TL;DR:
- Arthur Hayes predicts Zcash could hit $10,000–$20,000 in the next cycle.
- He says rising financial surveillance will boost demand for privacy coins.
- Regulatory hurdles persist, but Hayes sees decentralized markets sustaining ZEC.
Zcash (ZEC), one of the oldest privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, is suddenly back in the spotlight. Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, predicts the token could surge to between $10,000 and $20,000 in the next cycle, arguing that its intrinsic privacy features align perfectly with the coming wave of decentralized financial sovereignty. His bold forecast reignites discussions around whether the market is ready to reward privacy coins after years of regulatory scrutiny and limited adoption.
Privacy narrative resurfaces as investors rethink value
Hayes believes Zcash will thrive as global financial systems tighten control. In his analysis, the world is entering an era of capital surveillance, where states are increasingly capable of monitoring transactions. In such a landscape, he sees Zcash’s shielded technology becoming a refuge for those who prioritize financial autonomy. Hayes contrasts ZEC’s fundamentals with Bitcoin’s transparent ledger, suggesting that as more investors understand the implications of traceable money, demand for true privacy assets will surge.
The trader’s conviction stems from Zcash’s long-standing cryptographic strength and scarcity. Hayes argues that the project’s use of zero-knowledge proofs positions it as the most secure privacy network. With a capped supply similar to Bitcoin’s 21 million coins, ZEC’s potential scarcity may fuel a speculative rally if capital begins to flow into the privacy sector. Hayes envisions a future where digital assets become a counterbalance to overreaching state power, making Zcash one of the few cryptocurrencies capable of thriving in that paradigm.
However, regulatory resistance remains Zcash’s biggest hurdle. Privacy coins have faced delistings from exchanges and increased pressure from financial watchdogs. Yet Hayes dismisses this as a temporary phase, asserting that decentralized exchanges and peer-to-peer markets will sustain ZEC’s liquidity. If his thesis holds, a rally to $20,000 would represent not just a price milestone but a symbolic rebirth for the privacy narrative in crypto.
