Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies have come under renewed scrutiny in 2025, yet Zcash (ZEC) continues to trade firmly above the US $35–40 zone that defined the first half of the year. As investors weigh regulatory headwinds against the technical upgrade roadmap, many are asking the same question: how high can ZEC go by December? This article aggregates the latest projections from respected data providers and sets them against on-chain trends, macro catalysts and known risks to deliver an evidence-based Zcash price prediction for 2025.
Current market snapshot
As at 30 June 2025 ZEC changes hands near US $39, leaving the token roughly 50 % below its January peak but well clear of the multi-year low near US $15 set in 2024. Cointelegraph’s price dashboard lists circulating supply at 16.3 million and market capitalisation just under US $640 million, with 24-hour volume hovering around US $65 million. A breakout through the psychological US $40 level in May signalled improving momentum, according to CoinDesk technicians, who highlighted a 12-week basing structure between US $25 and US $40. That rally provides the technical backdrop for today’s forward estimates.
Quantitative 2025 forecasts
| Source | Year-end high | Year-end average | Year-end low | Methodology |
| CoinCodex | US $ 87.79 | US $ 64.30 | US $ 39.72 | Machine-learning blend of momentum & mean reversion |
| DigitalCoinPrice | US $ 86.08 | US $ 83.17 | US $ 35.25 | Weighted technical & sentiment metrics |
| Binance Research | US $ 39.36 | — | — | Linear growth extrapolation |
CoinCodex models a 31 % move to ~US $52 by late July and a potential stretch target of US $88 by December, implying upside of 125 % from current levels. DigitalCoinPrice is similarly bullish on the upper bound, projecting an average closing price in the low US $80s. By contrast Binance’s in-house page offers a muted base case near status quo. Such dispersion underscores the uncertainty embedded in any ZEC price forecast.
Catalysts that could lift ZEC
- Supply compression after the 2024 halving
Zcash completed its second halving in November 2024, reducing annual issuance to 1.56 %. With fewer new coins hitting exchanges, even modest demand growth can tighten float and support higher quotations—an effect visible in Bitcoin’s post-halving cycles. - Halo Arc adoption and unified addresses
The Halo Arc upgrade introduced default shielded transactions and unified addresses, streamlining the user experience and potentially expanding merchant acceptance. Increased real-world utility is a prerequisite for any sustained Zcash price analysis bull case. - Flight to privacy amid regulatory bifurcation
As know-your-transaction rules spread, corporates that require selective disclosure may view zero-knowledge transfers as a compliance-friendly compromise. A spike in such institutional flows would bolster daily settlement volumes and strengthen the narrative that Zcash future price appreciation is tied to genuine usage rather than speculative rotation.
Risks that could cap upside
- Delisting pressure in the United States and EU – Privacy tokens already face withdrawals from certain exchanges. Loss of fiat on-ramps could sap liquidity and mute the upside implied by the most optimistic ZEC price targets.
- Developer funding uncertainty – The current 20 % dev-fund slice expires in late 2025. Failure to agree on a new funding model might handicap long-term maintenance and deter large-ticket buyers.
- Competition from L1 and L2 privacy layers – Projects such as Aztec, Aleph Zero or Ethereum’s upcoming privacy roll-ups offer alternative ways to shield transactions without leaving the dominant DeFi liquidity hubs.
Scenario map for 31 December 2025
| Scenario | Drivers | Probability* | Year-end range |
| Bull (CoinCodex upper case) | Halving tailwind, dev-fund renewal, benign regulation | 30 % | US $ 75–90 |
| Base (CoinCodex mean / DigitalCoinPrice avg) | Mixed regulation, gradual adoption, flat macro liquidity | 50 % | US $ 55–70 |
| Bear (Binance style) | Exchange delistings, dev-fund gridlock, strong USD | 20 % | US $ 25–40 |
*Subjective probability bands compiled from analyst commentaries.
Technical levels to watch
- Support: US $25 (multi-month base), US $32 (50-week moving average)
- Resistance: US $52 (CoinCodex July target), US $70 (DigitalCoinPrice mid-year band)
A weekly close above US $52 would place ZEC in its highest 12-month value area and open a path toward the Fibonacci extension near US $70, reinforcing bullish sentiment around the question will Zcash go up.
Investment thesis in plain English
For growth investors – Acceptance of unified addresses and continuous zk-proof research position Zcash as an early-mover in privacy tech. If forecasts materialise, upside could exceed 100 % relative to today’s quote.
For value or income investors – ZEC offers no staking yield and faces regulatory overhang. Conservative portfolios might prefer lower-beta plays until legal clarity improves.
For traders – Elevated volatility (10 % 30-day annualised) and tight float make ZEC a candidate for swing strategies, but strict risk caps are essential given the binary outcomes mapped above.
Whether or not one should buy Zcash therefore depends on mandate and tolerance for event risk. As always, position size—not conviction—should govern exposure.
Final verdict: is Zcash a good investment?
Price projections stretching from US $40 to US $90 highlight both promise and peril. Zcash’s differentiated privacy tech and post-halving tokenomics supply a credible fundamental story, yet regulatory clouds can gather quickly over privacy assets. On balance, the 2025 outlook appears positively skewed: two of three reputable models predict at least a 60 % advance, and technical structure has already flipped from distribution to accumulation. Investors who understand the legal landscape and size positions responsibly may find the risk-reward calculus favourable—but only with the awareness that tail risks remain.