Zcash is running hard. The privacy coin has jumped more than 40% over the past month, and analysts are now pointing to NEAR Protocol as the next candidate for a similar move. Crypto trader Mi
Zcash is running hard. The privacy coin has jumped more than 40% over the past month, and analysts are now pointing to NEAR Protocol as the next candidate for a similar move.
Crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe recently shared NEAR on his radar and noted that the token is holding crucial support while the overall market rotates capital into altcoins. But he is not buying just yet.
Zcash’s recent surge came as the Altcoin Season Index climbed to 58 and is a change away from Bitcoin dominance. Capital flowed into privacy-focused projects, with ZEC leading the charge. This rotation is not random. When Bitcoin stalls, traders often look for higher-risk opportunities in altcoins with strong narratives.
NEAR Protocol fits that profile. NEAR is up 1.47% in the past 24 hours and outperformed a crypto market that dropped 1.09%. Trading volume also jumped 40.55%.
Honestly, I think that we're going to see much more momentum coming in from $NEAR.$ZEC is running up again, so it's just a matter of time until $NEAR picks up the pace.Holding a crucial level of support.By the way, if this doesn't hold here, I'm planning to buy a lot more… pic.twitter.com/RSKXY6bZIS
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) July 13, 2026
The connection between ZEC and NEAR is not just about sector rotation. Both tokens benefit from the same macro trend: a growing demand for privacy in an increasingly surveilled digital economy. If ZEC can hold its rally, NEAR could be next in line for a significant leg up.
Technical analysis shows that NEAR is testing a critical Fibonacci level at $1.92. This 78.6% retracement level has acted as support in recent sessions, and a hold here could lead the way for a move toward $2.15. The token has already bounced off this level twice in the past week.
The overall market context favors a bullish outcome. Bitcoin dominance is slipping, and the Altcoin Season Index is approaching the 60 mark. Historically, a reading above 60 confirms that altcoins are in a sustained uptrend relative to Bitcoin. If this happens, NEAR could benefit from additional capital inflows.
Privacy is becoming a major theme in crypto. Zcash’s Ironwood upgrade, scheduled for July 28, has brought attention to the sector. The upgrade fixes a bug in the Orchard shielded pool and adds formal verification to ensure supply integrity.
NEAR Protocol stands to benefit from this narrative even though it is not a pure privacy coin. The platform offers privacy features through its layer-2 ecosystem, and developers are building privacy-focused applications on the network.
Van de Poppe listed NEAR among his top altcoin picks for the week and cited the privacy trend as a key driver. This endorsement adds credibility to the argument that NEAR is undervalued relative to its potential.
Read also: Kaspa Just Solved Ethereum’s Biggest Problem – Can KAS Dethrone ETH?
The technical picture for NEAR is cautiously bullish. The token is trading above the 30-day exponential moving average at $1.83, which is a positive sign.
A daily close above $2.00 would confirm that bulls are gaining control and could aid in a run toward the $2.15 resistance level.
If NEAR breaks above $2.15, the next target is $2.42, which is the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level. However, the token needs to hold $1.92 as support first. A break below this level would open the door for a drop to $1.74.
Volume is the key indicator to watch. Current volume levels are below the 20-day average, which suggests that the move lacks conviction.
Van de Poppe is waiting for a pullback before buying NEAR. He noted that if the $1.92 support fails, he plans to accumulate at lower levels.
The macro environment remains uncertain. U.S.-Iran tensions and rising oil prices have revived inflation fears, and the July 14 CPI report could cause volatility across all risk assets. A hotter-than-expected print would likely push Bitcoin lower.
For patient buyers, waiting for a retest of the $1.74 support level offers a better risk-to-reward ratio. This level has held twice in the past month and would provide a clear entry point with defined downside risk.
NEAR’s upside will depend on adoption, AI-related growth, developer activity, and the overall crypto market. If these trends continue, many investors believe NEAR could revisit previous cycle highs.
What is the future price of ZEC coinNo one can predict ZEC’s future price with certainty. Its value will depend on demand for privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, market conditions, and regulatory developments.
How high will Zcash go in 2026Analyst forecasts for Zcash in 2026 vary widely. Bullish estimates range from around $230 to $850, though actual performance will depend on adoption, market conditions, and developments such as a potential spot ZEC ETF.
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The post Zcash (ZEC) Surges, NEAR Protocol Could Be Next: Why This Analyst Is Waiting Before Buying appeared first on CaptainAltcoin.
