Zcash ZEC
Zcash launched in October 2016 as the first cryptocurrency to bring strong, mathematically-provable privacy to a Bitcoin-style chain.
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Market data
Key metrics
Price chart
Zcash price chart
Converter
ZEC to USD calculator
Convert any amount of ZEC to USD (or USD to ZEC) at the live mid-market rate.
Rate: 1 ZEC = 392.27 USD. Live mid-market price refreshed every 5 minutes. Exchanges may quote slightly different rates including spread and fees.
Where to buy
Compare verified ZEC exchanges
A broader comparison of up to five exchange partners with ZEC support and a region-routed sign-up link, ranked by HodlChecker score rather than bonus size.
We may earn a commission when you sign up via our links — this never affects price or our rankings. Crypto is volatile and you can lose money. Availability varies by country.
Mine Zcash — Top 2 miners by profitability
Most profitable ZEC miners right now, ranked by daily profit at default electricity cost.
About the asset
About Zcash
Zcash is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that uses trustless zero-knowledge proofs to enable fully encrypted transactions while maintaining blockchain transparency and security. It was the first cryptocurrency to implement zero-knowledge encryption for private peer-to-peer payments, addressing the fundamental privacy gap in traditional cryptocurrencies that expose transaction details publicly.
With a fixed supply of 21 million ZEC and a halving schedule similar to Bitcoin, Zcash allows users to prove transactions are valid without revealing sensitive information like wallet balances, transaction amounts, or participant identities, making it suitable for everyday payments, long-term savings, and cross-border money transfers where financial confidentiality matters.
What drives the Zcash price
The structural forces behind ZEC's price moves — without forecasting where it goes next.
Shielded adoption
Zcash's strategic value depends on actual usage of shielded transactions. Default-shielded wallets, exchange support for z-addresses, and mobile clients that can transact privately end-to-end are the levers that turn Zcash from a privacy-capable chain into a privacy-used chain. Adoption has been slow but trending.
Regulatory positioning
ZEC sits in the same regulatory crosshairs as Monero — but unlike XMR, Zcash supports transparent transactions natively, which has so far kept it listed on most major exchanges. That dual-mode design is a feature in some jurisdictions and a complication in others; expect ongoing uneven access by region.
Halving and emission
Zcash mirrors Bitcoin's 21M cap and halves on a similar 4-year cadence. The most recent halving was in late 2024, with the next around late 2028. Halvings have historically been less price-impactful than for BTC because Zcash is a smaller, less-financialised market — which also means surprises move it harder.
Zcash milestones
- Oct 2016Zcash mainnet launched by Electric Coin Company
- Oct 2018Sapling upgrade — much faster shielded transactions
- Nov 2020First halving (12.5 → 6.25 ZEC)
- May 2022NU5 activates Halo Arc and unified addresses
- Late 2024Third halving
This is context, not a forecast. Zcash prices can move sharply in either direction; nothing on this page is financial advice.
Zcash FAQ
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Informational only. Cryptocurrency is volatile and not suitable for everyone — nothing on this page is financial advice.

