Zcash Price Drops as Founder Predicts Future Gains
Zcash co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson projected a $2,000 price target even as the asset recently pulled back.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Inflation
Live Poll
Do you believe now is a good time to invest in volatile cryptocurrency assets?
Zcash prices fell 10.23% in 24 hours to $1,098 following a bold long-term prediction from co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson. The digital asset is currently seeking to regain momentum after slipping beneath its daily MA 50 support level.
Why it matters
The volatility reflects broader uncertainty as the Federal Reserve weighs potential interest rate hikes in response to shifting inflation data. This macroeconomic environment continues to exert pressure on speculative asset valuations globally.
Zcash requires an 82% increase from its current price to reach the co-founder's $2,000 target. Meanwhile, open interest has declined 2.5% from mid-September levels, down to a peak volume of 1.60 million ZEC.
The players
Eli Ben-Sasson
He is a co-founder of Zcash and a prominent figure in the development of zero-knowledge proof cryptography.
The details
Eli Ben-Sasson publicized his prediction through the OffMarket platform, which enables traders to manage positions without public account linking. The currency previously hit a high of $1,696 on September 26, 2026, before experiencing a sharp decrease in social media interest from a peak of 671 mentions.
Timeline
September 15, 2026: The start of a price rally for ZEC.
September 26, 2026: Zcash reached its recent peak price of $1,696.
October 14, 2026: Open interest fell 2.5% below September 15 levels with 50 social mentions.
October 20, 2026: The scheduled decision date for the NU7 upgrade mainnet.
Macro View
The current price action reflects historical cycles where speculative assets respond sharply to anticipated changes in central bank policy. These patterns mirror previous periods of volatility where inflation data dictated the broader movement of digital and traditional financial instruments.
Readers monitoring Zcash should account for increased volatility as the market reacts to potential changes in interest rates. Investors should be prepared for significant price fluctuations as the asset remains 82% away from the co-founder's target.
The takeaway
Predicting long-term crypto targets like $2,000 remains highly speculative in the face of shifting macroeconomic headwinds. Investors should focus on the impact of upcoming protocol upgrades like NU7 rather than relying solely on public price projections.
What happens next
The Zcash network is scheduled to reach a critical decision regarding its NU7 upgrade mainnet on October 20, 2026.
Further reading
For more context on market shifts, read our guide on Inflation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by U.
Live Poll
Do you believe now is a good time to invest in volatile cryptocurrency assets?
