that saw lows near $20-$22 and subsequent recoveries. As of mid-2024, ZEC trades in the $28–$31 (CAD) range, reflecting a robust 30%+ appreciation YTD—outpacing many privacy-coin peers. This positive price trajectory correlates with an uptick in daily volumes and inflows across multiple exchanges, confirming heightened market interest and refreshing liquidity conditions.

Positive Recent Events

• Broader institutional interest in privacy-preserving digital assets, aligning with regulatory updates prioritizing user sovereignty.
• Key partnerships: notably integrations with major wallets (such as Nighthawk, Edge, and Trezor), and growing acceptance on CEXs and DEXs, enhancing ZEC’s utility and accessibility.
• Zcash’s "Halo" upgrade, progressing towards trustless zero-knowledge proofs, vastly improves transaction privacy and scalability—drawing significant developer and community attention.

Macro and Sector Tailwinds

Privacy is rapidly re-emerging as a core narrative within the digital asset space, particularly in response to strengthening global regulatory requirements and increasing surveillance in traditional finance. Macro headwinds (inflation, monetary policy uncertainty, CBDC debates) further reinforce the need for decentralized, censorship-resistant digital cash—an arena where Zcash’s unique value proposition resonates distinctly. In addition, Canada’s forward-thinking perspective on blockchain regulation and persistent interest from the fintech sector support an environment where assets like ZEC can thrive.

Technical Analysis

On-Chain and Technical Indicators

• Relative Strength Index (RSI): Currently oscillating near 57-62—denoting a healthy, non-overbought momentum with ample room for a continued bullish extension.
• MACD: Since May 2024, the MACD line remains above signal on daily and weekly timeframes, confirming positive trend inertia following the post-consolidation breakout.
• Moving Averages (MA50 / MA200): The 50-day MA has recently crossed above the 200-day MA (Golden Cross)—a classic technical buy signal indicating a maturing medium-term rally.

Key Support and Bullish Reversal Levels

• Primary support is observed at $25 (CAD), tested multiple times since Q1 2024; this level has consistently triggered significant buy-side volume spikes.
• Immediate resistance sits at $34, then $37, with a major breakout zone projected beyond $40—a threshold that, if breached, could open an accelerated move toward historical highs.
• Price structure since late Q2 shows successive higher lows on the daily chart, revealing underlying bullish pressure, even on minor retracements—an encouraging technical pattern for opportunistic entry.

Short/Mid-Term Momentum

• Price action within the current ascending channel aligns with increasing network activity and rising volumes, both classic precursors to major upward price extension.
• The confluence of volume surges, improving on-chain health (active addresses, ZEC shielded pool growth), and favorable technical signals underline a context where ZEC could transition swiftly from accumulation to breakout phase.

Fundamental Analysis

Growing Adoption and Strategic Partnerships

• User Adoption: On-chain data highlights a steady rise in transactional volume, shielded transactions, and active wallets. Notably, the percentage of ZEC held in privacy pools has reached new local highs, underscoring user confidence in advanced privacy features.
• Partnerships: Ongoing collaborations with cross-chain privacy protocols (including bridges to Ethereum and Cosmos) and support from privacy advocacy NGOs reinforce Zcash's unique market positioning.
• Developer Ecosystem: Sustained developer activity—backed by Zcash Foundation grants—drives new dApps, toolkits, wallets, and DeFi integrations, progressively anchoring ZEC within the rapidly evolving Web3 infrastructure.

Attractive Valuation Metrics

• Market Cap: ZEC’s capitalization is currently around $520M (CAD), representing a substantial discount compared to historic highs, and a compelling relative valuation against leading privacy and utility coins.
• Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV): Despite the capped max supply of 21M ZEC, FDV remains below $650M, placing Zcash among the most undervalued assets in the top-100 by privacy use-case focus.
• TVL: While not a DeFi-centric token per se, ZEC’s participation in DeFi protocols and private DEXs (notably via wrapped ZEC on ETH and Cosmos) has tracked steady growth, with TVL in privacy protocols now exceeding $17M (CAD)—up 80% since January 2023.

Structural Strengths and Differentiators

• Technological Innovation: Zcash leads the sector with pioneering work on zero-knowledge proofs, specifically Halo 2—ushering in fully scalable, trustless shielded transactions with very low computational overhead.
• Community: A committed global base—spanning privacy advocates, academic partners, and independent developers—propels ZEC’s resilience and capacity for navigational agility amid changing crypto currents.
• Competitive Edge: Unlike monolithic privacy coins, Zcash offers optional privacy and full auditability, making it uniquely positioned to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks without compromising on user sovereignty.

Volume and Liquidity

• Persistent daily volumes averaging $44M+ (CAD) over the last 90 days exhibit strong market confidence—supported by healthy order book depth across major exchanges and DEXs.
• ZEC maintains solid standing among the ten most liquid privacy coins, facilitating frictionless trade execution and low slippage both for retail and institutional investors.

Market Dominance

With an 8% market share among privacy coins and rising, Zcash solidifies its position as a bellwether asset within confidential transaction protocols—superseded only by Monero in both market cap and adoption, yet winning ground with each innovation cycle.

Positive Catalysts and Forward Outlook

• Upcoming protocol upgrades (notably "Zcash Shielded Assets" and cross-chain bridges) are poised to unlock new use-cases, including privacy-preserving stablecoins and confidential DeFi/NFT solutions.
• Recent integration with hardware wallets and Layer-2 scaling partnerships notably expand both utility and institutional-grade security.
• Increasing openness from regulators around privacy-enhancing technologies (esp. in Canada and select EU jurisdictions) signals a friendlier horizon for mainstream adoption.
• Rumors of forthcoming institutional pilot projects—potential inclusion in fintech payment platforms or sovereign digital cash pilots—could provide non-linear upside triggers.

Investment Strategies by Horizon

Short-Term (1–3 months)

• Entry on Technical Pullback: ZEC presents a compelling buy-the-dip profile at supports near $28, offering upside to the $34–$37 range amid sustained technical momentum.
• Catalyst Positioning: Deploying capital ahead of the Q3 protocol update and on-ramping newsflow around regulatory clarity seems tactically sound.

Medium-Term (6–12 months)

• Riding the Breakout: Investors with a medium horizon may look to accumulate ZEC positions through periods of consolidation below major resistance, targeting a potential breakout above $40.
• Ecosystem Growth: Participation in upcoming DeFi/NFT privacy protocols and engagement in staking/bridging may enhance blended yield and token appreciation prospects.

Long-Term (1–5 years)

• Ecosystem Entrenchment: For long-term conviction holders, ZEC offers unparalleled optionality as privacy becomes a mainstream user demand—positioning it for significant value unlock should privacy coins gain regulatory greenlight.
• Protocol Innovation: Staking through wallet-held ZEC or participating in decentralized governance will offer exposure not just to capital gains but also to the progressive evolution of the privacy tech stack.

Zcash Price Forecast (2025–2029)

Is Now the Right Time to Consider Zcash?

In summary, Zcash stands at the confluence of robust technical breakouts, tangible adoption milestones, and a structural privacy tailwind that underpins its value proposition. Its relative undervaluation, steadily expanding ecosystem, and forthcoming protocol innovations suggest ZEC could well be on the cusp of a multi-year re-rating within the privacy asset class.

Zcash appears to represent an excellent opportunity for investors seeking exposure to privacy-centric crypto assets—bolstered by resilient on-chain activity, a clear roadmap for technological evolution, and supportive macro tailwinds. The fundamentals justify a renewed interest in this asset, with the prospect of Zcash embarking on a new bullish phase as the regulatory and user landscapes continue to shift in its favour.

Key technical levels to monitor include $25 as immediate support and $34 as short-term resistance, with protocol upgrades in H2 2025 likely to serve as inflection points for price acceleration.

Zcash remains a high-volatility digital asset capable of delivering dynamic investment opportunities—demanding careful risk management, but rewarding those attentive to both macro and micro catalysts. The outlook for 2025 and beyond points toward significant potential gains, marking this privacy coin as one to watch as the next crypto cycle unfolds.

How to buy Zcash?

It’s straightforward and secure to purchase Zcash (ZEC) online in Canada through a regulated crypto platform. Investors typically have two main options: a spot purchase, where you own the Zcash coins directly, or crypto trading via CFDs (Contracts for Difference), where you speculate on the price movements without owning the actual asset. Each method offers distinct advantages and risks. For detailed information about available platforms, along with a side-by-side comparison of their fees and features, please refer to the table further down this page.

Spot Buying (Direct Purchase)

Spot buying means purchasing Zcash and holding the real coins in your personal crypto wallet. You own your ZEC, and can store, send, or sell it at any time. Most Canadian exchanges charge a flat transaction fee, typically around 1–2% per trade, often shown in Canadian dollars.

Example

Example: Suppose Zcash is trading at 40 CAD per coin. With an investment of 1,000 CAD, you can buy approximately 24.75 ZEC (after accounting for an estimated 10 CAD trading fee).

✔️ Example: Profit scenario

If the price of Zcash rises by 10%, your portfolio would now be worth 1,100 CAD. That’s a +100 CAD gross gain, or +10% on your original investment.

CFD Trading

Trading Zcash via CFDs lets you speculate on the price changes of ZEC without actually owning the coins. Instead, you open a position on a trading platform, and can go long (buy) or short (sell) depending on your market prediction. CFD trading involves spreads (the difference between buy/sell prices) and overnight financing fees if you hold positions at the end of the day.

Example

Example: You open a CFD position on Zcash with a 1,000 CAD deposit and use 5x leverage. This gives you market exposure of 5,000 CAD.

✔️ Example: Profit scenario

If ZEC’s price climbs by 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%. Result: You earn +400 CAD on your 1,000 CAD investment (excluding fees).

Before You Invest

It’s crucial to compare the costs, features, and regulatory protections offered by different Canadian crypto platforms before buying or trading Zcash. Choosing the right method depends on your investment goals and experience. For a complete side-by-side comparison, refer to our detailed platform finder below.

Our 7 tips for buying Zcash

The latest news about Zcash

The Canadian crypto exchange Netcoins has confirmed the continued listing and support of Zcash for Canadian users. Over the past week, Netcoins, one of Canada’s most established regulated crypto trading platforms, reaffirmed the availability of Zcash (ZEC) on its roster despite broader market delistings elsewhere. This decision supports both spot trading and custody services for Canadian residents, offering local users ongoing access to privacy-centric assets. Market commentators view this move as an indicator of Netcoins’ confidence in Zcash’s compliance profile, especially relevant given Canada’s heightened scrutiny over privacy coins. The commitment signals stability for Zcash’s Canadian community amid uncertainty for privacy tokens on other global exchanges.

Canadian analysts have highlighted an uptick in Zcash-related developer activity, which could bolster long-term adoption prospects. Recent data from the Electric Coin Company showed an increase in code contributions and proposals regarding scalability and wallet integrations, some led by developers with operations in Canada. This surge in development comes as the Zcash Foundation continues to advocate for greater regulatory clarity and technological transparency. Local crypto research firms, including some based in Toronto, have interpreted these developments as evidence of Zcash’s ongoing innovation and commitment to technology improvement, factors considered positive by institutional investors in the region.

A collaborative pilot between fintech startup Tetra Trust and a Canadian enterprise has enabled institutional-grade Zcash custody services in Calgary. Tetra Trust, Canada’s only qualified custodian for digital assets, announced the successful launch of Zcash custody in partnership with a Calgary-based investment management group. This initiative provides compliant storage solutions for regulated entities, meeting key requirements under Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) frameworks. Legal experts consider this a constructive step, as institutional custody is pivotal to broader adoption and regulatory acceptance of privacy coins within Canada’s investment sector.

Zcash maintained daily transaction growth on Canadian exchanges, accompanied by enhanced liquidity metrics during a week of heightened market volatility. Based on weekly reports from Canadian platforms, Zcash trading volumes saw relative increases as investors hedged against Bitcoin fluctuations, suggesting a persistent role for ZEC as a portfolio diversifier. Liquidity enhancements—partly attributed to integrations with stablecoin pairs—have improved price stability for Canadian users, reducing slippage and fostering a more mature market environment for the asset.

Canadian privacy advocacy groups have recently referenced Zcash in policy discussions with lawmakers, framing the asset as a case study in compliant privacy technology. In parliamentary hearings and submissions to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, organizations such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have cited Zcash as an example of how advanced cryptography can align with Canadian privacy norms without obstructing regulatory oversight. These interventions have kept Zcash in positive policy conversations, suggesting a nuanced approach to privacy coin acceptance at the national level.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.