After failing to break above significant resistance levels, XRP is once again trading close to the $1 mark. The small ascending support trendline that held throughout the majority of July is now under pressure as the asset has fallen below its short-term moving averages. XRP may soon return to $1, a psychological level that has consistently drawn buyers but is growing more vulnerable after several tests, if sellers are able to disprove this support.
Over the previous few sessions, the technical picture has gotten worse. XRP made a brief attempt to move back toward the 50-day EMA, but it was rejected almost instantly, indicating that bullish momentum is still weak. The 200-day moving average is still much higher at $1.43, indicating that the overall trend is still bearish, even though the price is currently trading below the 26-, 50-, and 100-day moving averages. The trading range is getting smaller, which is a worrying signal.
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewIn order to keep prices stable, XRP has been generating lower highs while depending on a progressively rising support line. Because the dominant trend is still downward, this structure frequently resolves with a sharp breakout. Unless buyers abruptly reclaim nearby resistance around $1.11-$1.12, the likelihood favors a move to the downside. A bullish reversal is also not currently supported by volume.
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During recent attempts at recovery, trading activity has remained comparatively low, suggesting that buyers are reluctant to commit new funds. In the meantime, before XRP could gain any significant upward momentum, each push toward resistance has drawn selling pressure. Near 48, the Relative Strength Index is in a neutral range that allows for movement in either direction. Nonetheless, declining price action and a neutral RSI typically indicate waning momentum rather than accumulation.
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Before confidence in a long-term recovery can resume, bulls would prefer to see the RSI rise back above 50 along with increased trading volume. The $1 barrier is still crucial. After multiple tests, psychological support frequently deteriorates, and XRP has already spent a number of weeks just above that level.
Stop-loss orders may be triggered by a daily close below $1, which would hasten selling toward the next support area at $0.95. Bulls have a simple but difficult path. While maintaining the ascending support line, XRP needs to recover the moving averages that are grouped between $1.11 and $1.15.
The asset is currently at one of its most significant technical crossroads in recent months, as the risk of losing the $1 level increases considerably in the absence of that recovery.
Zcash's psychological thresholdAfter yet another erratic week, Zcash has returned to one of the most significant psychological price levels of its current cycle, with the asset trying to hold above $500. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency has fallen below its local highs near $580 due to recent selling pressure, but the overall technical structure is still positive, so the upcoming sessions will be crucial in determining whether the most recent decline is just a healthy correction or the start of a deeper retracement.
ZEC/USDT Chart by TradingViewTechnically speaking, ZEC is still trading above every significant moving average. The 100-day and 200-day moving averages are significantly lower, at $460 and $408, respectively, while the 50-day EMA is situated around $476.
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Despite recent weakness, this alignment shows that the long-term trend is still bullish. Buyers maintain the overall advantage as long as the price remains above these dynamic support levels.
Because it now acts as both a short-term technical pivot and psychological support, the $500 area is especially significant. In order to absorb profits from traders who entered much lower, Zcash required a period of consolidation following an intense rally in May and July.
Compared to the explosive buying that drove the previous breakout, the current decline has coincided with noticeably lower trading volume, indicating that panic selling has not yet taken hold. Additionally, momentum indicators suggest a cooling rather than a complete reversal. After previously reaching overbought conditions, the Relative Strength Index has retreated to the neutral zone around 49. With this reset, the market has more room to make a higher move without needing a lot of speculative momentum.
The first upside target is still the recent swing high around $580 if buyers are successful in defending the $500 region. A strong move above that level could reopen the path toward the $650–$680 area, where ZEC faced significant resistance earlier this year.
Hyperliquid's price testOne of the most significant support zones that Hyperliquid (HYPE) has tested since its explosive rally earlier this year is drawing closer. The token has retreated toward the 100-day moving average around $57, where buyers are starting to show signs of returning to the market, following a decline from recent highs above $75. A recovery toward $70 is still a plausible scenario if this level holds.
HYPE/USDT Chart by TradingViewAlthough a large portion of HYPE's July gains have been erased by the recent correction, the overall trend has not yet broken. The 100-day moving average is serving as immediate dynamic support, and the asset is still trading comfortably above its rising 200-day moving average near $50. As a result, a technical cushion is created, which may serve as the basis for another bullish leg. Support at $57 is especially crucial because it corresponds with past breakout territory.
After a powerful rally, markets frequently revisit previous resistance, and successful retests frequently serve as the impetus for subsequent advances. Today's candle indicates that buyers are defending the level despite ongoing selling pressure, suggesting that HYPE has so far respected this area. Momentum indicators also suggest that the correction may be getting close to exhaustion.
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The Relative Strength Index is at its lowest point in a few weeks, falling into the low 40s. This shows that the overheated conditions observed during the June rally have essentially been reset, even though it does not necessarily indicate a reversal. In the past, once momentum cooled into this range, HYPE frequently resumed its uptrend. The short-term and medium-term moving averages, concentrated between $63 and $65, currently represent the biggest barrier for bulls.
A clear close above those levels would probably rekindle buying interest and refocus attention on the $70 mark. After that, the next obvious target is the prior highs, which were between $75 and $76.
Conversely, the bullish outlook would be considerably weakened if the $57 support were lost. Stronger long-term support is found at the 200-day moving average near $50, and a breakdown below the 100-day moving average could expose HYPE to a deeper correction.
As of right now, though, the chart continues to favor a rebound over a trend reversal. HYPE is positioned on a technically important support zone, the long-term structure is still bullish, and the correction has restored momentum to healthier levels. A recovery toward $70 is very likely in the upcoming sessions if buyers continue defending this area.
XRP has returned to a critical psychological threshold near $1, following repeated failures to break above key resistance levels. Recent price action shows that the ascending short-term support that held throughout much of July is under significant pressure, with XRP dropping below its short-term moving averages and showing signs of continued weakness.
XRP struggles as crucial support weakensAnalysts noted that XRP, the digital asset developed by Ripple, recently attempted a recovery toward its 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) but faced a swift rejection. The price continues to trade below the 26-, 50-, and 100-day moving averages, while the 200-day moving average remains higher at $1.43, reinforcing a prevailing bearish trend. The current narrowing of the trading range raises concerns among market participants.
While XRP has formed lower highs and relies on a slowly ascending support line, this structure is often associated with sharp breakouts. With buyers struggling to reclaim resistance between $1.11 and $1.12, the likelihood of further downside persists. Volume analysis indicates buyers have been hesitant, with trading activity remaining subdued even during rebound attempts.
Market observers identified that XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has drifted near 48, sitting in a neutral zone that historically permits movement in either direction, although the declining price trend combined with the neutral RSI suggests momentum may be waning rather than building.
For bullish sentiment to return, the RSI would need to climb above 50 with a concurrent rise in trading volume. The $1 mark remains a vital level and, after several tests, the resilience of this psychological support appears to be fading. A daily close below $1 could trigger a wave of stop-loss orders, potentially accelerating a drop toward the next support at $0.95.
To reverse current bearish trends, bulls must maintain the rising support line and push above key moving averages clustered between $1.11 and $1.15. Without a clear recovery, analysts warn that XRP is at one of its most pivotal technical moments in recent months.
Support/ResistancePrice levelTechnical SignalMajor resistance$1.11–$1.12Short-term rejectionPsychological support$1.00Repeated testsNext support$0.95Stop-loss trigger200-day moving average$1.43Bears in controlZcash holds its ground above key moving averagesZcash (ZEC), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2016, is currently trading above all major moving averages, with the 50-day EMA at $476 and significant longer-term supports—the 100-day and 200-day moving averages—at $460 and $408, respectively. Despite recent pullbacks, this alignment points to a longer-term bullish bias as long as prices stay above these levels.
The $500 zone has emerged as both a technical pivot and an important psychological level. After a sharp rally in May and July, Zcash has experienced a period of consolidation, allowing the market to absorb profit-taking. Trading volumes have dropped, indicating a lack of panic selling, while momentum indicators point to a cooling phase rather than a full reversal.
The Relative Strength Index for ZEC, now near 49, suggests the asset has moved out of overbought territory. If buyers can defend the $500 support, attention turns first to the recent swing high at $580 and then to the significant resistance between $650 and $680.
Hyperliquid tests pivotal support zoneHyperliquid (HYPE) is nearing one of its most important support areas since its notable rally earlier this year. The asset has pulled back toward its 100-day moving average at $57 after reaching highs above $75, with fresh buying interest emerging at these levels. Should this support hold, a move back to $70 remains possible.
Despite recent corrections that erased much of HYPE’s July gains, the overall upward structure remains intact. The 100-day moving average is providing dynamic support, and the token continues to trade above its 200-day moving average near $50.
Market participants are closely monitoring the $57 zone, as it aligns with previous breakout levels and could serve as a base for renewed advances. Today’s trading patterns indicate ongoing defense of this threshold, while the RSI has reset to the low 40s, signaling that the excesses from the past rally have largely abated.
For HYPE bulls, the next challenge lies in overcoming short- and medium-term resistances at $63–$65. A clear move above this range would likely rekindle buying momentum and refocus attention on the $70 level, followed by previous highs between $75 and $76. However, a loss of support at $57 could point toward a more significant downtrend, with strong longer-term support found at the 200-day moving average near $50.
If buyers continue to defend current levels, HYPE is well-positioned for a recovery, with technical indicators supporting the possibility of a rebound toward $70 in the near term.
For now, the dominant chart structure and restored momentum suggest the correction phase may be nearing its end as buyers regroup at major support.
Mini dictionary: Hyperliquid (HYPE), an emerging digital asset, has attracted attention for its rapid price movements and growing on-chain trading activity. Its technical performance is often monitored using moving averages and relative strength indicators to gauge market sentiment and potential turning points.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Zcash (ZEC) price hovers around $500 on Friday after five consecutive days of losses, testing a crucial support cluster. The privacy coin holds retail strength, with a positive funding rate despite over $2 million in liquidations over the last 24 hours, suggesting bullish bias persists. Technically, the easing bullish momentum risks a steeper decline below its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) around $489.
Retail demand in limboZcash derivatives witnesses firm retail demand despite a bullish positional wipeout. CoinGlass data shows a positive funding rate of 0.0076% on Friday, reflecting steady demand among traders to buy long positions at a premium despite a contraction in Open Interest (OI) and trading volume.
ZEC futures OI is down 3% over the last 24 hours to $998.72 million, with a 2% decline in trading volume to $1.27 billion, together suggesting an easing notional value of active positions as price drops and reduced retail activity.
However, the long liquidations of $1.64 million outpace short liquidations of $474,280 over the last 24 hours, indicating that bullish traders are facing margin calls. Despite the positional wipeout, the long-to-short ratio of 1.0245 suggests nearly equal active long and short contracts, although their weightings may differ.
Zcash derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassWill ZEC price hold above $500?Zcash tests a local support trendline near $500 on Friday, supported by the 50-day EMA at $489 and sits well over the 200-day EMA at $408. The privacy coin also trades above the 50% retracement of the recent downswing from $690 to $250, at $470, suggesting the broader uptrend is still intact despite the recent pullback.
From a technical perspective, Zcash is poised for a deeper correction below the $500 psychological mark. A sustained close below the 50-day EMA at $489 and 50% retracement at $470 could extend the decline to the 200-day EMA at $408.
That said, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 51 shows a downward trend toward the neutral midline as buying pressure wanes. At the same time, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) crosses below its signal, hinting at renewed bearish pressure.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, immediate resistance emerges at the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement around $595, reinforced by the overhead trendline near $600. A sustained break above this level would open the way toward the prior swing high area near $690.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Zcash price has fallen toward the $500 psychological support as a 4-hour breakdown, leveraged liquidations, and caution before the Ironwood upgrade have weakened market sentiment.
Summary
Zcash price has fallen toward $500 after losing $520 and triggering more than $2 million in long liquidations. Bulls must reclaim $530 to neutralize the bearish structure, while $550 remains the main breakout level. A daily close below $477 could expose $466 and the rounded-top target near $371. According to data from crypto.news, Zcash (ZEC) price traded near $502 on July 24 after losing about 5.5% over the past week. Sellers took control after the token lost $520, while more than $2 million in long positions were liquidated over 24 hours. Automated stop orders added pressure once price slipped through intermediate support at $510.
Outside crypto, Thursday’s technology rout reduced demand for risk assets. The Magnificent Seven erased about $797 billion in market value after Alphabet and Tesla’s earnings raised concerns over heavy artificial intelligence spending. The Nasdaq Composite fell more than 2%, while Tesla dropped 14% and Alphabet lost almost 7%.
Oil and bond markets added another obstacle. Brent crude briefly moved above $100 after Houthi attacks on two Saudi tankers raised fears of disruption in the Red Sea. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield reached an 18-month high near 4.70%, making speculative assets less attractive as traders reconsidered expectations for lower interest rates.
Crypto funds also lost institutional capital during the selloff. U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $225 million in net outflows on July 23. BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for $202 million of the withdrawals, extending the defensive mood into altcoins such as ZEC.
Zcash price must reclaim $530 to repair its short-term structure On the daily chart, ZEC has fallen below its 20-day simple moving average at $514.77 but remains above the 50-day SMA at $477.05 and the 100-day SMA at $466.50. Those averages form the first major support area if bulls cannot hold $500. The 200-day SMA sits much lower at $382.96.
Zcash price daily chart — July 24 | Source: crypto.news Bear-bull power has dropped to minus 25.48, which shows that sellers have gained control after ZEC’s rejection near $570. However, the token remains above its medium- and long-term averages, leaving the daily recovery structure intact unless price closes decisively below the $466–$477 zone.
The 4-hour chart carries a more bearish setup. ZEC has formed a rounded-top structure since its July 15 peak near $580, with price now testing the $500 area. A confirmed breakdown could extend toward $470 before exposing the pattern’s main support and projected target around $370.69.
Zcash price has been forming a rounded-top pattern on the 4-hour chart — July 24 | Source: crypto.news Momentum readings have yet to confirm a reversal. The 4-hour Relative Strength Index stands at 35.11, close to oversold territory but still above 30. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence line remains below its signal line at minus 9.15 versus minus 8.65, while the negative histogram shows that sellers retain an advantage.
According to trader Ardi, $500 has become the main liquidity pivot after ZEC lost $520. The trader expects a brief move below the threshold before any sustained recovery and wrote:
“A reclaim of $530 would return the chart to neutral and likely begin a sideways consolidation phase.”
Ardi identified $550 as the level that would fully break the current bearish structure. Beyond it, $620 would become the next macro breakout barrier. Failure to protect $500, however, could force the trader to close the remaining long position established near $425.
CoinGlass’s three-day liquidation heatmap places the strongest overhead concentration between $524 and $529. A rebound into that band could force short sellers to exit and help ZEC challenge Ardi’s $530 neutral level. Below the market, another dense leverage pocket sits around $490–$494, making that range a likely destination if $500 gives way.
Zcash liquidation heatmap | Source: CoinGlass Derivatives traders have not turned fully bearish. ZEC’s funding rate remained positive at approximately 0.0076%, showing that long positions still pay shorts. Yet falling open interest and weaker spot volume show that fewer traders are willing to carry leverage through the current decline, limiting the fuel available for an immediate rebound.
Loss of $477 would invalidate the remaining bullish setup Ironwood, also known as NU6.3, will activate at block 3,428,143 on July 28. The upgrade will retire the vulnerable Orchard shielded pool and introduce a corrected pool. Funds leaving Orchard must pass through an accounting turnstile designed to prevent more ZEC from exiting than originally entered.
Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox has explained that the process cannot identify individual counterfeit coins or prove that the flaw was never exploited. Temporary wallet and exchange interruptions may occur as service providers update their systems, giving short-term traders another reason to reduce exposure before activation.
Zakura offers a longer-term counterweight to those concerns. The new Rust-based full-node client targets 50,000 private transactions per second and can reportedly start from a pruned snapshot in under two minutes. Still, the development has not stopped the current price correction.
A daily close below the 50-day SMA at $477.05 would weaken the primary recovery thesis and expose $466.50, followed by the June support region near $370. Continued ETF withdrawals, high Treasury yields, another oil spike, or complications during Ironwood activation would increase that downside risk. Bulls must first defend $500 and reclaim $530 before ZEC can make another attempt at $550.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Ripple (XRP), Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Zcash (ZEC) are trading in the red on Thursday, facing headwinds near crucial support levels. The technical outlook for XRP, HYPE and ZEC is bearish in the near term, with risks of further declines as selling pressure builds.
Ripple remains capped below 50-day EMAXRP edges lower on Thursday, maintaining a corrective tone below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1.1458 and remains well below the 200-day EMA at $1.4425. The pair has bounced off recent lows, but upside attempts are still capped by this overhead moving-average structure.
Momentum is improving, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and signal line advancing higher and its histogram expanding positively, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at about 55 hints at a recovery in bullish pressure without entering overbought territory.
On the topside, initial resistance is located at the 50-day EMA at $1.1458, followed closely by the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the latest swing from $1.2935 to $1.0092 at $1.1514, forming a nearby barrier.
XRP/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, first support emerges at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $1.1178, with additional demand seen near the broken rising trendline area around $1.0937. A deeper slide would expose the 23.6% retracement at $1.0763, before the anchor low at $1.0092 comes into view as a critical floor.
Hyperliquid breaks below crucial support trendlineHyperliquid trades below $60.00 on Thursday, holding below the 50-day EMA at $62.52. From a technical perspective, the near-term bias is bearish, with the path of least resistance targeting the 50% retracement at $54.19, measured from $38.17 to $76.93.
Price remains above the longer-term 200-day EMA at $50.77, but the rejection from the descending resistance line near $69.67 and the break of the former uptrend support line now acting as resistance at $60.72 suggest that rallies are being sold.
The RSI at 40 remains in weak territory, while the MACD and signal line are trending below the zero line, reinforcing a downside-biased tone.
HYPE/USD daily price chart.Looking up, HYPE faces headwinds from the broken support trendline near $60.72, the 50-day EMA at $62.52, and the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $66.22.
Zcash extends decline toward the 50-day EMA Zcash trades above $500 on Thursday, facing downside pressure from an overhead trendline near $581. The privacy coin holds above both the 50-day EMA and 200-day EMA at $489 and $407, respectively, keeping the broader bias constructive.
Momentum is mixed, with the RSI hovering around a neutral 52 and the MACD slipping below zero, hinting that bullish structure is intact but upside conviction has cooled.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, initial resistance aligns with the descending trendline barrier around $581, with the prior swing high near $690.00 marking a more distant bullish objective if buyers regain control.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Intel and AMD are reportedly signing long-term server CPU procurement agreements with Chinese clients, with some products seeing price hikes of over 40% this year.
According to Reuters, driven by the boom in AI data center construction, Intel and AMD are signing longer-term server CPU procurement agreements with Chinese server clients, with some terms exceeding two years to lock in purchasing volumes, though prices are generally not fixed. The report notes that demand for AI infrastructure has expanded from GPUs to areas including server CPUs, storage, networking equipment and memory. Some Chinese server CPU products have seen prices rise by over 40% year-to-date, with monthly increases for certain products exceeding 10%. Earlier, Reuters reported that the delivery cycle for some of Intel’s Xeon server CPUs has extended to up to six months.
27 minutes ago
Binance will suspend trading on July 25 for system upgrades.
According to an official announcement, Binance will support its partner brokers in carrying out a scheduled system upgrade, during which its stock trading service will be suspended from 10:50 to 14:00 UTC on July 25. Users will not be able to submit stock trading orders during the upgrade period. Binance stated that the upgrade is scheduled outside regular U.S. stock trading hours, and the service is expected to automatically resume after the upgrade is completed. The exact resumption time may be earlier or later than the planned window, so users are advised to arrange their relevant trading activities in advance.
27 minutes ago
Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a net inflow of $69.1 million, while Ethereum spot ETFs saw a net inflow of $72.7 million.
According to data from Farside Investors, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs logged a total net inflow of $69.1 million yesterday. BlackRock’s IBIT led with a $38.8 million net inflow, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC at $21.5 million, Bitwise’s BITB at $5.4 million, and MSBT at $3.8 million. Grayscale’s GBTC, however, saw a net outflow of $38.3 million, while all other products had zero net flow. In the same period, U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs posted a total net inflow of $72.7 million: BlackRock’s ETHA took in $53.5 million, Fidelity’s FETH added $19.2 million, and all other products recorded no net flow.
27 minutes ago
The on-chain tokenized GME stock on Robinhood Crypto once traded at a significant premium, as market makers engaged in continuous mint arbitrage.
According to market data, trading activity in GME meme tokens and GME tokenized stocks on Robinhood Crypto has driven a rapid rise in the prices of their underlying liquidity pools. The on-chain price of GME tokenized stocks once traded at a roughly 10x premium over the actual underlying stock price. Given the relevant trading pools hold only around $200,000 in liquidity, heavy buying pressure pushed prices to deviate sharply from the spot level. Currently, mint and burn permissions for GME tokenized stocks are restricted to Authorized Participants (APs) and market makers that have completed Know Your Business (KYB) verification. On-chain data shows the official mint address is continuously issuing additional tokens to inject market liquidity; the latest records indicate new mint transactions occur nearly every minute, aimed at easing the premium and guiding prices back to their fair value.
27 minutes ago
Kazakhstan will incorporate strategic digital mining into the development of its national cryptocurrency reserve, requiring mining firms to surrender a portion of their mining assets.
Kazakhstan’s government has approved the "Implementation Rules for Strategic Digital Mining", allowing eligible enterprises to secure power quotas for up to 10 years at a capped electricity price. In exchange, participating firms must transfer a portion of their mined crypto assets to the Astana Hub Autonomous Cluster Fund, which is managed by the National Investment Company under Kazakhstan’s National Bank to bolster the country’s strategic crypto reserves. Under the new regulations, digital mining operators must submit applications via the E-licensing system, gain approval from a special committee, sign an agreement with Astana Hub within 5 working days, and finalize a power purchase contract with a power generation company to participate in the strategic digital mining program.
Intel and AMD are reportedly signing long-term server CPU procurement agreements with Chinese clients, with some products seeing price hikes of over 40% this year.
According to Reuters, driven by the boom in AI data center construction, Intel and AMD are signing longer-term server CPU procurement agreements with Chinese server clients, with some terms exceeding two years to lock in purchasing volumes, though prices are generally not fixed. The report notes that demand for AI infrastructure has expanded from GPUs to areas including server CPUs, storage, networking equipment and memory. Some Chinese server CPU products have seen prices rise by over 40% year-to-date, with monthly increases for certain products exceeding 10%. Earlier, Reuters reported that the delivery cycle for some of Intel’s Xeon server CPUs has extended to up to six months.
27 minutes ago
Binance will suspend trading on July 25 for system upgrades.
According to an official announcement, Binance will support its partner brokers in carrying out a scheduled system upgrade, during which its stock trading service will be suspended from 10:50 to 14:00 UTC on July 25. Users will not be able to submit stock trading orders during the upgrade period. Binance stated that the upgrade is scheduled outside regular U.S. stock trading hours, and the service is expected to automatically resume after the upgrade is completed. The exact resumption time may be earlier or later than the planned window, so users are advised to arrange their relevant trading activities in advance.
27 minutes ago
Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a net inflow of $69.1 million, while Ethereum spot ETFs saw a net inflow of $72.7 million.
According to data from Farside Investors, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs logged a total net inflow of $69.1 million yesterday. BlackRock’s IBIT led with a $38.8 million net inflow, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC at $21.5 million, Bitwise’s BITB at $5.4 million, and MSBT at $3.8 million. Grayscale’s GBTC, however, saw a net outflow of $38.3 million, while all other products had zero net flow. In the same period, U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs posted a total net inflow of $72.7 million: BlackRock’s ETHA took in $53.5 million, Fidelity’s FETH added $19.2 million, and all other products recorded no net flow.
27 minutes ago
The on-chain tokenized GME stock on Robinhood Crypto once traded at a significant premium, as market makers engaged in continuous mint arbitrage.
According to market data, trading activity in GME meme tokens and GME tokenized stocks on Robinhood Crypto has driven a rapid rise in the prices of their underlying liquidity pools. The on-chain price of GME tokenized stocks once traded at a roughly 10x premium over the actual underlying stock price. Given the relevant trading pools hold only around $200,000 in liquidity, heavy buying pressure pushed prices to deviate sharply from the spot level. Currently, mint and burn permissions for GME tokenized stocks are restricted to Authorized Participants (APs) and market makers that have completed Know Your Business (KYB) verification. On-chain data shows the official mint address is continuously issuing additional tokens to inject market liquidity; the latest records indicate new mint transactions occur nearly every minute, aimed at easing the premium and guiding prices back to their fair value.
27 minutes ago
Kazakhstan will incorporate strategic digital mining into the development of its national cryptocurrency reserve, requiring mining firms to surrender a portion of their mining assets.
Kazakhstan’s government has approved the "Implementation Rules for Strategic Digital Mining", allowing eligible enterprises to secure power quotas for up to 10 years at a capped electricity price. In exchange, participating firms must transfer a portion of their mined crypto assets to the Astana Hub Autonomous Cluster Fund, which is managed by the National Investment Company under Kazakhstan’s National Bank to bolster the country’s strategic crypto reserves. Under the new regulations, digital mining operators must submit applications via the E-licensing system, gain approval from a special committee, sign an agreement with Astana Hub within 5 working days, and finalize a power purchase contract with a power generation company to participate in the strategic digital mining program.
The disclosures have triggered little to no price volatility for the affected tokens.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange will temporarily suspend certain services later this month.
Additionally, it will delist numerous trading pairs “to protect users and maintain a high-quality trading market.”
The Upcoming Disruptions Binance will perform a wallet maintenance for the Tron Network on July 23, and to support the process, it will briefly pause TRX deposits and withdrawals. The operation is expected to take about one hour, following which everything should resume normally. In addition, the exchange will support an upcoming Zcash hard fork and, as a result, temporarily suspend ZEC deposits and withdrawals.
“The network upgrade and hard fork will take place at block height 3,428,143, or approximately 2026-07-28 13:00 (UTC),” the disclosure reads.
In both cases, token trading will not be impacted, while Binance promised to handle all technical requirements involving users.
Such efforts are quite common and usually cause no serious implications for clients. Less than a month ago, Binance briefly halted deposits and withdrawals on the Bitcoin (BTC) network to perform similar wallet maintenance.
Prior to that, it took similar actions to support improvements across various ecosystems, including Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), and more. There haven’t been reports or complaints of major issues, and everything was restored promptly.
The Other Updates Binance is known for closely monitoring all services and digital assets listed on its platform to ensure they meet industry standards, such as team commitment, development activity, trading volume, liquidity, network stability, and more. Based on its latest review, it decided to remove the spot trading pairs: ACX/USDC, ALGO/BTC, CVC/USDC, LPT/USDC, ONG/BTC, RVN/USDC, and XRP/BNB. The actual delisting is scheduled for July 24.
You may also like: Binance XRP Reserves at Lowest Since February as Ripple Price Defends Key Support Binance Marks Ninth Anniversary With 323 Million Users and Expansion Beyond Crypto Strategy or Binance: Who’s Sitting on More Unrealized Bitcoin Losses? CryptoQuant Weighs In Meanwhile, the same action will apply to several pairs from the Margin section on July 24. Those include the cross margin pairs CYBER/USDC, DOLO/USDC, PIXEL/USDC, and STEEM/USDC, as well as the isolated margin pairs DOLO/USDC, PIXEL/USDC, and STEEM/USDC.
The announcements have not triggered a negative price impact for the involved cryptocurrencies. However, it is a completely different story when Binance terminates all services with a certain digital asset. Last month, it delisted Alchemix (ALCX), Ardor (ARDR), NFPrompt Token (NFP), and Marlin (POND), causing double-digit collapses for the affected ones. A very similar thing was observed at the start of June when it said goodbye to Contentos (COS), Dar Open Network (D), Highstreet (HIGH), and MOBOX (MBOX).
Zcash (ZEC), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has shown signs of recovery from recent lows, but analysts remain cautious as the coin tests a firmly established resistance area. The price action suggests that further upside depends on whether buyers can overcome the current supply barriers with sustained momentum and increased trading volume.
ZEC faces key resistance after reboundRecent analysis highlights a major resistance zone for ZEC in the $550 to $580 range, a region where the asset previously encountered intense selling pressure. Trader @0xWhaleHL observed that ZEC corrected after retesting the lower boundary of this supply zone, confirming it as a pivotal level limiting upward progress.
Charts from Binance perpetual futures illustrate that the 200-period exponential moving average (EMA) on both the 4-hour and daily timeframes adds further weight to this barrier. These overlapping resistance levels are likely to remain the primary obstacle for bulls in the near term.
ZEC’s repeated rejection at the $550–$580 resistance zone continues to cap short-term rallies, requiring buyers to break above this area for a stronger trend to develop.
Higher lows sustain bullish structureDespite the recent stall beneath resistance, market analysts point to a constructive bullish structure for ZEC. Analyst Leo524 noted that the cryptocurrency has consistently formed higher lows, with buyers actively defending the demand region between $440 and $480.
According to Leo524, the bullish outlook will remain valid as long as the $440–$480 support holds. The analyst stated that “a clean break above the current resistance area” would confirm the start of a new upward phase. If this scenario unfolds with strong trading volume and a daily close above resistance, targets at $621 and $688 may come into play.
However, a loss of the $440–$480 range would negate the bullish trend and likely increase downside pressure.
Mini dictionary: Exponential Moving Average (EMA), a technical indicator that gives greater weight to more recent price data, often used to identify trend direction in financial markets.
Technical signals remain mixedTechnical data from TradingView presents a neutral picture overall, with equal influence from buyers and sellers across multiple timeframes. Key momentum indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Stochastic %K, Commodity Channel Index (CCI), MACD, and Williams %R are also currently in the neutral range, signaling a lack of clear directional bias.
Oscillators indicate that ZEC is neither overbought nor oversold, placing increased focus on price action and trading volume to guide the next significant move.
With technical oscillators signaling neutrality, traders continue to watch for a volume-backed price breakout to provide confirmation of the next direction.
Moving averages support buyersWhile oscillators remain balanced, moving averages paint a more encouraging picture for bulls. TradingView’s technical assessment classifies ZEC’s moving averages as a Strong Buy, backed by price strength above key EMAs and SMAs for 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, and 200 periods. This configuration suggests that the medium-term trend currently favors buyer momentum, even if immediate gains are limited by resistance.
Market structure and ZEC price predictionZEC has traded in the $540–$550 zone, recording approximately 9% weekly and 15% monthly gains according to TradingView market data. With a market capitalization near $9 billion and over $500 million in 24-hour trading volume, ZEC has maintained sufficient liquidity for potential volatility if momentum accelerates further. However, analysts agree the recovery remains incomplete as long as price action holds below the major supply region.
The current technical outlook for Zcash remains positive, but confirmation of a sustained bullish move depends on an explicit breakout above the $550–$580 resistance band. Should bulls achieve this with increased volume and a daily close above resistance, further targets at $621 and $688 become likely. Conversely, losing the $440–$480 support could shift sentiment and restore downside risk for ZEC.
Level/ZoneTypeImplication$440–$480Demand/SupportStructure remains bullish if held$550–$580Supply/ResistanceBreakout needed for next rally$621TargetUpside target if resistance is broken$688TargetFurther upside potentialDisclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
This is a general announcement. Products and services referred to here may not be available in your region. Fellow Binancians, Starting at approximately 2026-07-28 12:00 (UTC), Binance will suspend the deposits and withdrawals of token(s) on the Zcash (ZEC) network to support its network upgrade and hard fork to ensure the best user experience. The network upgrade and hard fork will take place at the block height of 3,428,143, or approximately at 2026-07-28 13:00 (UTC). Please note: The trading of token(s) on the aforementioned network will not be impacted.Binance will handle all technical requirements involved for all users.Deposits and withdrawals for token(s) on the aforementioned network will be reopened once the upgraded network is deemed to be stable. No further announcement will be posted.There may be discrepancies between this original content in English and any translated versions. Please refer to the original English version for the most accurate information, in case any discrepancies arise. For more information, please refer to the announcement from the project team. Thank you for your support! Binance Team 2026-07-21
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced its support for the planned network upgrade and hard fork on the Zcash (ZEC) network. According to the exchange’s statement, deposit and withdrawal operations on the Zcash network will be temporarily suspended to ensure a smooth user experience.
Binance will cease deposits and withdrawals for the Zcash (ZEC) network on July 28, 2026, at 3:00 PM. The network upgrade and hard fork will occur at block number 3,428,143, approximately at 4:00 PM on the same day. The exchange stated that it will manage all necessary operational processes internally to ensure a smooth technical transition.
The company emphasized that the maintenance work would only affect deposit and withdrawal transactions on the network. Accordingly, trading of ZEC tokens on Binance Spot and other supported trading platforms will continue uninterrupted. Users will not need to take any additional steps to conduct transactions.
Binance also stated that all technical requirements that may arise as part of the network upgrade and hard fork will be met on behalf of users. This means that ZEC holders will not need to perform any manual actions or transfer their tokens to a different wallet.
The exchange announced it will reopen deposits and withdrawals after ensuring the Zcash network is stable and secure following the upgrade. It was also stated that no new announcement will be issued for this process, and services will be automatically reactivated depending on the network’s stability.
Cryptocurrency exchanges are taking similar measures to ensure the security of user assets during upgrade and hard fork processes on their blockchain networks.
*This is not investment advice.
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Zcash [ZEC] has rallied nearly 37% since developers deployed the Ironwood [NU6.3] upgrade to testnet earlier this month, with the privacy-focused cryptocurrency outperforming many of its peers ahead of the protocol’s next major network upgrade.
As the community prepares for Ironwood’s mainnet activation, the upgrade also marks the beginning of the end for zcashd. This is the network’s long-running reference node, making this one of the most significant transitions in Zcash’s history.
Ironwood aims to strengthen confidence in Zcash’s supply The Zcash Open Development Lab deployed the Ironwood [NU6.3] upgrade to testnet on July 2, with activation following on July 4. The milestone serves as the final testing phase before the planned mainnet rollout later this month.
Ironwood was introduced following the disclosure of an Orchard protocol vulnerability in June. While developers said there was no evidence the issue had been exploited or that user funds were at risk, the flaw highlighted a limitation in proving the integrity of Zcash’s shielded supply.
To address that, Ironwood introduces a new shielded pool alongside a “turnstile” mechanism that enables the network to verify the amount of ZEC migrating into the new pool without compromising transaction privacy.
The upgrade is designed to strengthen confidence in Zcash’s circulating supply while preserving the privacy guarantees that distinguish the network from other cryptocurrencies.
Legacy zcashd node heads for retirement Ironwood also marks a major infrastructure shift for the ecosystem.
The long-running zcashd reference implementation will not support NU6.3. It is being phased out as the network transitions to a Rust-based architecture built around Zebra, Zaino, and Zallet.
Developers have urged node operators to migrate before Ironwood activates on mainnet, as legacy zcashd nodes are approaching their automatic end-of-life shutdown. It will no longer participate in the upgraded network.
The transition represents one of the largest architectural changes since Zcash launched. It replaces the software that has underpinned the blockchain for years.
ZEC price prediction: Bulls pause after 37% advance At press time, ZEC traded around $546, up roughly 37.4% from its early July lows.
The rally has since slowed into a period of consolidation, with buyers attempting to establish support after reaching the recent highs.
The daily RSI stood at around 58, indicating bullish momentum remained intact without entering overbought territory. That suggests buyers still hold a modest advantage. However, the strong upside momentum seen earlier in the month has begun to moderate.
Source: TradingView The immediate resistance lies around $560, where recent advances have repeatedly stalled.
A decisive breakout above that level could pave the way for another attempt at $600, a price zone that acted as resistance earlier this year.
On the downside, the $500 region has emerged as the first meaningful support. Holding above that level would preserve the current higher-low structure. At the same time, a break below it could trigger a deeper pullback before buyers attempt another advance.
Final Summary Zcash’s Ironwood upgrade has entered its final testing phase, introducing a new shielded pool while paving the way for the retirement of the legacy zcashd node. ZEC has gained nearly 37% since Ironwood entered testnet, with bulls now attempting to break above the $560 resistance to target $600.
Zcash’s infrastructure has entered a new phase as the network completes its transition away from its original software implementation. That evolution took nearly a decade, beginning with zcashd’s 2016 launch before Zebra’s 2024 release introduced a Rust-based alternative.
After the 2024 deprecation notice, node operators had enough time to switch over before the planned retirement. On the 18th of July, zcashd reached end of support at block height 3417100.
Source: X Meanwhile, Zakura completed the new node ecosystem. Rather than simply replacing legacy software, the transition strengthens maintainability, prepares the network for Ironwood, and reduces long-term operational risk.
Zcash’s adoption remains intact Completing Zcash’s infrastructure transition did not remove the market’s biggest question. Instead, it shifted attention to whether users still trusted the network after the Orchard vulnerability. Early activity suggests that confidence largely held.
Although shielded balances declined 14% to 4.42 million ZEC, users continued relying on private transactions, which rose 11.1% QoQ to 131,584.
Source: Zcash on X This trend became even more significant as the anonymity set for ZCash expanded by 325,127 units to 124.08 million.
This indicated an increase in participants using ZCash for privacy purposes. In addition, average daily trading volume increased by 33.8% QoQ to $373 million. This further reinforces that overall use of the network has been increasing.
Rather than reflecting weakening adoption, these trends point to cautious capital repositioning while confidence in Zcash’s privacy infrastructure remained intact.
Formal verification reinforces protocol integrity Even resilient blockchain networks are ultimately judged by how they respond to critical security threats. Zcash faced such a test when researchers found a flaw in Orchard shielded pools that secured roughly 85% of shielded value.
But the flaw stayed contained because disclosure was coordinated, and developers were able to release an emergency fix within days. More importantly, this flaw allowed forgery inside Orchard rather than inflating the total supply of ZEC.
The turnstile mechanism prevented forged funds from leaving the pool other than legitimate deposits. Looking ahead, Ironwood strengthens this protection through formal verification and quantum recovery too.
Together these upgrades move Zcash from reactive fixes towards stronger assurances of long-term security and confidence within the ecosystem.
Final Summary Zcash [ZEC] completed its migration to Zebra and Zakura, strengthening infrastructure while maintaining resilient network activity. Zcash enters the Ironwood era with formal verification and quantum recovery, reinforcing long-term protocol security.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Zcash (ZEC) co-founder and lead developer, Zooko Wilcox, has revealed the details of an emergency strategy designed to preserve the coin's mathematical integrity. The network is preparing for the Ironwood hard fork (NU6.3), which will activate on July 28, 2026, at block 3,428,143 to permanently isolate the vulnerable Orchard pool and lock up any potentially forged ZEC.
The "turnstile" strategy: How to lock up phantom coinsFor those who missed it, a critical bug was discovered by Shielded Labs researcher Taylor Hornby that could theoretically have allowed hackers to mint ZEC undetected inside the private Orchard pool. By 2026, developers had quickly fixed the vulnerability at the protocol level and found no evidence that it had actually been exploited.
However, because the Orchard pool provides complete privacy, no one can guarantee that hidden issuance did not occur before the patch was deployed.
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Zooko's strategy eliminates the need for blind trust. On July 28, the original Orchard pool will be completely sealed and a new, clean Orchard pool with corrected cryptography will launch in its place.
Ironwood Ironwood Ironwood!
Humanity is going to have a form of money that is unstoppable, private, and has full correctness proofs (formal verification) of some of its key properties, thanks to heroic math by an awesome team led by @TachyonZcash. https://t.co/Z85ktHtoPE
— zooko🛡🦓🦓🦓 ⓩ (@zooko) July 19, 2026 Funds will be transferable from the old system to the new one only through a special turnstile gateway. This cryptographic mechanism strictly controls the balance: it will prevent more coins from leaving the old pool than legitimately entered throughout its entire history.
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If hidden issuance did occur, the counterfeit ZEC will remain permanently frozen inside the old pool, becoming digital waste. At the same time, any user running a personal node will be able to independently verify the accuracy of the circulating supply.
Cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, and swap services that have not completed their software testing may temporarily suspend ZEC deposits and withdrawals, but developers emphasize that such pauses are routine technical adjustments on the service providers' side, not a threat to the security of users' assets.
Private-wallet holders should also be prepared for their Orchard balances to temporarily appear unavailable.
As of now, ZEC holders only need to wait until July 28, when Ironwood's cryptographic "turnstile" will demonstrate in practice Zcash's ability to protect its economy under conditions of strong privacy guarantees.
Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox has explained how the network’s July 28 Ironwood hard fork will address uncertainty around a critical flaw in the Orchard shielded pool.
Summary
Zcash will seal the old Orchard pool, limiting how much ZEC can leave after Ironwood. Ironwood cannot identify fake coins individually but can stop excess hidden supply from escaping Orchard. Temporary exchange and wallet disruptions may occur as providers prepare for Zcash’s July 28 upgrade. The upgrade will not identify or freeze individual counterfeit coins. Instead, it will seal the old pool and limit how much ZEC can leave.
In a July 19 post on X, Wilcox explained how the planned upgrade would deal with any hidden excess supply if the flaw was exploited before developers patched it. Because Orchard hides transaction details, the network cannot prove that counterfeit ZEC was never created.
Ironwood Ironwood Ironwood!
Humanity is going to have a form of money that is unstoppable, private, and has full correctness proofs (formal verification) of some of its key properties, thanks to heroic math by an awesome team led by @TachyonZcash. https://t.co/Z85ktHtoPE
— zooko🛡🦓🦓🦓 ⓩ (@zooko) July 19, 2026 Ironwood will seal the vulnerable Orchard pool Ironwood, also known as NU6.3, is scheduled to activate at block 3,428,143 on July 28. The upgrade will retire the current Orchard pool and introduce a new shielded pool based on the corrected circuit.
According to Zcash’s official Ironwood user update, users will no longer be able to send or receive ZEC inside the old Orchard pool after activation. Funds can leave only through the turnstile, which prevents more ZEC from exiting than legitimately entered.
The Zcash team said it believes the flaw was “unlikely to have been exploited,” but users cannot independently prove no counterfeit ZEC was created. Ironwood aims to trap any excess value inside the old pool rather than allow it to enter wider circulation.
Orchard bug left a supply question Zcash could not prove away Security researcher Taylor Hornby discovered the Orchard flaw on May 29 while auditing the shielded system. The bug could have allowed an attacker to create counterfeit ZEC inside Orchard without leaving an obvious public record.
As reported by crypto.news, developers first disabled Orchard activity and then restored it through the NU6.2 hard fork with corrected cryptography. No evidence of unauthorized value creation was found, but Orchard’s privacy means past exploitation cannot be ruled out with complete certainty.
Crypto.news later reported that Ironwood would create a fresh shielded pool and use the turnstile to control value leaving the old one. Node operators can then verify that circulating ZEC does not exceed the amount permitted by the network’s monetary rules.
Wallets and exchanges may temporarily pause services Zcash users do not need to take immediate action before the hard fork. However, wallets, exchanges and other providers may temporarily suspend deposits, withdrawals or related services while completing software upgrades.
The official network guidance says Orchard users will eventually need wallet support to move funds into the new pool. Funds may remain temporarily unavailable in wallets that have not added the required migration tools.
The July 28 activation also follows Zcash’s move away from the legacy zcashd client. Providers still completing that migration may need more time before fully supporting Ironwood.
Zcash adds more security checks after the flaw The Orchard incident led to wider security work across the Zcash ecosystem. As reported by crypto.news, an AI-assisted review using Anthropic’s Mythos system found no additional serious vulnerabilities after the original flaw was disclosed.
Developers are also pursuing independent audits and formal verification for the updated cryptographic system. The work aims to reduce the risk of another hidden counterfeiting flaw and give users stronger ways to verify Zcash’s supply rules.
Ironwood addresses the unresolved supply question rather than the already-fixed bug itself. By sealing Orchard and controlling withdrawals through the turnstile, the hard fork aims to prevent any hypothetical counterfeit ZEC from entering circulation.
Zooko Wilcox, lead developer and co-founder of Zcash (ZEC), has disclosed a new emergency protocol designed to protect the coin’s cryptographic integrity as the network prepares for a major upgrade. The Ironwood hard fork, also known as Network Upgrade 6.3 (NU6.3), is scheduled to activate on July 28, 2026, at block 3,428,143. This upgrade will permanently segregate the vulnerable Orchard pool and immobilize any potentially counterfeit ZEC that may have been secretly introduced.
Zcash addresses critical vulnerabilityShielded Labs, an independent nonprofit organization focused on privacy-focused blockchain research, recently revealed a critical bug in Zcash’s protocol. Taylor Hornby, a researcher with Shielded Labs, identified a flaw in the Orchard pool’s cryptography that may have permitted the undetectable minting of new coins.
According to Zcash developers, the vulnerability was discovered and patched at the protocol level before any evidence of real-world abuse surfaced. The quick response helped prevent large-scale exploitation, but Wilcox’s team is implementing additional precautions to ensure confidence in the total supply’s accuracy.
Zooko Wilcox emphasized that the emergency steps are intended to ensure “the supply of ZEC is mathematically and publicly verifiable by anyone running node software.”
The “turnstile” mechanism for supply transparencyUnder the new protocol, the original (and now suspect) Orchard pool will be cordoned off. All funds currently held in the old pool can only move to a freshly initialized, clean Orchard pool using a purpose-built “turnstile” gateway. This mechanism mathematically enforces that only legitimate, non-forged balances are permitted to pass through.
The turnstile system examines the total quantity of coins ever deposited into the original pool. Only this provably valid amount can exit to the new pool. If illicit issuance did occur in the past, any forged ZEC will become irretrievably locked inside the original pool, effectively removed from circulation.
Mini dictionary: The Orchard pool refers to a privacy-focused feature of Zcash that enables shielded, confidential transactions using advanced zero-knowledge cryptography. The pool is designed to obscure sender, receiver, and amount data, enhancing transaction privacy on the Zcash blockchain.
Orchard Pool (Old)Orchard Pool (After Hard Fork)Susceptible to bug, potential hidden ZECClean cryptography, only verified funds admitted via turnstileFrozen balances if forged coins existMathematically verified circulating supplyDeposits and withdrawals blocked post-forkFresh pool, balances accessible after migrationTemporary service interruptions expectedIn anticipation of the Ironwood upgrade, Zcash developers have warned that some exchanges, wallets, and swap services may need to temporarily halt ZEC deposits and withdrawals through their platforms in order to conduct software tests.
Zcash’s team underlined that these interruptions are routine technical steps—rather than signs of unsolved security problems—and do not threaten users’ coins.
Service providers may briefly suspend ZEC deposit and withdrawal functions as a matter of technical procedure while the new system goes live, but users’ funds remain secure throughout the transition.
Users who manage their ZEC through private wallets should expect that their Orchard balances may temporarily appear inaccessible as network nodes process the transition between the old and new pools.
Zcash, launched in 2016, is a privacy-centric cryptocurrency utilizing zero-knowledge proof technology to provide confidential transactions. It remains one of the leading projects focused on cryptographic privacy in digital assets.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Privacy without throughput has always been a dead end for confidential cryptocurrencies. Zcash, a network known for strong zero-knowledge anonymity, has historically managed roughly one shielded transaction per second—a rounding error compared to mainstream payment rails. That performance gap is now under direct assault. According to the original report, the newly live Zakura client is the first piece of a broader plan to take Zcash from a niche privacy tool to payment-network scale.
The target is unambiguous: handle 50,000 private transactions per second, a figure that puts the network in Visa territory. Executing a fully shielded transfer on Zcash requires generating a computationally heavy zero-knowledge proof, a process that has kept throughput minimal even as transparent blockchain scaling solutions pushed TPS into the thousands. Zakura represents a fresh node implementation designed to attack the problem from the infrastructure layer, rewriting the execution path for shielded transactions rather than relying on incremental optimizations of existing clients.
Why the client rewrite matters more than a protocol tweak Unlike a consensus-layer change, which would require a network-wide upgrade and potential political friction, a client-level rewrite can be adopted by node operators without a fork. That reduces coordination risk and lets the network test performance claims in a live environment without forcing everyone to move at once. The strategy echoes approaches seen in Ethereum’s execution client diversity push, where multiple independent implementations strengthen resilience and enable specialized optimization. Zakura is not just a faster piece of software—it’s a bet that the biggest bottleneck for privacy adoption has been engineering, not demand.
For exchanges and custodians that list ZEC, a high-throughput privacy client could change reserve-proof and compliance workflows. Many trading venues currently limit shielded pool interaction because of the operational burden of proof generation. If a node can handle payment-network volumes without degrading settlement finality, the calculus around listing shielded assets and offering private withdrawal options starts to shift. That is not a given—real-world performance under adversarial conditions and sustained load remains unproven—but the direction matters.
Market sentiment and the developer momentum angle The timing of the client release arrives against a backdrop of renewed altcoin attention. ZEC recently appeared among the top weekly crypto gainers, surging over 58% as tracked in a weekly performance roundup. While short-term price action often reflects speculative flows rather than tech milestones, a live scaling client gives the narrative a tangible anchor. Traders who have long viewed Zcash as a static asset are now being handed a measurable catalyst, not just another roadmap promise.
Developer activity provides another signal. Zcash’s presence in blockchain developer rankings has been steady, and the network often appears among projects with meaningful commit frequency. A recent developer activity analysis highlights how consistent infrastructural work separates chains with staying power from those that fade. The Zakura release adds a concrete output to that effort, something beyond GitHub numbers.
What remains uncertain—and what regulators might see Scaling privacy transactions to Visa levels inevitably raises questions that go beyond protocol engineering. Financial regulators already view shielded pools with suspicion, and a network capable of processing 50,000 anonymous transfers per second sharpens the compliance challenge. No regulator is likely to object to a faster Zcash in a vacuum, but the combination of high throughput and default-private transfers could trigger fresh scrutiny, especially if shielded volume begins to rival transparent volume on exchanges that support both.
There is also the question of whether Zakura’s design can maintain its performance guarantees under real network conditions. A synthetic benchmark of 50,000 TPS is not the same as a globally distributed network with heterogeneous hardware, varying latency, and block propagation constraints. The gap between a single-node demonstration and a fully adopted client that handles organic shielded traffic is large, and the path from here to payment-network parity is far from guaranteed. Still, the fact that the first live node is now operating marks a departure from years of theoretical research papers. The privacy coin sector, often dismissed as a niche for ideologues, now has an execution layer that demands to be measured rather than dismissed.
The next test is adoption: which node operators switch, how quickly shielded transaction counts rise, and whether exchanges begin adjusting their infrastructure assumptions around Zcash. Roadmaps are cheap in crypto. Live software that rewrites the performance ceiling is not.
AUTHOR
Max delves deep into the cryptocurrency realm, with a passion for altcoins and NFTs. Convinced of crypto's transformative potential, he envisions a decentralized financial future. Max's background in the financial sector grants him unique insights into global monetary systems. In his leisure, Max embraces the thrill of adventures and is an avid sports enthusiast, finding balance and rejuvenation away from work.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Zakura, a new Zcash full node maintained independently of the Zcash Foundation, launches as a pruned, fast-syncing fork of Zebra with compatibility for the legacy zcashd client ahead of its July 18 end of life.The software is one pillar of a broader effort, alongside Project Tachyon and private information retrieval research, to scale Zcash toward Visa- and Mastercard-level throughput by shrinking verification data and removing wallet performance bottlenecks.Zakura supports the Ironwood (NU6.3) upgrade activating July 28, which introduces a turnstile mechanism to cap withdrawals from the Orchard shielded pool and contain any counterfeit ZEC that may have been created via a long‑standing soundness bug.Those rebuilding Zcash have a dream: to match global payments giants Visa and Mastercard by handling tens of thousands of payments every second while preserving full verifiability and strong privacy guarantees.
The first piece of that plan is Zakura, a new full node software released Wednesday at version 1.0.0. It is maintained by Sean Bowe, a founding member of Zcash's zero-knowledge cryptography, and Dev Ojha, the Osmosis cofounder who now leads Valar Group. Both teams are funded by private ZEC donations rather than by a company or a foundation.
"Our dream is to support the world's payments. Mastercard and Visa handle more than 50k transactions per second; that's our floor. With Zcash's existing cryptography, that volume would demand over 500 MB/s of throughput from the node,” a blog post said. “The current stack won't get us there. The cryptography our teams are developing closes much of that gap.”
A full node is the program that keeps a complete copy of a blockchain, the Zcash ledger, in this case, and independently checks every transaction against the network's rules. Zakura is a fork of Zebra, the Zcash Foundation's node software – meaning it started from the Foundation's official code and was rebuilt from there.
Consensus rules are the shared rulebook every node enforces, the thing that decides which blocks and transactions the whole network accepts as valid. If a node applies different rules, it forks off and stops following the same chain as everyone else.
Pruning, snapshots and compatibilityZakura can also prune, a term for deleting old blockchain data a node no longer needs, and cut disk usage substantially. That shrinks the chain enough that the team publishes ready-made copies of it, about 11 gigabytes with the old data stripped, which a new node can download instead of pulling the whole history from other nodes one block at a time.
That takes a node from nothing to running in under two minutes, which the team says is “680 times faster.”
A compatibility mode further reproduces the interface of zcashd, the original client that reaches end of life on July 18, so wallets and exchange integrations built against it will keep working as is.
Throughput targets and Tachyon’s roleThe reason for building all this is arithmetic.
Mastercard and Visa process more than 50,000 transactions per second, and the team calls that figure '“its floor, not its target.” Zcash's current cryptography would require a node to take in and verify more than 500 megabytes of data every second to keep up, because every private transaction carries a proof, and proofs are large.
That is roughly a full DVD of data arriving every ten seconds, continuously, and no current Zcash software runs anywhere near that. But the missing piece is the reason each bottleneck exists.
Bowe's Project Tachyon is tackling this by working on recursive proofs, in which one proof attests to the validity of thousands of others, dramatically reducing the amount of data that must be checked at consensus.
Under Tachyon, a node verifies a single proof instead of the thousands, which the team says reduces the requirement for consensus data from 100 megabytes per second to 500 megabytes, a level they claim is technically achievable with careful engineering.
Wallet bottlenecks and Valar’s PIR solutionWallets have a different problem. Because Zcash hides who a transaction is for, a wallet cannot ask a server which transactions belong to it without giving itself away. It pulls down everything and tests each one, which is why wallet software tops out at about one transaction per second.
To remove that bottleneck, Valar Group is working on private information retrieval techniques that let a wallet fetch its own data from a server without the server learning which entries were requested.
Fast block propagation Fast block propagation means broadcasting newly mined blocks across a blockchain network as quickly as possible. Zakura is a software layer tasked with that.
It has to move new blocks between nodes fast enough for high‑volume proofs and wallet traffic to matter. It ships with an experimental system aimed at delivering every block to every node in under half a second, which is switched off by default for now.
The near‑term test of these ideas arrives in late July. Ironwood, formally NU6.3, activates on mainnet at block 3,428,143, roughly 8 a.m. Eastern on July 28, and Zakura supports it from release.
Bowe said on July 10 that all major organizations are committed to that height, a week later than originally planned, after exchanges and wallet providers requested preparation time.
How Ironwood came into existenceIronwood exists because of a flaw that nearly broke Zcash in June. The so-called shielded pools are the private side of the network, where amounts and participants are hidden, and a zero-knowledge proof stands in as evidence of the math work.
On May 29, Shielded Labs researcher Taylor Hornby found that the proof circuit for Orchard, the newest shielded pool, contained a soundness bug that let an attacker mint counterfeit ZEC with no onchain trace. The flaw had been live since Orchard activated in May 2022.
Developers disabled Orchard through an emergency response completed June 2, then restored it with a corrected circuit via the NU6.2 hard fork at block 3,364,600 on June 3.
The patch could not account for the four years the hole was open. A zero-knowledge proof reveals nothing beyond the fact that it verified, so the chain holds no record of what any Orchard transaction moved, and nobody can prove counterfeit ZEC was never created.
Ironwood is built to settle that. A so-called ‘turnstile’ at the pool's boundary caps what can leave and what can enter, leveraging the fact that ZEC amounts crossing into or out of shielded pools are public even when the transactions inside are not. Sealing Orchard to new deposits leaves the turnstile as the only exit, and any fake coins inside are stuck there.
In simple terms, honest balances can migrate out over time, while counterfeit coins may be prevented from fully exiting and entering into circulated supply. This setting traps any attempted excess supply at the boundary, restoring reliability of the token’s supply.
Zcash is swinging for the fences. The privacy-focused blockchain, which currently processes somewhere between 3 and 20 shielded transactions per second, is building toward a future where it can handle 50,000 TPS, putting it in the same conversation as Visa’s payment network. That’s roughly a 2,500x improvement over current capacity.
The ambition is built on a new node architecture and a series of protocol upgrades that collectively aim to make fully private transactions not just possible at scale, but practical.
Project Tachyon and NU7: the engine room The scaling push centers on two key initiatives: Project Tachyon and the NU7 network upgrade. Project Tachyon, led by cryptographer Sean Bowe, targets thousands of TPS for shielded transactions, with estimates suggesting up to 10,000 TPS as a near-term milestone before pushing toward the 50,000 figure.
The NU7 testnet launched on May 22, 2026, and early results are encouraging. Block times dropped from 75 seconds to just 25 seconds, a threefold reduction. Shielded TPS doubled on the testnet compared to previous benchmarks, contributing to what the project describes as a potential 300% increase in transaction speed.
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For context, Zcash’s current shielded throughput of 3 to 20 TPS makes it roughly comparable to Bitcoin’s base layer in terms of raw capacity. The difference is that every shielded Zcash transaction uses zk-SNARKs, a form of zero-knowledge cryptography that proves a transaction is valid without revealing sender, receiver, or amount. That privacy comes with heavy computational overhead, which is precisely what these upgrades are designed to reduce.
The improvements build on years of iterative upgrades, including the Sapling and Orchard shielded pools, which progressively reduced the cost and complexity of private transactions. The new node software, a Rust-based rewrite called Zebra, provides the foundation for these protocol-level scaling changes rather than relying on beefier hardware.
Growing adoption, growing pains Zcash’s shielded pool now constitutes around 30% of total supply. The Zcash Foundation also raised $25 million in March 2026, giving the project fresh capital to fund development. That fundraise coincided with the shielded pool growth, suggesting aligned momentum between builder activity and user adoption.
Zcash’s trajectory hit a serious speed bump in early June 2026 when a critical network vulnerability was discovered and patched. ZEC’s price dropped approximately 48% in the aftermath.
What this means for investors The competitive landscape matters here. Monero, Zcash’s primary rival in the privacy coin space, operates on a fundamentally different privacy model with its own scaling constraints. Meanwhile, general-purpose Layer 1s like Solana boast high TPS numbers but offer no native transaction privacy.
The 48% price crash following June’s vulnerability disclosure shows how quickly confidence can erode. Delivering a 300% speed improvement on a testnet is noteworthy. Delivering Visa-scale private transactions on mainnet, without security incidents, is an entirely different challenge.
The shielded pool reaching 30% of total supply is a metric worth watching closely. If that number continues climbing alongside successful mainnet deployments of NU7, it would suggest organic demand for Zcash’s core privacy proposition. If it stalls or reverses, it may indicate that the security scare did lasting damage to user confidence, regardless of how impressive the throughput numbers look on paper.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Renowned trader closes all crypto short positions, resumes buying Bitcoin spot
Renowned crypto trader Doctor Profit announced in a post that he has closed all his cryptocurrency short positions, including Bitcoin shorts established in the $115,000–$125,000 range, another Bitcoin short in the $79,000–$82,000 range, and over 100 altcoin shorts opened in recent months, noting that all these positions have generated significant profits. He also said he has repurchased Bitcoin spot at $64,000, marking his first long-term allocation since September 2025. His plan is to invest 5% of his planned capital daily in spot Bitcoin purchases when the price is in the $54,000–$64,000 range, for up to 20 days total; if the price approaches $54,000, he will increase his buying activity. Doctor Profit pointed out that the current market is showing clear "herd behavior": investors who were previously bullish on Bitcoin up to $150,000 at high levels are now widely waiting for the cryptocurrency to drop to $40,000–$50,000, and are targeting September or October as the bottom of the four-year cycle. When a large number of investors are waiting for the same price level and time point, the market may not move as expected, so he chose to build positions in advance and judges that this cycle’s bottom may arrive earlier than the market’s general expectation. He also cited regulatory clarity, asset tokenization infrastructure, and progress in institutional adoption as the structural reasons for his shift to buying, and retracted his previous prediction that Bitcoin would fall to $40,000–$50,000. However, he still holds all his S&P 500 short positions, arguing that the crypto market has completed a large repricing, while U.S. stock valuations remain elevated.
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Binance Wallet’s Meme Rush adds new launchpad filter options for Robinhood Chain-based projects including Virtuals Protocol, Flap, and Bankr.
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Moonshot (Kimi)’s technological breakthrough triggers sell-offs in AI stocks, with leveraged products amplifying market volatility.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese AI startup Moonshot has achieved an unexpected technological breakthrough, triggering sharp declines in global AI and semiconductor stocks on Friday and prompting markets to once again reference the 2025 "DeepSeek Moment". The semiconductor benchmark index has fallen roughly 20% from its June peak, entering a bear market; the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL has dropped more than 50% over the same period. This sell-off demonstrates that when rapid advances in AI technology reshape market perceptions of winners and losers, leveraged ETFs, options, single-stock funds, and crypto-related products may be liquidated simultaneously. Bloomberg Intelligence data shows leveraged ETFs make up around 13% of U.S. ETF trading volume but only 1.2% of industry assets. When accounting for embedded leverage, their share of the U.S. stock market remains less than 1%. While these products are generally small in overall size, their holdings are concentrated in AI chips, volatile stocks, and newly listed firms. When leverage, concentration, and volatility rise at the same time, the funds' daily rebalancing turns them into active trading forces that further amplify existing market trends. The South Korean market offers a clear recent case: local retail investors have heavily purchased leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and as market sentiment turned weak, the related funds were forced to sell an estimated tens of billions of dollars worth of SK Hynix positions.
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Mizuho downgrades Circle to Underperform, cuts its target price to $50
According to Bloomberg, Circle’s stock price has fallen more than 75% from its post-IPO high last year. Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho Securities USA, downgraded Circle this week from "Neutral" to "Underperform", setting a Wall Street-low target price of $50, which implies roughly 18% downside from Thursday’s closing price, well below the average analyst target of $123 tracked by Bloomberg. Dolev argues Circle faces rising competition risks in the stablecoin space. Over 100 fintech firms, payment networks, crypto companies and banks, including Visa, Stripe, Coinbase and BlackRock, are backing the Open Standard project, which will issue OUSD. Circle’s stock fell 7.7% on Thursday, the same day Visa launched a stablecoin issuance, transfer and management platform for financial institutions. Circle generates most of its revenue from interest on USDC’s reserve assets, while new stablecoin initiatives like OUSD plan to share reserve returns with partners and charge lower management fees. Dolev says this business model could draw partners away from Circle, intensifying pricing and margin pressure on the firm. He projects Circle’s adjusted EBITDA for 2027 will hit $699 million, below the consensus market estimate of $907 million. He also noted that Circle and Coinbase’s USDC distribution agreement is set to be renegotiated in August, with Coinbase likely to leverage competitive pressure from OUSD to secure a higher revenue split.
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Bloomberg: South Korea's stock market is emerging as a key bellwether for global AI stock trading.
According to Bloomberg, South Korea’s roughly $4 trillion stock market has become a key window for fund managers in London, New York and Tokyo to gauge global AI risk appetite. Stock fluctuations in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix continue to ripple through global chip stocks, and some Japanese traders have added the KOSPI index to their daily watchlists. The correlation between South Korea’s market and U.S. tech stocks has grown significantly. Bloomberg data shows the 60-day correlation coefficient between the KOSPI index and the Nasdaq 100 has risen to 0.46, near a two-year high—about three times the 0.16 average over the past five years. Last week, South Korea’s market fell nearly 9% at one point amid renewed doubts about AI demand prospects, with the selloff later spreading to Wall Street; SK Hynix’s American depositary receipts dropped 9.3%. However, high-leverage trading in South Korea has amplified volatility. The KOSPI index has fallen 25% from its June peak, erasing roughly $1 trillion in market capitalization, with both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix down at least 30%. South Korea recently suspended the launch of new single-stock leverage trading products to curb speculation and market volatility. Even so, the KOSPI index is still up 62% year-to-date, ranking among the top of major global markets. Given Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix’s critical positions in the global memory chip supply, multiple institutional players believe that as long as the AI rally persists, South Korea’s stock market will remain an important barometer for global AI and semiconductor trading.
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Ostium Releases Update on Incident: Price Data Compromised, Traders’ Collateral and Positions Unaffected
Ostium has released an update on its security incident. Its liquidity provider fund pool was attacked on July 15, resulting in a loss of 23,752,746 USDC. Preliminary investigations show that the attacker breached the off-chain infrastructure supplying price data to the protocol, submitted falsified illegal price reports, and extracted artificially generated profits from the fund pool by rapidly opening and closing multiple large positions. Ostium stated that trader collateral is stored in an isolated smart contract and was not affected by the incident, with all trading positions remaining open. The team suspended trading and froze all trading contracts within 60 minutes of the first attack transaction. Currently, Ostium is collaborating with Mandiant, zeroShadow, Collisionless, SEAL 911, and law enforcement agencies, and coordinating with exchanges, bridge contracts, and stablecoin issuers to advance the investigation. The engineering team is focused on fixing and strengthening relevant infrastructure to support the safe resumption of trading. Ostium said it will provide at least 24 hours’ advance notice before unfreezing trading contracts. After trading resumes, existing positions will be marked at the price when they reopen, unaffected by price fluctuations during the suspension period. Supporting affected liquidity providers and safely resuming trading remain the top priorities.
Overlooking Long-Term FactorsIn an interview with "When Shift Happened" on July 16, Mumtaz explained that the traders are overlooking developer activity, infrastructure upgrades and long-term network economics.
She added that crypto traders often judge projects through short-term price action while missing the businesses, products and technical improvements developing behind the scenes.
Solana as the Highest-Conviction PickMumtaz called Solana the "obvious choice" for developers building on-chain businesses because it combines speed, liquidity, infrastructure and a growing concentration of startups.
He described Solana as a "global Silicon Valley" where developers can launch payments, trading platforms, tokenized assets, collectibles and other financial applications.
Mumtaz said the network’s price decline has distracted traders from improving fundamentals, including record transaction activity, faster block times, higher network capacity and many more.
Trading firms, market makers and applications need SOL to compete for limited block space, execute time-sensitive trades, store data and open accounts across the network.
As activity grows, demand for those scarce network resources should also increase, he said.
Zcash Looks UndervaluedMumtaz described Zcash as a high-conviction privacy asset that investors overlooked when it traded near $18.
Its core investment case is simpler than Solana’s, he said. Zcash offers private digital money while allowing users to keep transactions transparent when desired.
Mumtaz argued privacy becomes increasingly valuable as governments expand financial surveillance, asset monitoring and restrictions on capital movement.
He also highlighted Zcash’s work on formal verification, which mathematically tests whether critical software performs as designed.
Near Protocol Offers Higher Risk, Asymmetric UpsideMumtaz said his conviction in Near remains lower than in Solana and Zcash, but he views the project as significantly undervalued relative to many cryptocurrencies ranked above it.
He pointed to Near co-founder Illia Polosukhin’s technical background, the network’s sharding architecture and its positioning across artificial intelligence and cross-chain infrastructure.
Mumtaz also praised the Near team’s operational execution, describing it as highly organized and capable of turning plans into working products.
However, he cautioned that Near still needs to attract more developers and businesses before reaching its potential.
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Twelve Years of Coin Mixing, Now Replaced@Dashpay has activated Orchard-based shielded pools on its Evolution chain, marking what the project describes as the biggest privacy upgrade in its history. The new system hides the sender, receiver, and transaction amount on every transfer, with one-second confirmations and wallet sync completing in roughly 20 seconds.
The move ends more than a decade of reliance on PrivateSend, Dash's CoinJoin-based coin-mixing mechanism. Orchard marks a technical shift from the project's long-standing CoinJoin system, adding zero-knowledge cryptography originating from the Zcash ecosystem. Orchard replaces mixing-based privacy with modern zero-knowledge cryptography. It is Zcash's most advanced privacy system to date, removing the need for a trusted setup, modernizing shielded pools, and making private transactions far more practical across real-world use cases.
Dash CTO Samuel Westrich said the open source code integrated more smoothly than the team anticipated. In Zcash, transaction validity is proven using zero-knowledge proofs, which allow the network to verify transactions without revealing the sender, receiver, or transaction amount. That same guarantee now extends to Dash's Evolution chain.
What Comes Next for Dash Dash announced the integration of the Orchard shielded pool into its Evolution chain, the second blockchain the project introduced in 2024, bringing expanded shielded transaction capabilities to standard transfers, with privacy-preserving token support planned shortly after launch. Shielded stablecoins and other assets are next on the roadmap.
Launched in 2014, Dash is one of the longest-running networks with built-in privacy at the protocol level. The Evolution chain expands Dash's architecture to support applications, tokens, and now zero-knowledge privacy primitives, without breaking compatibility with the broader network.
Despite the scale of the technical milestone, $DASH moved roughly 1% on the day of the announcement, suggesting markets had largely priced in the upgrade ahead of activation.
Sources:
Metaverse Post: Dash Advances Privacy Roadmap With Orchard Integration
Blockster: Dash Brings Zcash's Orchard Privacy to Its Evolution Chain
Zcash: What Are zk-SNARKs?
Venice AI updates its token economics: introduces a buyback mechanism and raises the supply cap for DIEM.
Venice AI has issued an announcement updating its token economics, with two primary changes: First, a new programmed burn mechanism: For every $100 worth of API credits purchased, $5 will be allocated to buy VVV on the open market and permanently burn the tokens. Second, DIEM’s supply target has been raised for the first time, from 38,000 to 40,000 (an increase of 2,000 units). The adjustment will be rolled out in phases, with the full target expected to be achieved by September 14.
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Trump Media Company prices exclusive early access to Trump’s posts at $100,000 per month.
According to the Financial Times, Trump Media & Technology Group is pitching a $100,000 monthly service to clients that delivers fast access to former President Donald Trump’s posts. Earlier reports noted that Trump Media would sell premium, faster access to posts on its Truth Social platform; the new service allows traders and investors to pay for real-time pushes of Truth Social content. This data feed service will launch next month for institutional clients, including high-frequency algorithmic trading firms.
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Cardano will hand over control of its core software to an external team starting in August.
Cardano developer Input Output will transfer control of key blockchain components—including Haskell nodes, the Plutus platform, and the Daedalus wallet—to external professional teams starting in August, as part of its multi-year decentralization initiative. Independent firms such as Se7en Labs and Teragone will oversee portions of the core infrastructure. At least three Cardano implementations will be maintained in Haskell, Rust, and Go, under community oversight and formal specification management. Cardano is currently grappling with weak network activity and a sharp drop in the ADA token’s price. Founder Charles Hoskinson framed the restructuring and ecosystem-related setbacks as necessary "growing pains" on the path to full decentralization.
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France blocks prediction market Polymarket.
French gambling regulator ANJ announced on July 17 that Polymarket’s website will be blocked in France, following its November 2024 ban on financial transactions with the platform. The ANJ stated that the site’s ongoing operation—with real-time updated odds for various events—qualifies as advertising. Even after banning French accounts from conducting trades on Polymarket, accesses to the platform from French internet addresses have continued to rise, reaching 578,751 visits in June.
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Meta is in talks with Anthropic over a computing power leasing agreement, with the potential deal valued at up to $10 billion.
According to The New York Times, Meta Platforms is in talks with Anthropic over a computing power leasing agreement, with the potential deal size reaching up to $10 billion for a two-year term. The negotiations remain in the early stages. Additionally, market data from BIT (bit.com) shows Meta's share decline has narrowed to 3%.
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Serenity: Its investment portfolio has posted a nearly 50% drawdown this month, and it firmly believes that the current round of adjustment is merely leverage-driven volatility, with its growth logic remaining intact.
Serenity posted a statement noting that their portfolio suffered a 49.4% drawdown this month, with main holdings concentrated in AI bottleneck sectors including memory, photonics, robotics, and upstream semiconductors. Serenity acknowledged pressure from the short-term market crash, but maintained that the volatility stems from liquidity and leverage rather than a breakdown in the structural growth logic of these fields.
Dash, a digital payments-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2014, has rolled out a new privacy system called Orchard designed to strengthen user anonymity and transaction confidentiality. The system leverages Zcash’s zero-knowledge proof technology, enabling users to send Dash while shielding the sender, recipient, and amount from public view.
Mainnet launch and transaction improvementsThe Dash Core team announced on X that Orchard pools were activated immediately, emphasizing faster confirmation speeds. According to the developers, transactions on Orchard can be confirmed in approximately one second, while wallet synchronization now takes roughly 20 seconds.
Previously, Dash depended on its PrivateSend feature, which mixed user coins through CoinJoin to obscure transaction trails. PrivateSend provided a degree of fungibility, but required pooling multiple user transactions to make tracing more difficult.
With Orchard, Dash transitions to a cryptographically advanced approach. The system implements zero-knowledge proofs, allowing the network to confirm transaction validity without revealing any participant details or transaction amounts. This represents a significant privacy upgrade compared to the older, mixing-based model.
Dash’s mainnet activation marks the beginning of a new era for privacy on its network, with the team reporting that users can now send funds with the details fully hidden from the public ledger.
Samuel Westrich, chief technology officer of Dash Core Group, described Orchard’s open-source code as mature and relatively straightforward to integrate. The upgrade has been deployed on Dash Evolution, the project’s updated chain introduced in 2024 to deliver faster transaction times and support for token-based applications.
Currently, Orchard covers standard Dash transfers. The team has announced plans to extend privacy features to stablecoins and other digital assets in the future.
Mini dictionary: Zero-knowledge proof — A cryptographic method allowing one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself. This is often used in privacy coins to keep sensitive transaction data confidential.
Zcash bug and market responseOrchard’s implementation on Dash arrives at a turbulent time for Zcash, the privacy-focused cryptocurrency that originally developed the Orchard system. On May 29, 2026, security researcher Taylor Hornby discovered a flaw in Zcash’s Orchard circuit. The bug had existed since Orchard’s activation in May 2022, raising concerns about Zcash’s total supply integrity.
This vulnerability could have allowed the creation of counterfeit Zcash tokens in complete secrecy due to Orchard’s privacy features. Following disclosure on June 4, Zcash (ZEC) experienced a steep price decline, falling from about $602 to around $299, marking a drop of more than 50%.
Zcash developers rapidly addressed the bug through an emergency update and have stated they found no evidence of the flaw being exploited.
The upcoming Ironwood update, scheduled for July 28 at block height 3,428,143, introduces a “turnstile” accounting system to cap total supply and enable verification in case counterfeit coins were created.
Dash’s new privacy system uses Orchard technology but operates independently from Zcash’s network. Despite technical similarities, no part of the bug discovered in Zcash affects Dash directly. However, the timing of Dash’s adoption of Orchard comes only weeks after Zcash’s critical incident.
CoinOrchard ActivationRecent Security BugMarket ImpactDashJune 2026No+0.2% daily increaseZcashMay 2022Yes, May 2026-50% after bug disclosureThe Dash market showed little reaction to the Orchard integration. On the day of the announcement, Dash edged up by just 0.2%, maintaining a market capitalization near $431 million and ranking 84th among cryptocurrencies by market value.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Zcash (ZEC) is up over 2% on Friday, recovering from an 8% decline the previous day. The privacy coin maintains its retail strength with a rising funding rate despite a minor contraction in ZEC futures Open Interest. Technically, ZEC retains a structural upward trend above its crucial moving averages with an upside toward $690.
Retail support holds amid minor pullbackCoinGlass data shows the ZEC futures Open Interest (OI) dropped over 5% in the last 24 hours to $1.10 billion, reflecting a contraction in active perpetual contracts, which aligns with Thursday’s pullback. However, the surge in funding rate to 0.0228%, from 0.0100% the previous day, reflects a buy-the-dip approach among traders.
Zcash derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassZcash holds a bullish near-term bias above its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $476 and the 200-day EMA at $390. At the time of writing, ZEC is up 2% on Friday from its 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $520, measured over the $690 to $184 downswing, which reinforces a supported trend structure.
A steady upward trend could target the previous swing high of $690, and a breakout could extend the rally to the 127.2% Fibonacci extension at $987.
Momentum is constructive, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering near 58 with more upside before reaching the overbought levels. At the same time, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is rising into positive territory alongside its signal line, suggesting that buyers retain control.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support is aligned with the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $520, where a deeper pullback could attract dip-buying interest near the 50-day EMA at $476.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Zcash (ZEC) is trading near $578, extending a powerful recovery that has turned the privacy coin into one of crypto’s best-performing large-cap assets this summer. The rally follows a turbulent June that saw ZEC crash more than 40% after developers disclosed a critical bug in the network’s shielded transaction system — and it comes just weeks before the Ironwood upgrade, designed to close that vulnerability for good. For a broader view of how privacy coins and altcoins are trading today, see Crypto Market Today.
Key Takeaways ZEC trades around $573–578, up more than 20% over the past week and roughly 15% below its November 2025 local high near $744. A critical bug in Zcash’s Orchard shielded pool was disclosed on June 5, 2026, triggering a crash of more than 40% before developers patched it within days. The Ironwood network upgrade, which introduces a new shielded pool with a bounded supply mechanism, is targeted for activation around July 28, 2026. Project Tachyon researchers say they are close to a formal mathematical proof that Ironwood cannot suffer the same counterfeiting-style vulnerability. Futures open interest has climbed toward $980 million alongside rising funding rates, signaling fresh capital entering long positions. Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn has drawn attention for publicly criticizing Coinbase’s promotion of prediction markets to inexperienced users. What Happened: The Orchard Bug and Market Fallout On June 5, 2026, security researchers disclosed a critical flaw in Zcash’s Orchard shielded pool — the core privacy mechanism that lets users send and receive ZEC without revealing sender, recipient, or amount. The bug, which had reportedly existed undetected since 2022, could theoretically have allowed an attacker to mint counterfeit ZEC without detection, since Orchard’s strong privacy guarantees make it mathematically impossible to audit shielded supply after the fact.
Developers patched the flaw within days, and no evidence of exploitation was ever confirmed. But the disclosure alone was enough to rattle confidence: ZEC lost more than 50% of its value in the following days, falling from roughly $630 to around $303, according to The Block. The uncertainty over whether counterfeit coins had been minted — a question that cannot be definitively answered given Orchard’s privacy design — weighed heavily on sentiment through most of June.
A second, unrelated issue surfaced shortly after: a separate vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-34202, carrying a severity score of 9.2, allowed a single malformed Orchard transaction to crash any reachable node, creating a denial-of-service risk and a consensus gap between Zcash’s two node implementations, zcashd and Zebra. That bug was also patched.
The Ironwood Upgrade and Project Tachyon In response to the Orchard flaw, Zcash developers moved quickly to finalize consensus-rule changes for a new upgrade named Ironwood. The plan, confirmed by developer Sean Bowe in early July, introduces a new shielded pool that reuses the Orchard circuit but adds a mechanism to bound the circulating supply of ZEC through the network’s existing “turnstile” — ensuring the amount of ZEC that can be transacted can never exceed the amount that is supposed to exist.
Zcash Open Development Lab has targeted late July for activation, with multiple sources now citing block height 3,428,143 and a target date around July 28, 2026, though co-founder Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn has cautioned the exact timeline could still shift. The upgrade will let users migrate funds out of the old Orchard pool and into Ironwood, gradually reducing exposure to the legacy vulnerability and, developers say, eventually providing evidence that no counterfeit minting occurred.
Separately, Project Tachyon — an initiative focused on formally verifying the security of Zcash’s shielded pool architecture — is reportedly nearing a mathematical proof demonstrating that Ironwood cannot suffer the same class of counterfeiting risk that hit Orchard. Wilcox has pointed to this progress as a key factor restoring market confidence.
Price Recovery and Market Structure Since bottoming near $303 in early June, ZEC has more than doubled, becoming one of the standout performers among large-cap altcoins in July. Zcash reclaimed $500 in the second week of July and has since pushed toward $600, with the rally accelerating on July 16 as the token broke out of a multi-week consolidation range. The move mirrors a broader risk-on tone across major assets; see current levels on the Bitcoin Price and Ethereum Price pages.
Technical indicators have stayed broadly bullish through the move: ZEC has recovered its 26-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs, and the RSI has held in the mid-to-high 60s without reaching extreme overbought territory. Traders are watching the $600 level as the next major resistance, with swing highs from late 2025 sitting between $650 and $700.
Derivatives markets have mirrored the recovery. According to CoinGlass data cited in multiple reports, ZEC futures open interest climbed toward $980 million in mid-July, up more than 20% in a single session at one point, while funding rates turned increasingly positive — a sign that traders are willing to pay a premium to hold long positions.
Governance and Ethics: Wilcox vs. Coinbase Away from the technical recovery, Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox-O’Hearn sparked debate across the crypto industry in late June after publicly criticizing Coinbase for aggressively promoting sports and Bitcoin price-prediction markets to inexperienced users. The comments, posted on X, framed the practice as exploitative of financially vulnerable retail participants and drew responses from across the industry on the ethics of prediction-market marketing. The episode reinforced Zcash’s long-standing positioning as a project with a vocal, principle-driven founder, even as the network worked through its most serious security incident to date. For more industry and regulatory developments, see Crypto News Today.
Frequently Asked Questions What caused the Zcash price crash in June 2026? A critical bug in Zcash's Orchard shielded pool, disclosed on June 5, 2026, could theoretically have allowed undetected counterfeiting of ZEC. The disclosure alone triggered a price crash of more than 50% within days, even though developers patched the flaw quickly and no exploitation was confirmed.
What is the Ironwood upgrade? Ironwood is a Zcash network upgrade that introduces a new shielded pool built on the Orchard circuit, with an added mechanism to bound the circulating supply of ZEC. It is designed to close the vulnerability class exposed by the June 2026 Orchard bug and is targeted for activation around July 28, 2026.
Is Zcash safe to use after the Orchard bug? Developers patched the disclosed vulnerability within days of its discovery, and no confirmed exploitation was reported. The Ironwood upgrade is intended to provide stronger, formally verified guarantees against similar risks going forward.
What is Project Tachyon? Project Tachyon is a Zcash-related research initiative focused on formally verifying the security of the network's shielded pool architecture, including a mathematical proof that the upcoming Ironwood pool cannot suffer the same counterfeiting-style vulnerability found in Orchard.
Why did Zcash's price recover so quickly? The recovery has been driven by the rapid patching of the Orchard vulnerability, progress on the Ironwood upgrade and Project Tachyon's security verification work, and rising derivatives open interest signaling renewed trader confidence, alongside a broader rally across privacy-focused cryptocurrencies.
Who founded Zcash? Zcash was founded in 2016 by Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn, a cryptographer and security expert who also founded the Electronic Coin Company, which manages core development of the Zcash protocol.
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Freelance writer and crypto enthusiast with a focus on Web3, delivering clear and engaging articles. Known for his well-researched articles and insightful analysis, Shayan covers a broad range of topics including market trends, blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), and emerging crypto projects. His writing aims to educate both beginners and experts, providing clear, engaging content that helps readers stay informed about the fast-evolving crypto space. Shayan's expertise and dedication make him a trusted voice in the blockchain community.
According to the analyst, waiting for universal confirmation of a market bottom could mean missing the strongest early opportunities.
Crypto trader Axel Bitblaze has laid out a fresh market thesis built on a video from analyst Taiki Maeda, arguing that assets like Hyperliquid (HYPE), Lighter (LIT), and Zcash (ZEC) are already trading like winners of the next cycle while most investors are waiting for a fourth-quarter bottom.
He says that markets tend to move before the crowd agrees a bottom has formed, so the better window to position could be mid-to-late Q3 and not whenever things look safe.
The Case for HYPE, LIT, and ZEC On July 15, Maeda shared a video on his X account in which he said that crypto was bottoming and that he would be longing HYPE, LIT, and ZEC.
His take was expanded on by Bitblaze in a July 16 post, who noted that Hyperliquid has bought back about 3.4% of the circulating HYPE supply this year, allowing the token to perform well even as sector mainstays such as Bitcoin (BTC) struggled.
“If BTC volatility causes another $HYPE dip without changing its fundamentals… that could be an accumulation opportunity,” wrote the analyst.
Lighter’s LIT token was presented as a higher-risk alternative, with Bitblaze crediting its reported partnership with Robinhood for giving the decentralized perpetual exchange access to a much wider audience. He also noted that buybacks have removed more than 6% of LIT’s circulating supply, helping to push it to an all-time high on the second-to-last day of 2025, when many altcoins were losing ground.
Meanwhile, ZEC carries the most caution. In his market update video, Maeda said he sold the privacy coin after the discovery of a vulnerability in its Orchard shielded pool that could have allowed bad actors to create unlimited amounts of fake ZEC, triggering a 60% collapse. He did, however, buy most of the ZEC back after reassessing the project’s outlook, with the Ironwood upgrade set for July 28 expected to introduce stronger quantum resistance and use formal verification to reduce the risk of hidden bugs.
That update, according to Bitblaze, could help push up the asset’s price. Recall that last week, Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox said that they were close to producing a mathematical proof that Ironwood’s new shielded pools have no undetectable counterfeiting bugs, taking ZEC’s price past $500.
You may also like: Bitwise Report: Crypto Fundamentals Are Getting Stronger Despite Third Straight Negative Quarter ZEC Briefly Tops $500 After Founder Says Formal Proof Is Nearly Ready Analyst Predicts 2-3 Years of Crypto Gains as Risk-On Environment Emerges The token is trading at about 0.8% of Bitcoin’s market cap, and per Maeda’s model, it could go anywhere between $650 and $700 if that ratio climbs back to 1%.
Traders Urged Not to Wait for Bitcoin Bitblaze said that crypto has been in a bear market since the euphoria experienced in mid-2025 when ETH was closing in on $5,000. Now, people are waiting for the bottom, which, according to him, has been penciled in for Q4 2026.
But he believes the market has a tendency to “front-run what everyone expects,” meaning it is better for traders to start positioning themselves between August and September “before the recovery becomes obvious.”
“Don’t wait for Bitcoin and the entire market to look perfect,” the analyst advised. “The next winner usually starts separating from the market before everyone accepts that the bottom is forming.”
Key Highlights ZEC has surged more than 16% over the last week, currently hovering between $552 and $560 The mainnet activation of the Ironwood shielded pool upgrade is expected around July 28 A critical counterfeiting flaw in the Orchard pool was revealed in early June ZEC futures open interest jumped over 12% within 24 hours, momentarily surpassing $750 million Bulls must clear the $644 resistance zone, with $675–$680 representing the next significant channel target Zcash has posted impressive gains of more than 16% throughout the past week, with ZEC hovering near $552 on Tuesday following an 11% rally in a single trading session, per CoinGecko figures.
Zcash (ZEC) Price The privacy-focused cryptocurrency bounced sharply from late June lows around $368, delivering gains exceeding 56% from that trough in less than three weeks.
Traders have watched ZEC clear two critical resistance barriers. Both the $500 supply zone and the $560 retracement threshold have been recaptured, positioning $644 as the next significant obstacle on the four-hour timeframe.
Breaking above $644 would confirm a bullish short-term reversal, opening the door to subsequent targets at $690 and $750 that market participants are monitoring closely.
Ironwood Upgrade and Critical Infrastructure Transition Driving much of the recent momentum is the upcoming Ironwood shielded pool upgrade, scheduled for mainnet deployment approximately July 28.
UPDATE: Over the last couple weeks we've made huge progress on Ironwood activation in Zcash!
1. All of the consensus rule changes have been implemented, and have been undergoing auditing for some time now. Specifications / ZIPs are published and nearing their final state.
2.… https://t.co/rjQSHM1uox
— Sean Bowe (@ebfull) July 2, 2026
In early June, developers publicly disclosed the discovery of a persistent counterfeiting vulnerability embedded within the Orchard shielded pool, a fundamental component of Zcash’s privacy architecture.
Project Tachyon alongside Zcash core development teams are finalizing rigorous mathematical proofs designed to confirm that Ironwood successfully eliminates the security flaw without introducing additional vulnerabilities.
Concurrently, the legacy Zcashd full-node client is scheduled to reach end-of-life status on July 18, prompting network participants to transition to the updated Zebra node implementation.
Favorable Macro Backdrop Supports Momentum June’s US CPI report delivered figures beneath market expectations, with headline inflation registering 3.5% compared to the anticipated 3.8%.
The cooler-than-expected inflation print diminished rate-hike probabilities, triggering renewed appetite for risk assets. Bitcoin advanced from approximately $62,000 to above $64,000, lending broader market tailwinds.
Open interest across ZEC futures momentarily exceeded $750 million, reflecting a surge of more than 12% in a 24-hour window.
On the daily timeframe, the Relative Strength Index reads around 62, positioned above its moving average yet remaining below the overbought 70 threshold. On-balance volume has trended upward through July, indicating accumulation patterns accompanying the price advance.
Market analyst Ali Charts highlighted on X that ZEC “keeps climbing,” identifying the channel’s upper boundary between $675 and $680 as the next critical level worth monitoring.
ZEC is currently trading near the upper Bollinger Band around $566, while the middle band sits near $464. The three-day Chaikin Money Flow indicator has sustained readings above +0.05, reflecting persistent buying pressure.
The latest market data shows ZEC advancing 1.6% on Wednesday, July 15, with the $644 threshold remaining the decisive level bulls need to conquer.
Zcash, the privacy-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2016, has crossed several important resistance levels in recent weeks. Improving trading volume and positive momentum indicators have contributed to a more optimistic outlook for ZEC, as its price action suggests a solid trend reversal from previous lows.
Zcash breaks out, recovers from 2026 lowsTradingView data shows that ZEC has advanced over 21% in the past week and gained more than 9% in the last month. Over a six-month period, the token is up around 37%, while year-on-year gains exceed 1,190%. This performance highlights sustained strength as the token recovers from its 2026 troughs.
At the time of analysis, ZEC traded at roughly $566 to $579, giving it a market capitalization between $9.5 billion and $9.7 billion. Daily trading volume remains above $600 million, reflecting a notable increase in investor participation during its current rally.
Ali Martinez, a well-known cryptocurrency analyst, reported that ZEC continues to rise within an ascending price channel on the daily chart. He identified the next significant resistance around the upper channel boundary at $675 to $680.
ZEC rebounded from mid-range support between $370 and $463, which has fueled its ongoing rally toward the top end of the trading channel. Martinez’s analysis from July 5 emphasized the importance of this rebound in sustaining the current upward momentum.
TimeframeZEC Price Change1 week+21%1 month+9%6 months+37%1 year+1,190%Technical analysis points to sustained bullish momentumRecent chart reviews indicate that Zcash has completed a major technical breakout by moving above a descending trendline, which previously limited gains for several weeks. TradingView analyst Leo524 noted that investors have managed to defend this breakout region, describing it as “an important shift in market structure.”
The relative strength index (RSI) remains above the neutral 50 mark, indicating growing positive market momentum. Trading volume has also increased during the breakout phase, although further rises in buying activity are needed to confirm a lasting trend.
Rather than chasing price surges, the preferred strategy for entering ZEC could be to wait for a pullback into support zones or a breakout retest above recent highs, according to Leo524.
The analyst flagged the $495 to $445 range as the primary support area. As long as ZEC holds above this level with an RSI above 50, the bullish structure is considered intact. A clear move above the latest swing high could bring $620 and $685 as potential resistance targets.
Wave analysis and resistance levelsA separate wave analysis from 3Commas observed that Zcash’s surge above the $528.75 resistance—which matches the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of its previous correction—has likely accelerated its move within the ongoing bullish impulse wave. Experts point to $674 as the next major resistance, with this level having previously capped price advances in May.
Following a sharp drop from nearly $685 to about $250 earlier this year, Zcash has recovered key support above $400 and rallied back toward the mid-$500 range. The RSI metric has climbed to around 65, indicating growing strength without reaching extreme levels. The report highlights $480 as a crucial support and suggests $600 as the next breakout point on the upside. Holding above $600 could open the way to test $640.
Zcash (ZEC) is a privacy coin designed to enable shielded transactions, allowing users to keep transaction details confidential using advanced cryptography called zero-knowledge proofs.
Mini dictionary: Zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptographic technique that enables one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any additional information beyond the validity of the statement itself.
Technical indicators reinforce positive biasTechnical summaries from TradingView currently show a Strong Buy rating for ZEC, driven largely by bullish moving averages. Most moving averages are aligned in a positive direction, with ZEC trading comfortably above its 50-day moving average around $532 to $533.
Oscillator readings remain mostly neutral, but the technical summary continues to favor buyers. ZEC’s successful breakout above the $528 to $550 area has converted this former resistance into a support level. Maintaining price above this region could underpin the ongoing uptrend, while losing $540 to $550 support might result in a deeper retracement toward lower levels.
Traders are also closely watching the upcoming Ironwood network upgrade, scheduled for late July, which will improve Zcash’s shielded pool infrastructure. However, the sustainability of the rally is expected to depend on continued trading volume, broader market conditions, and Bitcoin’s price performance in the coming weeks.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Zcash (ZEC), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, has delivered robust gains over the past three weeks. ZEC’s price climbed from late June lows of $368 to approximately $552 on Tuesday, representing a 56% rally. According to CoinGecko, ZEC jumped 11% in a single trading session and has now returned to levels last seen several months ago.
Technical breakout and resistance levelsTraders observed ZEC clearing two crucial resistance zones at $500 and $560. With these levels surpassed, attention has shifted to the $644 resistance, which now forms the central barrier confronting bullish momentum in the four-hour time frame. Market participants noted that a move above $644 would reinforce ZEC’s short-term bullish reversal, paving the way for further upside targets at $690 and $750.
In the latest session on Wednesday, July 15, ZEC advanced another 1.6%, consolidating near $566 at the upper Bollinger Band. The middle band currently sits at $464. The Chaikin Money Flow, a technical indicator tracking buying pressure, has held above +0.05 for the past three sessions, suggesting persistent accumulation by market participants.
On the daily chart, the Relative Strength Index reads around 62, above its moving average but below the overbought threshold at 70, indicating room for further upward momentum.
Key LevelStatus$368Late June low$500Broken resistance$560Broken resistance$644Current resistance$675-$680Next channel target$690Potential next target$750Potential next targetIronwood upgrade and security enhancementsMuch of the recent optimism stems from the imminent Ironwood shielded pool upgrade, scheduled to launch on the mainnet around July 28. This update aims to reinforce Zcash’s privacy and security infrastructure following the public disclosure in early June of a long-standing counterfeiting vulnerability within the Orchard shielded pool—an essential feature protecting user transactions from public view.
Project Tachyon, together with Zcash’s core development teams, continues to finalize mathematical proofs to ensure the Ironwood upgrade resolves these flaws without introducing new vulnerabilities. Community updates have highlighted successful progress, with all consensus rule changes implemented and extensive code audits underway.
Project developers reported that all Ironwood upgrade consensus rules have been implemented and are undergoing comprehensive audits, with technical specifications approaching finalization.
The legacy Zcashd full-node client will be deprecated on July 18, urging node operators to migrate to the updated Zebra implementation to ensure full network compatibility.
Mini dictionary: Zebra is Zcash’s new official consensus node software, built to provide secure and stable full-node functionality and replace the older Zcashd client. It is developed by the Zcash Foundation to improve network performance and security.
Rising open interest and macro driversBeyond technical elements, broader market conditions have also contributed to ZEC’s rally. The US Consumer Price Index in June came in at 3.5%, softer than the anticipated 3.8%, reducing expectations for further Federal Reserve rate hikes. This macro development boosted demand for risk assets, helping Bitcoin rise from $62,000 to above $64,000 and supporting a positive environment for alternative coins like Zcash.
Futures data shows open interest in ZEC contracts briefly topping $750 million, a surge of more than 12% in just 24 hours. Such increased activity reflects a notable shift in trader sentiment and risk appetite. Analyst Ali Charts spotlighted $675-$680 as the next major technical zone to watch, describing sustained buying pressure throughout July.
Analyst Ali Charts identified $675-$680 as the pivotal channel boundary for ZEC’s ongoing uptrend and noted that ZEC continues to climb on persistent momentum.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
After being stuck in a broad downtrend for the majority of the year, Bitcoin is beginning to show signs of recovery. The asset is currently trying to create support around the $65,000 mark after rising back above its 26-day EMA at $63,400. Although this is a positive development, Bitcoin still has a lot of overhead resistance.
The most significant obstacle is located close to the 50-day EMA at $64,100, which Bitcoin has just lately recovered. The next significant objective is still the 100-day EMA, which is currently at about $68,500. The larger bearish structure that has dominated price action since late 2025 is still defined by the 200-day EMA, which is currently at $74,500. The steady rise in momentum is one sign that things are going well.
BTC/USDT Chart by TradingViewRecovering to almost 57, the RSI is above the neutral zone and indicates that buyers are taking charge. The current advance follows a successful defense of the $58,000–$60,000 support area, in contrast to earlier relief rallies that swiftly faded. The move is not yet a complete reversal of the trend because volume is still moderate rather than explosive.
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The recent higher-low structure is changing into a more sustainable recovery, though, if Bitcoin is able to move toward the $68,000-$70,000 range. As of right now, it looks like Bitcoin is moving from a corrective phase into an accumulation stage. However, before bulls can seriously discuss a return toward the $75,000 region, there needs to be a break above the 100-day EMA.
Ethereum Does BetterAt the moment, Ethereum's technical features are superior to those of Bitcoin. While getting closer to the crucial 100-day EMA resistance at $1,944, ETH has effectively recovered both its 26-day and 50-day EMAs. Ethereum recently broke out of a slight ascending consolidation pattern, indicating fresh buying pressure, and is currently trading at about $1,920.
This move is backed by increasing volume and improving momentum indicators, in contrast to the numerous unsuccessful rallies that were observed earlier this year. The RSI has risen to 66, which is close to overbought territory but still has room to rise. This implies that buyers continue to have a strong hold.
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Ethereum's prospects would be greatly improved by a clear close above the 100-day EMA, which might pave the way for the 200-day EMA at $2,217. Additionally, the chart structure appears more robust than it did a few weeks ago.
ETH set a higher low after the June capitulation event and has been gradually gaining ground. When this pattern is accompanied by improving market sentiment, it frequently precedes more significant trend reversals. $1,944 is the critical level to keep an eye on.
A successful breakout above this barrier might spur more purchases and hasten Ethereum's comeback. However, failure would probably lead to consolidation between $1,750 and $1,950 before the market decides what to do next. With technical momentum clearly favoring bulls in the near term, Ethereum continues to be one of the market's stronger large-cap assets.
XRP's Recovery Is ToughThe fact that XRP is still having trouble beneath a thick cluster of moving averages shows how challenging the recovery process is. The asset is currently trading close to $1.12 and has once again failed to break above the 50-day and 26-day EMAs, which are presently at $1.15 and $1.14, respectively.
A distinct descending resistance line that was created throughout July is visible on the chart. Every attempt to surpass it has been greeted by fresh selling pressure, which has kept XRP from gaining significant upward momentum. Although buyers have not yet shown enough strength to reclaim higher resistance zones, the token has stabilized above the psychological $1 level. The RSI, which has returned above 50, is one positive indication.
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This suggests that the market is becoming more balanced and that bearish momentum is diminishing. All significant trend indicators, such as the 200-day EMA around $1.46 and the 100-day EMA around $1.25, are still above XRP. The overall trend is still clearly bearish until those levels are contested. Additionally, volume has remained largely subdued.
Large reversals usually call for increased buyer participation, which hasn't happened yet. Rather, following its June selloff, XRP seems to be stuck in a consolidation phase. Bulls' immediate goal is to break above the short-term moving averages. A move toward $1.25 becomes more probable if that happens.
However, if resistance is not broken, there may be another test of support in the $1.00–$1.05 range. As of right now, XRP appears to be stabilizing rather than completely recovering. Although the market is no longer in a panic, it is still awaiting a catalyst that can stop the more significant decline.
Zcash Makes a ComebackZcash is still one of the market's best-performing assets, continuing its remarkable comeback and moving closer to $600. The cryptocurrency that prioritizes privacy is currently trading close to $578 following yet another strong breakout from a multi-week consolidation structure.
ZEC has effectively recovered all of the major moving averages, in contrast to many digital assets that are still stuck below important resistance levels. A strongly bullish market structure is confirmed by the fact that the 26-day, 50-day, 100-day, and even 200-day EMAs are currently below price. Momentum is still incredibly powerful. The RSI has risen above 66, indicating persistent buying pressure that has not yet reached extreme overheating.
ZEC/USDT Chart by TradingViewThis implies that before traders start aggressively taking profits, the rally may still have room to continue. Because it invalidates the corrective structure that developed following the June volatility event, the most recent breakout above the $520-$540 range is especially significant.
What could have been a deeper retracement turned into a continuation pattern as buyers repeatedly intervened around the moving-average cluster. Throughout the advance, volume has also stayed strong. The current move is backed by steady participation, which lends the trend more legitimacy than transient speculative spikes.
The prior swing highs are located between $650 and $700, and the next significant resistance zone is located around $600. The market may move into a much more aggressive expansion phase if ZEC is able to pass those levels.
As long as Zcash stays above the $500 support area, technical indicators continue to favor further upside, making it one of the most obvious bullish outliers among large- and mid-cap cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin is showing the first noteworthy signs of recovery after months of downward movement, establishing support near $65,000 following a rally above its 26-day EMA at $63,400. This shift suggests a potential change in short-term market sentiment, but significant resistance obstacles remain for the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market value.
Bitcoin recently regained its 50-day EMA at $64,100, marking an important but preliminary step in overcoming the prevailing bearish structure. The next major target is the 100-day EMA, currently positioned at $68,500, which must be cleared for a decisive trend reversal. Price action continues to be defined by the broader 200-day EMA, which stands at $74,500 and maintains the overarching downtrend that began in late 2025.
Momentum indicators, including the Relative Strength Index (RSI) climbing to nearly 57, signal strengthening buyer control. Unlike previous rebound attempts earlier this year that quickly faded, the current move is supported by ongoing buyer defense of the $58,000–$60,000 region. However, trading volume remains moderate, indicating that a full reversal has yet to materialize.
Bitcoin must break above the 100-day EMA to establish a pattern of sustained recovery and open the door for a potential move toward the $75,000 area. Until this level is reclaimed, upside discussions are likely to remain cautious.
LevelCurrent Price / EMASupport$65,00026-day EMA$63,40050-day EMA$64,100100-day EMA$68,500200-day EMA$74,500Ethereum leads large-cap recoveryEthereum stands out among the major cryptocurrencies for its technical strength in recent sessions. The asset, known for powering the largest decentralized application ecosystem, has effectively regained its 26-day and 50-day EMAs and is pushing toward the pivotal 100-day EMA at $1,944. ETH is currently trading near $1,920 and recently broke out of a minor ascending consolidation, indicating renewed demand.
Momentum and volume have improved, supporting the rally, while the RSI has moved up to 66, approaching overbought territory but still suggesting room for bullish continuation. Technical analysts point to $1,944 as Ethereum’s critical upside barrier in the short run. Clearing this could enable a move to the 200-day EMA at $2,217, especially given improved market sentiment since ETH set a higher low after the June capitulation event.
Ethereum continues to demonstrate clear outperformance among large-cap cryptocurrencies, with technical momentum and buying pressure resulting in steady gains above recent support levels.
Should Ethereum fail to clear the 100-day EMA, analysts anticipate further sideways trading between $1,750 and $1,950 until the market establishes a firmer directional consensus.
XRP faces ongoing resistanceXRP, the native token of payments-focused blockchain company Ripple, remains trapped beneath a cluster of closely grouped moving averages. XRP is trading near $1.12 and has struggled to rise above its 50-day and 26-day EMAs—currently at $1.15 and $1.14, respectively. Each attempt to break out above a descending resistance line established in July has met renewed selling activity, keeping upward momentum in check.
Despite these challenges, XRP has stabilized above the psychological $1 level. The RSI has edged back above 50, a solid sign of improving balance between buyers and sellers, but all major trend indicators—including the 100-day EMA at $1.25 and 200-day EMA at $1.46—remain overhead. Volume has also remained subdued, pointing toward a period of consolidation rather than a robust turnaround.
XRP bulls are watching for a move above the short-term moving averages. Success could allow the asset to challenge resistance at $1.25, while failure prompts a possible retest of support between $1.00 and $1.05.
Zcash emerges as a bullish outlierPrivacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash (ZEC) has outperformed much of the market by reclaiming all major moving averages. Price has moved above the 26-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs, resulting in a definitive bullish market structure. The RSI above 66 highlights persistent buyer participation without signals of major overheating, and trading volume has remained consistently strong throughout its recent ascent.
The latest breakout above the $520–$540 range invalidated the corrective pattern that followed June’s heightened volatility, with buyers repeatedly supporting the market at critical levels. ZEC now faces initial resistance around $600, with prior swing highs noted between $650 and $700.
ZEC will remain technically favored as long as it holds above $500 support, positioning itself as a notable bullish exception among large- and mid-cap tokens in the current market environment.
Mini dictionary: Zcash (ZEC): A privacy-focused cryptocurrency launched in 2016, Zcash utilizes advanced cryptographic techniques called zk-SNARKs to enable shielded (private) or transparent transactions, offering enhanced user privacy compared to most blockchains.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Zcash is currently hovering at $570, with a 12% jump. ZEC’s long-term macro trend is controlled by the bulls. Zcash (ZEC) has put up a 12.24% rise in value and is currently trading within the $570 mark. It has been riding a clean ascending channel, respecting every higher low along the way. Notably, it’s a sign that buyers are consistently stepping in at higher prices, which is what a healthy uptrend is primed for.
On top of that, Zcash is printing a cup-and-handle breakout, one of the more reliable bullish continuation patterns in technical analysis. Moreover, the bulls are eyeing the upper channel boundary near $580 as the immediate target.
Beyond that, the setup points to the $700 range if the momentum holds. But the $540 level would be a key support that needs to hold for this bullish structure to stay. A breakdown below this zone risks completely erasing recent gains and sending the ZEC price back to retest previous lows.
The short-term price outlook of the ZEC/USDT trading pair reports a bullish presence. It may test the crucial resistance at around $573.64. With an extended upside pressure, the golden cross could take place, and the bulls would likely drive the price above $577.
On the flip side, upon a bearish reversal in the Zcash market, the price could instantly fall to the support range at $567.11. Further correction on the downside might initiate the formation of the death cross, and the asset’s price would plunge below $563.
Zcash Flashes Bullish Signals: Will the Recovery Clear Key Resistance? Zooming in on the technical chart, the MACD line has crossed and held above the signal line, indicating that short-term buying is aggressively accelerating. As both lines are above the zero line, the long-term macro trend is firmly controlled by the bulls.
This is a strong buy-and-hold or momentum-continuation signal. It shows that ZEC’s upward trend has strong underlying strength. Also, it may make a sudden reversal highly unlikely in the immediate term.
Furthermore, the daily RSI reading of Zcash staying at 71.40 confirms that it has entered the overbought zone. The buying force has pushed the price up too fast, moving it above the standard 70-ceiling.
The momentum is stretched thin, with the probability of a period of consolidation is high as the early buyers begin to take profits. Therefore, entering new buy positions at this level is high-risk.
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The broader cryptocurrency market shows near-term recovery signals with a weaker-than-expected US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for June, easing inflation risks. Bitcoin (BTC) price hovers above $64,000 on Wednesday, testing the breakout of its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $65,146, which capped its previous day’s 4% rebound.
Among top altcoins, Zcash (ZEC) and Pump.fun (PUMP) are leading the gains over the last 24 hours, emerging as top performers while the broader market risk-off sentiment eases.
Bitcoin tests 50-day EMA breakout rally amid easing inflation risksThe US CPI data for June fell to 3.5%, below expectations of 3.8%, marking its largest monthly drop since May 2020. As a result, the odds of the Federal Reserve (Fed) hiking rates at the next meeting on July 29 dropped to 8%, prompting the quick recovery in the crypto market.
Bitcoin edges below $65,000 on Wednesday as the 50-day EMA at $65,146 capped the 4% gains from the previous day. Still, BTC maintains a recovery tone in the near term, testing a breakout above its 50-day EMA at $65,146, while the overhead 200-day EMA at $75,222 reflects a broader-term bearish trend.
A potential daily close above $65,146 would be needed to ease downside pressure before the more significant barrier at the $70,000 round figure, followed by the 200-day EMA near $75,222.
Momentum shows some stabilization on the daily chart, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering around 54 with further room to the upside, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) rises with its signal line.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, the key structural floor is the horizontal support zone at $60,000, where a deeper pullback could seek demand if sellers extend control from current levels.
Zcash and Pump.fun gain bullish momentumZcash trades above $550 on Wednesday, extending its advance above the 50-day EMA at $471 and the 200-day EMA at $389, which together reinforce a bullish near-term bias. The privacy coin also holds comfortably above the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $520, underscoring a well-supported structure.
Momentum aligns with this constructive backdrop, as the RSI at 62 is in positive territory without yet reaching overbought extremes, while the MACD stays firmly positive with its signal line, hinting at persistent buying pressure.
On the topside, immediate resistance emerges at the previous all-time high of $690, followed by the 127.2% Fibonacci extension level at $987.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support is seen at the 78.6% retracement at $520, followed by the 50-day EMA at $471.
Pump.fun shows a short-term recovery, challenging its capped tone, with gains of around 7% above its 50-day EMA at $0.001547 at press time on Wednesday. Still, PUMP token's broader structure remains capped below a descending resistance trendline near $0.001725 and its 200-day EMA at $0.001919.
Price is testing the 50% retracement near $0.001610, measured from $0.002251 to $0.001151, and a decisive close could target the 200-day EMA at $0.001919, near the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $0.001950.
The RSI at 57 remains in constructive territory, signaling renewed buying pressure, while an uptick in the MACD above its signal line suggests a lagging recovery, hinting at modest bullish momentum that has yet to challenge the broader downtrend.
PUMP/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, immediate support is provided by the 50-day EMA at $0.001547, with further protection at the recent swing low zone anchored around $0.001151.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
2016 yılında piyasaya sürülen ZEC (Zcash), kullanıcılarına gizlilik odaklı işlem yapma imkânı sunan en önemli kripto para projelerinden biridir. Sıfır bilgi kanıtı (zk-SNARKs) teknolojisini kullanan Zcash, işlem bilgilerinin isteğe bağlı olarak gizlenebilmesini sağlayarak diğer birçok blokzincir projesinden ayrışmaktadır. Zaman içerisinde hem gizlilik özellikleri hem de güçlü topluluğu sayesinde kripto ekosisteminde kendine önemli bir yer edinmiştir. Her ne kadar piyasa koşullarına bağlı olarak sert fiyat hareketleri yaşamış olsa da, dönem dönem yatırımcı ilgisini yeniden üzerine çekmeyi başarmaktadır.
Özellikle geçmiş boğa döngülerinde yüksek volatilitesiyle dikkat çeken ZEC, kısa süre içerisinde güçlü yükselişler ve sert geri çekilmeler yaşayabilen projeler arasında yer alıyor. Madencilik altyapısını koruyan yapısı ve arz mekanizması sayesinde uzun yıllardır piyasada varlığını sürdüren proje, zaman zaman artan işlem hacmiyle yatırımcıların yeniden radarına girmektedir. Gizlilik odaklı kripto paralara yönelik ilginin arttığı dönemlerde ZEC’in de pozitif ayrışabildiğini görüyoruz. Bu nedenle mevcut fiyat hareketini değerlendirirken yalnızca teknik görünümü değil, piyasa duyarlılığı ve işlem hacmindeki değişimleri de yakından takip etmek büyük önem taşıyor.
İlginizi Çekebilir: Petrol Neden Yükseldi? Küresel Piyasalarda Son Durum Ne?
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ZEC/USDT paritesi 4-saatlik grafiği. 543$ seviyesinin üzerinde günlük kapanış yaparak yeni bir tepe oluşturan ZEC, 370$ bölgesinden başlattığı yükseliş trendini sürdürmeye devam ediyor. Oldukça güçlü bir fiyat yapısı sergileyen ZEC, 250$ seviyelerinden aldığı tepki sonrasında %100’ün üzerinde değer kazanmayı başardı. Ancak şu an için en kritik seviye 543$ olarak öne çıkıyor. Günlük kapanışların bu seviyenin altına sarkması durumunda gerçekleşen kırılımın sahte (fake breakout) olma ihtimali artacaktır. Gün içi fiyatın 512$ seviyelerine kadar geri çekilmesi ise tek başına olumsuz bir görünüm oluşturmaz. Önemli olan, alınacak tepkinin ardından günlük mumun yeniden 543$ seviyesinin üzerinde kapanmasıdır.
Kırılımın gerçekleştiği 512$ bölgesi ise artık paritenin en güçlü destek alanı konumunda bulunuyor. Bu seviyede alıcıların oldukça güçlü olduğunu daha önce gördüğümüz için, olası bir geri çekilmede akıllı para olarak adlandırılan büyük yatırımcıların yeniden bu bölgeden alım yapması beklenebilir. Ancak 512$ desteğinin kaybedilmesi durumunda satış baskısı artabilir ve fiyatın 427$ seviyesindeki likidite bölgesine kadar geri çekilme ihtimali gündeme gelebilir. Bu nedenle ZEC’i önümüzdeki süreçte bu kritik seviyeler üzerinden yakından takip etmek, oluşabilecek fırsatları değerlendirmek açısından önemli olacaktır.
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The crypto market never sits idle, and this week is proof of that. The Ethereum price prediction looks cautiously optimistic near $1,752, with a break above $1,843 seen as the trigger toward $2,000. The Zcash price tells a similar story, sitting between $460 and $480 as it approaches the critical $490 resistance level that could decide its next major swing.
Away from the charts, one project is pulling in users with utility: BlockDAG! Its casino has already amassed over $150 million in wagers, and the network is rolling out an upgrade aimed at pushing network speeds to 7,000 TPS in the coming days.
On top of this, it just made entry cheaper than ever with the EARLY code, which is handing early buyers 100% extra BDAG on every purchase. Let’s break down their outlook and decide which of the three is the best crypto to buy now.
Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Targets $2,000 The Ethereum price prediction remains cautiously optimistic despite recent weakness, with ETH trading around $1,752 after touching $1,828. Fresh buying interest is returning as spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $26.9 million in inflows, extending a four-day streak that has brought total inflows to roughly $90 million.
These funds now oversee more than $9.5 billion in assets. Market sentiment is also improving, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index rising from 15 to 27, while Ethereum futures open interest has climbed from $22 billion to over $25 billion, reflecting stronger market participation.
From a technical perspective, the Ethereum price prediction is supported by a bullish double-bottom pattern. If ETH breaks above the key $1,843 resistance level, analysts believe it could gain momentum and target the psychological $2,000 mark, although market volatility remains a key risk.
Zcash Price Moves Toward $490 Resistance The Zcash price is approaching an important resistance level near $490, where many traders believe the next major move will be decided. Some analysts expect the Zcash price to climb toward higher Fibonacci targets if it breaks above this barrier, as the token has already reclaimed key support levels and recently traded between $460 and $480 after gaining around 12% to 16% earlier this month.
Another positive factor is that 80% of Zcash’s fixed 21 million coin supply has now been mined, reinforcing its long-term scarcity narrative. However, some analysts remain cautious, warning that ZEC could still face a sharp rejection near $490 due to bearish chart patterns. Overall, the longer-term trend remains constructive, but traders are looking for a confirmed breakout before becoming more confident about the next upward move.
Why Buyers Are Rushing to Secure BlockDAG’s 100% Bonus! Most platforms take years to build real adoption, so it says something that BlockDAG’s casino already has 13,000+ users, over $15 million deposited, and $150 million wagered in its first 30 days. Numbers like that don’t happen on a weak network, and that’s precisely the point.
Every one of those transactions runs on BlockDAG’s DAG-based architecture, which allows both high-speed payments and smart contract functionality to operate on a single platform. This is something most legacy chains still can’t manage. Plus, an upgrade to 7,000 TPS is rolling out in the next few days, giving the network more room to handle demand across gaming, payments, lending, and stablecoins as usage keeps climbing.
The technology isn’t the only thing accelerating either; a series of new launches is pulling buyers in fast. BDAG AI just went live, adding an estimated $500 million to the project’s valuation. Right behind it, pre-registration for the BlockDAG X exchange has opened, with spot trading, futures, and dedicated apps set to arrive in just 14 days. Then there’s the Super App, landing on August 20 and expanding utility further!
What ties it all together is timing. Despite everything happening at once, entry remains remarkably cheap: BDAG is priced at $0.00000033, the buyback price sits at $0.03, and the new EARLY code adds 100% extra BDAG on every purchase. The return potential between the entry price and the buyback price is massive, and it soars when you factor in the free coins from the bonus.
Essentially, real usage, real technology, and a heavily discounted entry point rarely overlap this cleanly, which is exactly why those seeking the best crypto to buy now are rushing to join today.
Which Is The Best Crypto to Buy Now? Both charts still leave room for debate. The Ethereum price prediction stays tied to that $1,843 ceiling, and a clean break could open the door to $2,000, while the Zcash price needs to clear $490 before bulls can talk about the next leg toward higher Fibonacci targets. Until then, patience remains the name of the game for holders of both.
BlockDAG, though, isn’t waiting around. With 13,000+ users already active on its casino and a 7,000 TPS upgrade in the works, the network has backed up its hype with real numbers.
Plus, when you consider the BDAG AI launch, worth an estimated $500 million, BlockDAG X, and a Super App landing soon, it’s easy to see why entry at $0.00000033 with the EARLY bonus stands out. For anyone still hunting the best crypto to buy now, this is the one moving fastest.
The privacy coins are once again making headlines amid renewed pressures from Chinese legal researchers. The impact is also visible with the declining prices of Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR), among others, signaling the waning risk-bet appetite of investors.
Meanwhile, the latest development stems from a research article published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate. The report recommends treating privacy coins and crypto mixers as potential indicators of money laundering activity, adding another layer of uncertainty for the sector.
Privacy Coins Face Fresh Scrutiny in Chinese Legal Research Report The research paper on the website argues that digital assets have created new challenges for law enforcement because of their decentralized, anonymous, and borderless nature. While blockchain technology improves transaction efficiency, the report says these same features can also make it easier for criminals to move illicit funds across jurisdictions.
According to the translated document, prosecutors should consider the use of crypto mixers, privacy coins, and unusually large or irregular transactions as possible warning signs when investigating suspected money laundering cases. The paper also recommends stronger use of blockchain-based evidence and standardized procedures for handling seized digital assets.
Although the article does not introduce a new law, it reflects the direction legal experts believe authorities should take. Market participants often view such recommendations as an indication of stricter enforcement ahead, especially in a country that already maintains a restrictive stance on crypto-related activities.
Notably, this report also follows a similar development in Dubai earlier this year. For context, Dubai has previously banned privacy coins over AML and sanction concerns in January this year.
Zcash & Monero Prices Slip Amid Renewed Pressure The overall market cap of the privacy coins segment fell more than 2% to $50.41 billion, led by the dip in Zcash and Monero prices. As of writing, Zcash price was down more than 4% to $504.21, while the Monero or XMR price fell 2% to $322.5.
The latest dip also suggests that the report by the Chinese legal researchers has spooked investors over its potential impact on the privacy coins. However, it’s worth noting that investors are also keeping close track of the Zcash price prediction, amid the much-anticipated Ironwood upgrade, which will roll out on July 28 this year.
Meanwhile, privacy coins have historically attracted users seeking enhanced transaction confidentiality. Despite that, regulatory attention continues to weigh on their long-term outlook. For investors, the latest developments reinforce the importance of monitoring regulatory trends alongside price movements.
However, as global financial regulators make anonymous spending increasingly difficult, privacy-conscious users are carefully tracking the availability of any functional no-KYC crypto card option still active in the market.
Trump and Iran deliver tough, tit-for-tat statements, with both sides refusing to back down on the Strait of Hormuz issue.
US President Donald Trump and an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader have successively made tough remarks on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that the US will become the "guardian" and "guardian angel" of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the US has guarded the strait for free in the past and will recover its operational costs and compensate for the risks it has taken to maintain the strait’s security in the future. He also said that the US will control the Strait of Hormuz and "is very likely to dominate the strait" in the future, adding that every time Iran deploys drones, the US will strike back fiercely. In addition, Trump revealed that the US and Iran held 11-hour talks yesterday. The advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader responded that no Iranian believes Iran should give up the Strait of Hormuz. Iran defends the Strait of Hormuz to avoid being forced to pay "ransom" for the passage of its own ships in the future. He emphasized that the strategic, security and economic status of the Strait of Hormuz is irreplaceable, and Iran will never back down on the issue of the Strait of Hormuz.
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HSK Chain launches Phase 3 of its HSK Staking campaign, upgrading the ecosystem's long-term incentive mechanism.
According to official announcements, HSK Chain’s Phase 3 staking campaign officially launched on July 13. This phase sets a maximum total staking cap and adopts a diversified incentive model, with participants eligible for corresponding expected ecosystem incentives per on-chain rules. Additionally, users who took part in previous staking phases and consistently supported ecosystem development will receive extra ecosystem subsidies based on their historical locked contributions, comprehensively enhancing on-chain participation benefits. It is understood that this staking campaign, while rewarding HSK holders and past participants, will further drive the long-term steady growth of the HSK Chain ecosystem. As on-chain developers, high-quality projects, and institutional-grade assets continue to onboard, this upgrade to the long-term incentive mechanism will serve as a core initiative for the ecosystem’s long-term development.
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BBC investigation finds Instagram still hosts ads for child sexual abuse content, Meta’s AI moderation mechanism faces renewed scrutiny
Despite Meta’s ongoing heavy investment in AI infrastructure, a new BBC investigation has found that Instagram is still serving users in India with advertisements containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and some of these ads are still deemed by the platform’s moderation system as “not violating community guidelines” even after being reported. The report states that a test account created by the BBC received around 30 CSAM-related ads within a week, without any prior searches for such content, and these ads directed users to Telegram channels to purchase the illegal material. The Indian government has ordered Meta to remove the relevant ads and explain within seven days why its moderation mechanism failed. The report notes that Meta’s 2025 ad revenue reached $201 billion, accounting for approximately 97% of its total revenue, while its AI infrastructure investment in the same period hit $72.2 billion. The company plans to raise its capital expenditure to between $125 billion and $145 billion in 2026. The article points out that Meta’s current controversies stem more from platform governance and commercial incentives rather than a lack of AI technical capabilities.
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Institutions: The crypto market continued deleveraging in Q2, with spot trading volume hitting its lowest level since Q3 2023.
According to FalconX’s latest market analysis, the crypto market sustained its deleveraging trend in the second quarter of 2026. Spot trading volume on major platforms fell to $1.6 trillion, down 25% quarter-over-quarter and 42% year-over-year, hitting its lowest level since the third quarter of 2023. Futures trading volume dropped to $9 trillion, a 12% quarter-over-quarter and 31% year-over-year decline. The report shows that by the end of Q2, the total open interest (OI) of futures across the market fell to $53.2 billion, a sharp pullback from the peak of $122.2 billion in October 2025, while trading turnover ratio decreased to 1.6x, reflecting a shift in the market from high-frequency speculation to long-term holding. On the capital flow front, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a net outflow of $4.9 billion in Q2, expanding the year-to-date cumulative net outflow to $5.4 billion. Total stablecoin supply shrank by $7.4 billion to $313.8 billion, marking the first contraction in recent quarters. FalconX notes that the current market deleveraging process is largely complete, with open interest stabilizing and trading volume showing signs of recovery in June. Looking ahead to the third quarter, the progress of the U.S. CLARITY Act legislation and ETF capital flows will be key catalysts shaping market trends.
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Intel will invest 5 billion euros to expand its factory in Ireland.
Intel (INTC.O) will invest 50 billion euros (approximately $57 billion) to expand its factory in Ireland, aiming to recapture its leading position in manufacturing amid the artificial intelligence boom. In a statement, Intel said the investment will boost production capacity at its Leixlip campus outside Dublin, as part of the company’s plan to increase output of data center processors. The expansion will enhance manufacturing capabilities for products including its flagship Xeon server processors, while advancing research and development activities. Intel Executive Vice President Naga Chandrasekaran noted in a statement that the move is also part of the company’s plan to improve delivery capacity for its foundry business. Intel’s foundry arm, which manufactures chips for other tech companies, is a core component of its revitalization strategy, designed to strengthen its competitiveness against rivals such as TSMC.
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Trump: The United States may take charge of managing the Strait of Hormuz in the future.
US President Trump posted that he may "operate" the Strait of Hormuz in the future, stating that if the US takes the lead in managing the Strait of Hormuz, the US will receive compensation. "We will become the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz."
Zcash cryptocurrency can be expected to fall further to the next round support level 500.00 (former resistance from the start of July).
Zcash reversed from resistance area Likely to fall to support level 500.00 Zcash cryptocurrency recently reversed down from the resistance area located between the pivotal resistance level 540.00 (which stopped the previous correction a in the middle of June, as can be seen from the daily Zcash chart below), upper daily Bollinger Band and the 61.8% Fibonacci correction of the sharp downward impulse 1 from the middle of May. The downward reversal from this resistance area stopped the previous minor impulse wave c of the ABC correction 2 from the start of June.
Given the strength of the resistance level 540.00 and the bearish sentiment seen across the crypto markets today, Zcash cryptocurrency can be expected to fall further to the next round support level 500.00 (former resistance from the start of July).
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About the Author: Karthik Subramanian
Karthik Subramanian is a founder, writer, and technology consultant with nine years in the crypto ecosystem. He covers token economics, L1/L2 infrastructure, DeFi protocols, wallets/custody, and the bridge between crypto and forex—broker technology, liquidity, and macro drivers. Karthik’s writing focuses on clear, practical frameworks that help professionals evaluate new products and on-chain innovation alongside FX market realities.
Van de Poppe is watching ARB, UNI, AAVE, ETHFI, NEAR, ZEC, SOL, and SUI closely, as these altcoins show interesting market movements.He credits the Robinhood Chain launch for pulling fresh liquidity into Ethereum.Arbitrum and Uniswap have been the two biggest winners from that shift, he said.He says NEAR and Zcash are benefiting most from a growing privacy narrative now.Altcoins are starting to shake off weeks of sluggish price action, and one closely watched analyst thinks it is more than a short blip. In an exclusive interview with Coinpedia, Michaël van de Poppe, CIO and founder of MN Fund, MN Capital, and New Era Finance, walked through the altcoins he is watching most closely right now. He said improving market narratives are pulling fresh liquidity back into important sectors of the market.
Van de Poppe is watching ARB, UNI, AAVE, ETHFI, NEAR, ZEC, SOL, and SUI closely. Each token, he said, is riding a different catalyst, from DeFi adoption to privacy demand to renewed strength in Layer-1 infrastructure.
Robinhood Chain is lifting EthereumPoppe pointed to one launch in particular as the spark behind the recent rally. He credits the Robinhood Chain launch for pulling fresh liquidity into Ethereum. “The first narrative is surrounding the launch of the Robinhood Chain,” he said. “This attracted liquidity and trading volume towards the Ether ecosystem.”
Arbitrum and Uniswap have been the two biggest winners from that shift, he said. “I don’t think that this will stall in the coming period,” he added. “Technically, they are looking great for more upside due to higher timeframe bullish divergences.”
DeFi and privacy tokens hold their groundRegulatory progress is also playing a role, according to Van de Poppe. He pointed to the CLARITY Act as a factor bringing renewed attention to decentralized finance. “Ethereum is doing well on itself, and also other DeFi protocols like AAVE and Ether.fi have been seeing spikes of interest,” he said.
He says NEAR and Zcash are benefiting most from a growing privacy narrative now. “The privacy narrative is an important one,” he said, explaining why trading activity around both tokens has continued to climb.
Layer-1s show early signs of lifeVan de Poppe said infrastructure tokens are quietly strengthening too. “Infrastructure layers are performing better and better, and that signals that the markets are on the edge of turning around,” he said.
He described Solana as “waking up,” while Sui is also showing early signs of recovery. “I expect other Layer-1s to be starting an uptrend,” he added.
What’s Next?The altcoin season index has climbed to 58, signalling a shift in momentum away from Bitcoin and toward alternative assets. Bitcoin dominance has slipped from 58.12% to 56.3%, a move that historically precedes broader capital rotation into altcoins.
ETF flows are reflecting that shift in real time. While Bitcoin funds are seeing outflows, money is moving into Ethereum, XRP and Solana ETF products, showing institutional interest is diversifying rather than retreating from crypto altogether.
The backdrop is not uniformly positive, however. Around 40% of altcoins are currently trading near their all-time lows, a figure that highlights just how uneven this market cycle has been. Most tokens have not recovered anywhere close to their previous peaks, even as a handful of larger assets begin to show renewed strength.
Story Ends Here
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