Overview
- ZEC traded in the $600–$750 range with market value around $10–11 billion, marking its highest levels since 2018 and a return to the top 20 by market cap.
- Daily spot volume topped $1.8 billion as liquidity deepened on Binance, Hyperliquid and Bybit, with open interest led by Binance (~$340 million) and Hyperliquid (~$332 million).
- Shielded adoption climbed, with roughly 20–30% of circulating ZEC held privately and the Zashi wallet making shielded transfers the default, pushing usage higher.
- Derivatives stress intensified, including $51–$59 million in liquidations and overheated technicals, and prices briefly pulled back about 14% after touching the recent peak.
- Arthur Hayes said ZEC is Maelstrom’s second‑largest liquid holding and floated a long‑term $10,000 view, while near‑term calls range from $750 to $1,000 and an expected mid‑November halving is in focus.