Zcash (ZEC) shot past $400 on May 3, hitting a peak of $424 — its first time above that level since January 2024. The move marks a 100% bounce from the privacy coin's year-to-date low, putting it within striking distance of rival Monero's market value.
Price surge details
The rally pushed ZEC from a low in the $200s earlier this year to $424 intraday, according to market data. The token has been climbing steadily over the past several weeks, but the acceleration past $400 came with a burst of volume. Traders were watching the $400 level as a psychological threshold — crossing it opened the door to further gains.
Comparing to Monero
Zcash's current price now sits near Monero's valuation, narrowing the gap between the two leading privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. Monero has long held a higher market cap, but ZEC's 100% recovery from its 2024 trough has investors asking whether the gap could close further. At $424, Zcash is trading at a price point last seen in early January, before a broader crypto pullback dragged it lower.
What comes next
The question now is whether Zcash can hold above $400 and sustain momentum. The token faces resistance from profit-taking after such a sharp move, but the absence of major selloffs so far suggests buyers remain in control. The next few trading sessions will test whether this surge is a short-term spike or the start of a longer trend.
