Zcash rallies 17% after Forbes endorsement amid rising regulatory pressure in US and China

Zcash (ZEC) surged about 17% in a week, reaching roughly $545 after being listed among Forbes' ten best cryptocurrencies to buy. The price boost was supported by tightened supply, a record level of shielded coins and the upcoming 2024 halving that will cut block rewards. Regulatory sentiment also improved when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission closed a two‑year investigation without enforcement action.

At the same time, privacy‑focused coins face new scrutiny in China. A report from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate recommends treating privacy coins and mixers as money‑laundering red flags, prompting investor caution. Following the report, Zcash’s price slipped to about $504 and the broader privacy‑coin market fell over 2%. The dual dynamics highlight both growing institutional interest and heightened regulatory risk for privacy‑centric digital assets.