The Motley Fool reported Zcash was up 197% so far in 2026. It shares Bitcoin’s 21 million-coin cap and halving model but adds shielded transactions; 4.9 million ZEC, or 29% of its circulating supply, is held in encrypted pools.
Zcash’s next halving is predicted for Nov. 23, 2028. The network currently produces blocks every 75 seconds; its community voted to cut that interval to 25 seconds in an update developers were targeting for November 2026. The article says about 3.9% of circulating ZEC is mined annually.
The shielded pools can hide balances, transactions and identities, but funds remain private only while they stay there. The Motley Fool cites exchange removals as a risk, saying regulators object to reduced ability to police who owns assets and where. Author Alex Carchidi disclosed positions in Zcash and Bitcoin; The Motley Fool disclosed a position in and recommendation for Bitcoin.
